Jump to content
Talk Sox
  • Create Account

  • Major League Notes

    Notes about the team are posted here.

    117 rumors in this category

      Matthew Lenz

      Following a disappointing 2025 season, the New York Mets parted ways with Jeremy Hefner, who had served as the team's pitching coach for six seasons.

      Will Sammon of The Athletic is reporting that Boston Red Sox Director of Pitching Justin Willard is "emerging as the favorite" to become the next New York Mets Pitching Coach.

      Willard, who has been in various roles in Major League Baseball since 2017, has been the Red Sox Director of Pitching for each of the last two seasons. He advocates for blending analytics and biomechanics with practical coaching instincts, focusing on maximizing a pitcher's best pitches while ensuring consistent strike-throwing. In a conversation with Ian Browne of MLB.com, Willard's philosophy is simple: "Throw nasty stuff in the zone."

      The Red Sox pitching staff was one of the best units in baseball in 2025, sporting a 3.98 FIP (10th) and an 18.4 fWAR (7th), though it posted a below-average 13.5% K-BB rate (18th).

      How do you think Willard's departure would impact the 2026 Red Sox pitching staff? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      As the 2025-2026 MLB offseason gets underway, the Boston Red Sox suddenly have a lot of money available to them following the option decisions of Alex Bregman and Lucas Giolito. They also have decisions looming on Jarren Duran and Liam Hendriks, as well as on whether to submit a qualifying offer on Giolito.

      On Tuesday, Rob Bradford of WEEI named Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt, and Bo Bichette as potential offseason targets for the Red Sox to fill the team's newly identified needs. 

      Regarding Bieber and Bassitt, Bradford says, "Boston was the only place Bieber visited during last offseason when looking for a new team...and the 30-year-old certainly continued to help his stock with his postseason performance. Another potentially cheaper option might be another Toronto [Blue Jays] starter, Chris Bassitt, who manager Alex Cora has long been a fan of." While Bieber ended up signing with the Cleveland Guardians, he eventually became teammates with Bassitt in Toronto after a deadline deal. Both pitchers were key contributors down the stretch and throughout the playoffs.

      Though the Red Sox are expected to pursue Bregman, and it's been rumored they're interested in Pete Alonso, Bradford identifies Beckett as another "go-hard-or-go-home" target. Due to injury, Bichette was limited to seven postseason games with a .923 OPS, including a massive three-run home run off of Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series. Across 139 regular-season games, he hit 18 home runs and had a 134 wRC+, cementing himself as one of the game's best shortstops.

      Do you think the Red Sox should pursue any of these names? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      L.A.A.B. - Life After Alex Bregman. That's where the Red Sox are in their offseason after losing out on the superstar third baseman to the Chicago Cubs. While many expect the club to shift its sights to Bo Bichette, Eugenio Suarez, or another impact bat, Rob Bradford of WEEI suggests a different approach.

      In a recent tweet, Bradford suggested that the Red Sox "re-engage with higher-end pitching while still looking to acquire a lower-tier bat." Of course, Bichette and Suarez would not fit in the "lower-tier" category, so Bradford is merely suggesting to bolster the pitching staff's ability to prevent runs rather than the offense's ability to produce runs.

      After acquiring Sonny Gray earlier this offseason, the Red Sox's rotation is the strength of their team. Even with Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck on the shelf for most of 2025, pitchers three through five of the rotation are among the strongest in all of baseball. Additionally, the bullpen will look to continue to be good after a successful 2025 campaign. That really begs the question...just how big of a pitcher do they need to land for it really to make an impact on the outlook of the club? Would adding a #2 starter that bumps Patrick Sandoval out of the rotation really be better than adding a middle-of-the-order bat? Would adding another high-leverage arm that bumps a low-leverage arm like Jovani Moran off the roster or at least to Triple-A Wincester really be better than Bo Bichette? These are all things that the Red Sox need to weigh as they look to get back into the good graces of a fan base left in despair after Bregman bolted for the Windy City.

      Do you think the Red Sox should add pitching or hitting? Let us know in the comments!

      Steve Drumwright

       

      It was indeed a short stay in the injured list for Sonny Gray.

      The right-hander was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Boston Red Sox so he could start Wednesday's series finale vs. the Detroit Tigers. Gray had been sidelined since April 21 due to a strained right hamstring, meaning it was exactly a 15-day absence. Left-hander Alec Gamboa was sent to Triple-A Worcester.

      Gray's return to the rotation comes at a time when ace left-hander Garrett Crochet is on the IL with left shoulder inflammation and left-hander Ranger Suarez's status is up in the air as he deals with tightness in his right hamstring.

      Before the injury, Gray had made five starts with a 4.49 FIP (4.30 ERA) with a very nice 5.1% walk rate and a below-average 13.1% strikeout rate. Gray had a 26.7% strikeout rate a year ago.

      Gamboa was called up Monday and made his MLB debut Tuesday, pitching a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      While awaiting word on the severity of the injury, the Boston Red Sox placed right-handed starter Sonny Gray on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a strained right hamstring.

      Gray was injured in Monday's Patriots Day game against the Detroit Tigers, leaving in the third inning of an 8-6 victory. He was set to undergo imaging Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury.

      Left-handed reliever Tyler Samaniego was called up from Triple-A Worcester. This is Samaniego's second stint with the Red Sox this season. He came up April 8 and made his MLB debut that day against the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching a scoreless inning with three strikeouts and a walk. He pitched 3⅔ innings in three games, without allowing a run, walking three and striking out four.

      Gray, acquired in the offseason via trade from the St. Louis Cardinals as a rotation stabilizer, had a 4.30 ERA in five starts, walking five and striking out 13 in 23 innings. The Red Sox will need to find a replacement in the rotation for Gray, perhaps left-hander Payton Tolle.

      The Red Sox open a three-game series at Fenway Park today against the rival New York Yankees.

       

       

      Brandon Glick

      This isn't our usual type of note or rumor, but as the managing editor of the site, this is perhaps the most important thing I can share with this community.

      Our very own @Maddie Landis has been nominated as a SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) Award Finalist! Her piece on Vertical Approach Angle was very positively received on the site, and we knew right away that it was a special piece of analysis. It thrills me to see Maddie's name alongside revered writers and sites like The Athletic, FanGraphs, and Baseball Prospectus.

      If you haven't checked out the piece yet, I encourage you to do so. It's the kind of article that makes you smarter just by reading it, and it'll enhance your appreciation of pitcher analysis by many magnitudes.

      You can see the full list of SABR Award Finalists here.

      Matthew Lenz

      The Boston Red Sox are hoping to get a boost to their pitching staff late in the season, just in time for the playoffs. Whether that will be in the form of a starter or reliever remains to be seen; however, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald provided an injury update on the former staff Ace.

      She reports that Tanner Houck "starts a throwing program next week and is hoping to contribute in September." Having received Tommy John surgery at the beginning of August 2025, that timeline would put him roughly 13 months removed from the procedure. However, even when pictures are cleared to return, it can typically take two to three months for them to fully recover. While returning in September 2026 is a reasonable goal, don't be surprised if we don't see Houck until 2027.

      Houck, 30, has two more years of team control before entering free agency. While there was some uncertainty whether the Red Sox would tender him a contract this offseason, the right-hander was once the ace of the rotation and looked to be one of the better pitchers in baseball after he broke out in 2024. Across 80 big league starts, Houck has a 4.13 ERA (3.79 FIP) and a passable 14.3% K-BB rate. 

      This will be a storyline to follow, especially as the trade deadline approaches. Depending on the state of the team, will the Red Sox pursue pitching help, or will they be relying on Houck to contribute in September and in the playoffs? Let us know what you think in the comments!

      Brandon Glick

      Nothing in baseball is guaranteed.

      Tanner Houck, fresh off a brilliant 2024 campaign where he earned his first All-Star nod and pitched to a 3.12 ERA in 178 2/3 innings, was supposed to be the No. 2 to Garrett Crochet this season.

      Instead, he was miserable in limited action, surrendering a hideous 8.04 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. He was originally placed on the injured list back on May 12 with a strained forearm flexor, and numerous setbacks have kept him from appearing in Boston since.

      Now, according to Chris Cotillo, Houck will undergo Tommy John surgery in short order. The procedure and subsequent recovery will likely keep him out through the end of the 2026 season.

      Houck, 29, is due to be a free agent after the 2027 season. Given his troubling injury diagnosis and the exceedingly-high likelihood of a league-wide lockout in 2027, it's possible we've seen the last of Houck in a Red Sox uniform.

      Matthew Lenz

      It's been a long time coming. Finally, Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida is close to returning to the lineup. Multiple reports are indicating this could happen as soon as Monday, July 14th.

      Yoshida's 2024 season saw him play in 108 games for the Red Sox. He posted an OPS of .765, hitting 10 home runs and driving in 56 RBIs. He also scored 45 runs.
      Yoshida's 2024 campaign was impacted by injuries. He battled a thumb injury and also dealt with defensive limitations.

      He's missed all of 2025 due to a right shoulder labrum tear, which required offseason surgery.

      There is a bit of a log jam in the outfield and at designated hitter, so what role do you see Yoshida playing for the Red Sox? Join the conversation in the comments!

      Alex Mayes

      Three members of the Boston Red Sox have been named as 2025 Rawlings Gold Glove finalists. They are catcher Carlos Narvaez, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and right fielder Wilyer Abreu. 

      This nomination marks the second year in a row that Abreu has been nominated, and he hopes to take home the award in back-to-back years. The calf injury that kept him out towards the end of the season could hamper his chances, but he still put together an incredible season while on the field.

      Narvaez led all catchers in the league in runners caught stealing with 24, good for a 29% clip. He was one of the best defensive catchers in all of baseball, but his catcher interference calls could work against him to a point.

      Finally, Rafaela is up for his first nomination after a stellar year in, mostly, center field. He logged enough hours at his primary position to be considered for the award this year and the sheer amount of highlight reel catches he made in 2025 should make him an overall favorite to bring home the hardware.

      The Red Sox are showing they have an eye for above-average defensive talent at a few key positions. These three names should continue to show up on these nomination lists for years to come.

      Gold Glove winners will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 2.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      However it happened, Tommy Kahnle is back on an MLB roster.

      The right-handed reliever was called up by the Boston Red Sox from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday and left-handed reliever Tyler Samaniego was optioned to Triple-A. To make room on the 40-man roster, shortstop Trevor Story (sports hernia) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

       

      The 36-year-old Kahnle signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox late in spring training, March 19, and had a June 1 opt-out close if he was not brought up to the majors. The Red Sox had to make a decision by Thursday on whether to add Kahnle after he triggered the opt-out clause. He also had an upward mobility clause in his contract that he exercised in May, but he did not receive an MLB job.

      At Triple-A this season, Kahnle appeared in 18 games and covered 19⅓ innings, putting up a 1.40 ERA and converting all five save opportunities. He walked 11 and struck out 21.

      Kahnle was with the Detroit Tigers in 2025, when he posted a 4.43 ERA over 66 appearances (63 innings) with an 11.6% walk rate and 18.7% strikeout rate, both below average.

      Samaniego, who made his MLB debut this season, has appeared in 20 games over 20⅓ innings, with a 2.66 ERA. He walked eight and struck out 17.

      Moving Story to the 60-day IL was simply a paperwork move. There has not been a setback.

       

      Nick John

      The Boston Red Sox continue to be aggressive with the promotion of their young prospects, as Franklin Arias was promoted from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland Tuesday afternoon.

      Arias, the team’s No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, joins his third team of the season after starting the year with Single-A Salem. In 106 games between Single-A and High-A, Arias slashed .279/.343/.383 with 25 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 58 RBIs. He also walked 38 times while striking out just 47 times.

      Arias, who entered the season known for his amazing defensive skill at shortstop, broke out offensively by hitting .346/.407/.397 before his promotion to Greenville. He began his time with the Drive continuing to hit before struggling in June, where he slashed just .169/.228/.265 in 20 games. His numbers have slowly climbed since then, culminating in him hitting .253/.380/.337 in 22 games in August.

      Arias, who won’t turn 20 years old until November, will be one of the youngest players in all of Double-A for the remainder of the season. Boston hopes he can respond to the increase in competition and prove why many prospect lists have him ranked as the best player in their farm system.

      Steve Drumwright

      The uneven start to the season for Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story has hit a pothole.

      Story is reportedly being placed on the 10-day injured list, likely due to the minor groin issue that he has been dealing with most of the season. Infielder Nick Sogard was called up from Triple-A Worcester. Andruw Monasterio is likely to get a bulk of the time at shortstop in Story's absence.

      The oft-injured Story, coming off his first healthy season since 2021, has struggled at the plate and in the field this year. He has a .206/.244/.303 slash line with three homers and 19 RBIs in 41 games. This comes after a 25-homers, 96-RBI season in which he slashed .263/.308/.433.

      Sogard will be seeing his first action of the season with the Red Sox after a combined 61 games over the last two years in which he had a slash line of .266/.321/.335 with no homers and 17 RBIs. He was slashing .269/.417/.454 at Triple-A this year with five homers and 23 RBIs.

      Matthew Lenz

      Every year, MLB Trade Rumors releases a list of the most likely trade candidates for the offseason. In this season's edition, they named a total of 40 players, including three Boston Red Sox in the top 24.

      Outfielders Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu, as well as first baseman Triston Casas, were named the 12th, 13th, and 24th most likely trade candidates, respectively.

      Duran, who has an $8 million club option in 2026 and is controllable through 2028, has been a polarizing figure throughout his career. From multiple controversial comments to up-and-down performances, the 29-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors in the past, which will likely continue this offseason. In 2025, he carried an OPS of .774 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 696 plate appearances.

      Abreu, controllable through 2029, had a productive sophomore season that was limited due to injury. Playing in only 115 games, the 26-year-old still mashed 22 home runs to go along with six stolen bases. The Red Sox are fairly well stocked in the outfield, so dealing one, or even both, of these controllable outfielders to strengthen other position groups could make sense.

      Casas, who suffered a gruesome season-ending knee injury, is projected for a very team-friendly $1.7 million salary in his first year of arbitration. The soon-to-be 26-year-old has been the subject of trade talks in the past, and while the Red Sox don't have a solid contingency plan at first, we can expect more of the same this offseason. There have been rumors that if they don't re-sign Alex Bregman, who is expected to opt out, they could pursue Pete Alonso.

      Do you think the Red Sox should trade any of these players? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      After a season where the Boston Red Sox fell short of expectations, they've had a very busy start to the offseason with option decisions. These decisions have started to paint the picture of what the 2025-2026 offseason may hold and what needs to be done to the roster to meet their goals for next season.

      One of the bigger questions they're tasked with is figuring out the plans at first base. After a devastating knee injury to Triston Casas, first base was a bit of a merry-go-round with Nathaniel Lowe and Romy Gonzalez getting a bulk of the reps in the second half of the season. While both players are controllable in 2026, Casas is hoping to be healthy by the time Spring Training rolls around. However, at the end of the season, in an interview with Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow was non-committal to Casas's future, stating, "I don’t think it makes a ton of sense on October 6 to say someone is or isn’t our first baseman. We’ll see how things play out..."

      Ultimately, it's those comments that may have prompted the cryptic message from Casas:

      Casas, who was struggling at the plate prior to his injury, is projected for a very team-friendly $1.7 million salary in his first year of arbitration.

      What do you think he means in his Instagram post? Should the Red Sox move on from him? Join the conversation in the comments!

      Brock Beauchamp

      We're looking for front-page contributors to write Red Sox content for the 2026 season!

      If you’ve ever wanted an audience for your Red Sox takes, this is the perfect place. While we generally lean into analytics and analysis, we also take a “come as you are” approach to baseball and give writers a lot of leeway to write about the game in a way that interests them. That could manifest in historical pieces, previews, or regular series. It’s a matter of finding your niche in the fandom and carving out a space for it.

      Right now, our primary need is minor-league coverage and major-league analysis. If this is the kind of baseball talk that interests you, please reach out via email at brock.beauchamp@talksox.com or reply to this article.

      It is also noteworthy that we pay our content creators. It’s certainly not enough to quit your day job. So don’t do that. However, it might be enough to show that we value your time, talent, and effort.

      If you know someone who might be interested in creating Red Sox content as a side job, please share this with them!

      Brock Beauchamp

      The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner, and we're looking to expand our video coverage. Have you ever considered being on-camera and talking about the Red Sox? If yes, we'd love to talk to you about it.

      Our videos are typically in a wide variety of styles: breaking news, analysis, and historical study. We're open to any and all ideas as long as they're centered around the Boston Red Sox. We're looking for serious baseball talk, so leave the hot takes at home.

      If you'd like to learn more about this cool little side gig, please email Brock Beauchamp at brock.beauchamp@talksox.com.

      Here is an example of a recent Red Sox video from us:

×
×
  • Create New...