Jump to content
Talk Sox
  • Create Account

  • Boston Red Sox Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Boston Red Sox free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
    Show all categories
    Steve Drumwright
    Now that he has the full-time job, Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy is tweaking what will be his first MLB coaching staff. Well, sorta his.
    After robbing a couple of minor-league affiliates of coaching personnel when Alex Cora was fired April 25, a few of those individuals are heading back to the minors. Chad Epperson, who became the Red Sox's third base coach, will become the Triple-A manager, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Epperson had been the manager at Double-A Portland when the MLB staff changes happened.
    Tracy had been Worcester's skipper before taking over for Cora and then being named the full-time manager at the end of the regular season.
    Also, interim first base coach Pablo Cabrera will return to his role of minor-league defensive coordinator.
    The remainder of the coaching staff is expected to remain in their current roles.
    Tracy reportedly has been told that he will not be able to hire any big names to his staff due to what the Red Sox are paying everyone who was fired.
    Nick John
    The 2026 Gold Glove finalists were announced today, and the Boston Red Sox were represented well as they had three finalists between the 10 positions (utility player was added in 2022). The defensive recognition for the team should come as little surprise as the organization stated going into 2026 they were focused on run prevention after failing to bring in the power bats the lineup truly needed.
    While the team struggled at times, three players on the team shined the entire year on the defensive end. They were constantly coming up with big plays or affecting the game with their gloves. Thanks to that, Caleb Durbin, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela were all named Gold Glove finalists for their respective positions.
    This is Durbin’s first time being named a finalist, the third baseman being acquired in the offseason from Milwaukee. Upon first arriving in Boston, it was undecided if he would be the starting second baseman or third baseman before being named to man the hot corner early in spring training. Defensively, he finished the season with 11 errors (six fielding and five throwing) and a .972 fielding percentage. More importantly were his +7 Outs Above Average and a Fielding Run Value of +6, both of which had him near the top of the league.
    For Abreu, this is his third straight season of being a finalist as the elite outfielder looks to take home his third straight award. Despite making the most errors of his career with nine (four fielding and five throwing) and finishing tied with the worst fielding percentage of his career at .971, he was still one of the most valuable outfielders in the game. Defensively, he saved +28 runs for the Red Sox while patrolling right field this season and finished with an OAA of +2 and a FRV of +5. While lower than his previous season, they were still some of the best marks in the league for outfielders.
    Finally, Rafaela was named a finalist for the second consecutive season as he wowed fans and his fellow players alike with his defense in center field. Despite starting off slow in the outfield to begin the season, Rafaela only committed two errors all season (one fielding and one throwing) while finishing with a .994 fielding percentage, the highest of his career for full seasons (he had a 1.000 fielding percentage in 20 games in 2023). While his OAA and FRV were lower than in 2025 (+16 for both compared to +22 for both in 2025), he was worth more Defensive Runs Saved in center field with +21 compared to +20 in 2025, while his arm was worth seven runs compared to five in 2025.
    The Red Sox have a very good chance of bringing home all three awards thanks to the defensive level their players performed at across the season. There is an argument to be made that Rafaela could even make another run at being named the Platinum Glove award winner after being snubbed in 2025. The winners will be announced on Nov. 1.
    Steve Drumwright
    With the sidelining of one key player, another that held hopes to make a big impact is finally coming to fruition.
    Infielder Curtis Mead, who was injured in his first game after being acquired via trade, was added to the Boston Red Sox's roster prior to Wednesday's Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series vs. the New York Yankees. The Red Sox trail the best-of-three series 1-0 and face elimination in Game 2. Mead replaced injured outfielder Roman Anthony on the roster.
    Mead was hit on his left wrist in his second plate appearance in a Red Sox uniform, sustained a nondisplaced fracture in the July 26 game against the A's. Mead did not have surgery, giving him a chance to return this year. That opportunity arose with Anthony's injury in Game 1. Mead was acquired from the Washington Nationals in exchange for pitcher Connelly Early on July 27.
    Mead has been staying in hitting condition by hitting off a machine. He was not in the lineup for Game 2, but could come off the bench as a pinch-hitter. He had been picked up to play either third or second base. Mead was in the midst of a career year, posting a slash line of .253/.353/.498 with 17 homers and 48 RBIs in 88 games. Before this year, Mead had five homers in 152 career games over three seasons between the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    As the Boston Red Sox face elimination, they have suffered a setback with one of their better hitters.
    Outfielder Roman Anthony is being removed from the roster due to injury prior to Wednesday's Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the rival New York Yankees. Anthony would be ineligible to play in the AL Division Series should the Red Sox advance. The Red Sox lost Game 1 on Tuesday 9-0.
    Infielder Curtis Mead, out since sustaining a nondisplaced fracture of his left wrist in his Red Sox debut following a trade, replaced Anthony on the roster.
    Anthony aggravated his right hand and wrist injury that sidelined him a good chunk of the season. Serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff, Anthony was removed when his spot came up in the top of the sixth inning. Andruw Monasterio replaced him. Anthony had struck out swinging in the first and third innings. Manager Chad Tracy said Anthony felt something on check swings in each of his first two at-bats.
    According to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, Anthony sustained "new strains to different muscles," which was revealed after he was driven from New York to Boston after Tuesday's game to get new imaging. Anthony was on his way back to rejoin the team Wednesday. The previous injury was also aggravated.
    Another Globe reporter, Alex Speier, quoted as saying there is "more" damage than previous imaging had revealed.
    Jahmai Jones was in the leadoff spot as the DH for Game 2, with Nate Eaton playing right field and batting ninth.
    Steve Drumwright
    The big storm hitting the northeast has caused MLB to make another change to the weekend schedule, this one being the most dramatic.
    After rescheduling Sunday's game to part of a Friday doubleheader, MLB announced after Game 1 of that twinbill that Saturday's final game of the series, pending the completion of Friday's doubleheader, will be played at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. All of the games that day will start at 3:05 p.m.
    While the Red Sox have secured the AL's second wild card and thus the No. 5 seed, the Cubs' position in the postseason is still not clear. After losing the opener Friday 4-3, the Cubs are 1½ games behind the San Diego Padres for the top NL wild card. The Cubs, who already clinched a playoff spot, are also just a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies, who host the Rays in a three-game series. The Padres, who clinched Thursday, are hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks in their final regular-season series. The Phillies lead the D'backs by two games for the final berth in the NL playoff field.
    Steve Drumwright
    With the Chicago Cubs still battling for a better seed in the NL wild-card chase and a severe storm hitting New England this weekend, MLB has altered the schedule for the three games being hosted by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
    Sunday's game was moved to Friday, creating a split doubleheader on the first day of the scheduled three-game series. The first game will be played at 1:05 p.m. ET, with the second at the originally scheduled 6:05 p.m. ET. The first game will be the rescheduled game from Sunday for ticketing purposes. Saturday's game will be at 7:15 p.m. ET, although that time could be moved up depending on the forecast.
    While the Red Sox have their postseason invite locked up and are fairly set as the No. 2 wild card (No. 5 overall seed) in the AL, the Cubs could finish anywhere from the No. 1 wild card to the No. 3 entering the final five games of the regular season. The Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres are tied going into Wednesday's action at 87-70. The Cubs hold the tiebreaker over the Phillies and the Padres and the Phillies have the tiebreaker over the Padres.
    There will be no game on Sunday unless one of the games Friday or Saturday are postponed. Sunday is expected to be the worst of the days of the storm. It is also possible that a game will be played Monday if needed. The postseason begins Tuesday with all four Wild Card Series.
    Steve Drumwright
    The Boston Red Sox have one of their biggest bats back for the final two weeks of the season.
    First baseman Willson Contreras was activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday by the Red Sox, who placed infielder Anthony Seigler on the 10-day IL with inflammation in his right wrist. The Red Sox face the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three-game series. The Red Sox appear destined to enter the postseason as the AL's No. 2 wild card (No. 5 seed). They trail the New York Yankees, who hold the No. 1 wild-card spot, by 4½ games and have a four-game advantage over the Cleveland Guardians, currently the No. 3 wild card.
    Contreras is back following a strained left hamstring that landed him on the IL on Aug. 31. Contreras is in the midst of a career year with a .274/.384/.516 slash line with 26 homers and 79 RBIs.
    Seigler was injured in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Royals. He has a .247/.327/.400 slash line in 49 games, having just come up a few days prior from Triple-A Worcester.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    An under-the-radar acquisition at the trade deadline for the Boston Red Sox is going to miss much of the stretch drive.
    Speedy outfielder Eli White was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday by the Red Sox due to an issue with a ligament in his right foot. Infielder Anthony Seigler was called back up from Triple-A Worcester. White was injured in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels when he banged his right foot into a grate in center field.
    Since coming over from Atlanta on Aug. 3, White has a .276/.300/.379 slash line with a homer and 12 RBIs in 27 games. He has one steal in two attempts. Combining his time with Atlanta, White is slashing .246/.289/.398 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 96 games.
    Seigler has filled in nicely when injuries have struck the major-league roster. posting a .250/.331/.405, hitting three homers and driving in 13 over 48 games.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Boston Red Sox used one of their additional roster spots to bring back a player and the other to give a prospect a shot at making their first MLB start.
    Right-hander Jedixson Paez had his contract selected from Triple-A Worcester and will make his Red Sox debut Tuesday when he starts against the Seattle Mariners. Also, infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa was activated from the 60-day injured list for the other extra spot as rosters expanded by two on Tuesday to 28 for September.
    To make room on the 40-man roster for both players, left-hander Eduardo Rivera was placed on the 60-day IL with a lumbar strain and infielder Brett Harris was designated for assignment.
    The 22-year-old Paez, who pitched in three games for the Chicago White Sox this season, has a 4.11 ERA in 20 games (10 starts) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. In 61⅓ innings, he has walked only seven and struck out 74. He has made three starts for Worcester, with a 2.92 ERA, two walks and 18 strikeouts in 12⅓ innings. Paez had been selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft, but was returned to the Red Sox in April following three MLB relief appearances.
    Kiner-Falefa has been on the injured list with right forearm inflammation since June 20. Kiner-Falefa further strengthens the bench following the return to the lineup of left fielder Roman Anthony and shorstop Trevor Story. First baseman Willson Contreras went on the 10-day IL Monday. IKF has a slash line of .277/.344/.361 with two homers, 13 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 47 games.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    After a rough weekend in New York, the Boston Red Sox took another tough hit before opening a series against the Seattle Mariners.
    First baseman Willson Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left hamstring Monday by the Red Sox, who called up catcher-first baseman Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester.
    Contreras was taken out of Sunday's 16-1 loss to the New York Yankees in the seventh inning due to the injury, which dropped the third-place Red Sox 8½ games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL West and four games behind the Yankees in the AL wild-card standings. The Red Sox hold the No. 2 AL wild card, five games up on the Cleveland Guardians. Contreras has been an offensive leader for the Red Sox, with a .274/.384/.516 slash line with 26 homers and 79 RBIs in 125 games. His IL placement comes a day after the Red Sox got back left fielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Trevor Story.
    Gasper was sent down with the return of Anthony and Story.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    WIth the return of left fielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Trevor Story made official Sunday, the Boston Red Sox optioned catcher-first baseman Mickey Gasper and infielder Anthony Seigler to Triple-A Worcester to make room on the 26-man roster.
    Anthony and Story were activated from the 60-day injured list and the Red Sox had two open spots on their 40-man roster to accommodate their return. Also, left-handed reliever Raymond Burgos was sent back to Worcester after serving as the extra player in Saturday's doubleheader. Anthony is back after partially tearing a ligament in his right wrist and hand, while Story had surgery to repair a sports hernia. Both have been out since May.
    Anthony was back in his customary leadoff spot and serving as the designated hitter for Sunday's series finale vs. the Yankees, while Story was at shortstop and batting eighth as the Red Sox look for a split of the four-game set.
    Gasper has been a solid bat while with the Red Sox this season, putting up a .278/.374/.466 slash line with five homers and 19 RBIs in 45 games. Seigler has been a nice utility player and has a .250/.331/.405 slash line with three homers and 13 RBIs in 48 games.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The wait for the return of Roman Anthony and Trevor Story is almost over.
    Interim manager Jim Tracy said Saturday that the two Boston Red Sox stars will likely come off the injured list Sunday. Who comes off the roster is another question that the Red Sox brass will contemplate overnight.
    “They’re coming,” Tracy said after the Red Sox lost to the New York Yankees 9-2 to split a doubleheader. The Red Sox won the opener 6-0. The Red Sox remain the No. 2 AL wild card, three games behind the Yankees and six games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians.
    Anthony, the left fielder, and Story, the shortstop, have been out since May, Anthony with a partially tearing a ligament in his right hand and wrist and Story with a sports hernia that required surgery.
    Fitting Anthony in doesn't seem problematic as Tracy said he will be put in the leadoff position against right-handed starters. Trade-deadline pickup Eli White started both games Saturday in left field, while Jahmai Jones would bat leadoff vs. left-handers. Anthony had a slash line of .229/.354/.321 with one homer and five RBIs in 30 games before going on the injured list.
    Story is a little trickier. He will get the opportunity to re-establish himself, but if he continues his early-season struggles, Tracy could opt to go back to Andruw Monasterio, who has helped the Red Sox surge into postseason position. Story has a .206/.244/.303 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 41 games.
    Another injured player, infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, is expected to come off the IL on Tuesday when rosters expand by two.
     
    Alex Mayes
    Chad Tracy provided quite a few injury reports during media availability before the first game of the Giants series. Per The Boston Herald’s Mac Cerullo, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are all continuing their rehab assignments through the weekend. There was some belief that Story could return as early as Friday, August 21, but the Red Sox seem to be taking a slower approach with the big league trio’s rehab assignments to guarantee they are ready to go once they get to Boston.
    Along with that, Cerullo also noted that RHP Garrett Whitlock is set to begin throwing at 120 feet before the Giants series. Whitlock believes he is on track to return to the team as soon as he is eligible to come off of the injured list, barring no setbacks. 
    Also of note: LHP Garrett Crochet is throwing out to 90 feet as he progresses in his recovery from lat and shoulder injuries earlier this season. Crochet has already said that if he returns this season, he will only be able to go two innings, but progress is progress as the Red Sox continue to be in possession of the second AL Wild Card spot.
    Finally, RHP Tanner Houck is set to throw a live bullpen session on Monday in Fort Myers. Houck has been quietly progressing in his rehab program from Tommy John surgery last summer and the team is hoping for him to join the pitching program at some point before the end of the regular season.
    Nick John
    The Boston Red Sox received some injury updates Tuesday afternoon before the second game of their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Following the injuries to outfielder Masataka Yoshida and pitchers Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten, the three were scheduled for MRIs. Only two of them came back positive. 
    As first reported by MassLive's Chris Cotillo, both Whitlock and Slaten received good news as there was no structural damage, just inflammation, found in both of their MRIs. The two key pitchers of the Red Sox bullpen will remain shut down for now with the length of their downtime unknown. 
    Yoshida, on the other hand, received tough news as his injury turned out to be significant with there being a chance he misses the remainder of the regular season. The loss of Yoshida's bat is a major blow to the Red Sox as they look to make it back to the postseason. In his last 22 games, the outfielder was hitting .292/.361/.403 with five doubles, one home run and 10 RBIs. 
    The Red Sox also gave an update on Tanner Houck, stating that he threw a live bullpen session in Fort Myers and that it is now possible he could return this season. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery on August 18, 2025. 
    Alex Mayes
    The Boston Red Sox are set to call up RHP Wyatt Olds from the WooSox before today’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks according to Section 10's Tyler Milliken. 
    Olds currently sports a 5-6 record on the season with a 5.33 ERA over 50.2 innings pitched. He’s secured five saves over the season as well. 
    Although no corresponding move has been announced as of this writing, Olds will likely replace LHP Raymond Burgos in the bullpen as the team looks to maximize their minor-league pitching depth that can help the big-league club as they navigate a world without both Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten for the foreseeable future. Expect this to be a fairly constant roster shuffle for the Red Sox until they start to get their leverage arms back. 
    Olds features a four-pitch mix that includes a four-seam fastball that tops out at 96.8 mph, a slider, cutter, and a changeup. It will be interesting to see where he slots in the bullpen mix since very few spots are currently locked down, but it stands to reason he may only be up for the bullpen game that is planned for game one of the series against Arizona.
    Alex Mayes
    The Red Sox were dealt yet another injury blow on Saturday. Both Masataka Yoshida (hamstring) and Justin Slaten (right elbow soreness) have landed on the injured list before the rubber match against the Pirates on Sunday. 
    To replace them, Mickey Gasper and Raymond Burgos have been called up to the major league roster. 
    We last saw Gasper in June when he was called up amid a torrid streak with the WooSox. He continued that hot streak for a while with the Red Sox but ultimately cooled off against major league pitching. Since being optioned, he’s continued to hit at an incredible clip. He’s slashing .337/.450/.566 with the WooSox this season. It’s unclear just how Gasper will slot into the lineup as of this writing, but he figures to get quite a bit of play at DH while he’s up. 
    Burgos has made two appearances with the Red Sox this season, tossing six combined innings. For the WooSox, he’s sitting at a 5.54 ERA over 65 innings pitched with 54 strikeouts and a 1.62 WHIP. While he doesn’t directly replace Slaten’s backend abilities, he can eat innings, and that’s something the Red Sox are going to need while both Slaten and Garrett Whitlock are on the IL.
    The Red Sox can’t seem to dodge the injury bug as we cross the midpoint of the month of August. There are reinforcements on the way, but both Chad Tracy and Craig Breslow are in unenviable spots with roster construction right now. 
×
×
  • Create New...