Red Sox tradee and former Yankee pitcher discusses his emotions

Of all the possible changes of scenery in Major League Baseball, none are more jarring than going from the Yankees to the Red Sox — or vice versa.

Greg Weissert now knows the feeling. Boston acquired the 29-year-old reliever in the December trade that sent Alex Verdugo to New York. The Red Sox also landed pitchers Richard Fitts, who’s considered the prize of the deal, and Nicholas Judice.

On the first day of spring training Wednesday, Weissert offered his thoughts on switching sides in baseball’s biggest rivalry.

“I was pretty surprised,” Weissert said, via MassLive’s Chris Smith. “It caught me a little off guard. I was just sitting at home on my couch late one night, 9:30 or something like that. And the call came in and they let me know I was going to be traded. It was pretty crazy because I had been with the Yankees my whole career. So to be with a new team is definitely different but it’s exciting.

Weissert appeared in 29 games over the last two seasons for the Yankees, all in relief. He compiled a 4.60 ERA, including 4.05 last season, along with a 1.277 WHIP and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Red Sox will hold their first full-squad spring training workout next Monday.

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Red Sox Coach Andrew Bailey Details How He Evaluates Pitchers

Andrew Bailey leaves no stone unturned when evaluating pitchers.

The Boston Red Sox’s new pitching coach spoke with NESN’s Tom Caron on Wednesday, which was Day 1 of spring training. The two touched on a variety of topics, including Bailey’s methods of assessing and developing pitchers.

“I think you can look through it from multiple lenses,” Bailey told Caron. “From a biomechanics standpoint, from a usage standpoint, from a pitch-shape standpoint, from a totality of arsenals. Adding a pitch isn’t always the (solution). Sometimes subtracting a pitch and using your other weapons a little bit more.

“So, first off, taking an understanding of strikeout, watch and damage — and understanding what we’re trying to solve for. Whether it be lefty damage, or righty strikeouts, or walk rates.”

As you’ll see in the full clip, it’s an exhaustive process for Bailey and Red Sox pitchers.