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      Alex Mayes

      The Boston Red Sox made yet another round of cuts in camp, mere days away from Opening Day. Notably, OF/INF Kristian Campbell headlines the group reassigned to minor-league camp. Pitchers Alex Gamboa, Tayron Guerrero, and Kyle Keller were also reassigned. Catcher Jason Delay, infielder Vinny Capra, and outfielder Braiden Ward were also reassigned, but they are remaining in major league spring training for now. 

      Obviously, Campbell headlines the reassignment group for this round. Campbell came into camp with more muscle and with new mechanics at the plate. While he had some promising moments, his performance left a bit to be desired. He appeared in 18 games for the Red Sox this spring, slashing .220/.304/.645 with one home run, two doubles, a 23.9 K%, and a 4.3 BB%. If you’ve tuned into any spring training games so far, you’ll have noticed that he seems far more comfortable at the plate now, but he’s still adjusting to his new swing. When it clicks, he should take a giant step forward to hopefully become the player the team envisioned when they extended him at the start of the 2025 season.

      Guerrero was impressive in camp but his reassignment seems to indicate that the Andrew Bailey-led pitching lab doesn’t think what he’s currently working with is sustainable at the big-league level, yet. He’s a flamethrower, but the rest of his game needs more refinement. Keller has looked overmatched for much of spring training so his reassignment isn’t surprising. Gamboa falls into the same category as Keller; both obviously need more work and aren't likely to see the big-league roster any time soon.

      Delay, Capra, and Ward being reassigned also isn’t surprising. but the decision to keep them in Major League spring training is an indicator how high the organization is on them as capable depth options. Ward is likely going to be a late season call up to give the team a boost off the bench in pinch running situations, so look for him to continue to shine on the basepaths with Worcester for the bulk of the season. Delay was in the mix for the backup catcher role but this likely means he’s out of that race for now. Capra proved to be more than capable at handling infield duties while guys were given days off for rest down the stretch of spring training.

      Watch for at least one more round of cuts as the front office gets the team down to the 26-man roster before Opening Day on March 26.

      Nick John

      The Boston Red Sox and right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford have come to an agreement on a one-year deal for the 2026 season. The contract, which allows both sides to avoid heading to an arbitration hearing, is worth $2.75 million, which is the same amount Crawford made in 2025.

      Crawford, who missed the entire 2025 season due to various injuries, has been part of the Red Sox's pitching staff since making a spot start in 2021. The right-hander has bounced between the bullpen and rotation, but in 2024 was a key member of the rotation as he made 33 starts and tossed 183 2/3 innings. While home runs were an issue for Crawford in 2024, he provided the rotation with an arm that could provide innings every fifth day.

      It's uncertain what Crawford's role will be in 2026, but he should be one of the top candidates for the final job in the rotation behind Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, and Johan Oviedo.

      The Red Sox have four arbitration-eligible players yet to agree to a deal. The team has until Thursday to come to an agreement with Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo, and Romy González.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      While it took an extra few days, Willson Contreras is officially going to the 2026 All-Star Game.

      The first baseman for the Boston Red Sox was named as an injury replacement for next Tuesday's game at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. Contreras, an All-Star for the fourth time, replaces Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who said he was not going to play in the game to rest his ailing back.

      4x All-Star Willson Contreras ⭐️ Willson has been added to the AL All-Star team!

      [image or embed]

      — Red Sox (@redsox.com) July 7, 2026 at 10:32 AM

      Contreras joins left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman and left-handed starter Ranger Suarez as representing the last-place Red Sox in the All-Star Game.

      Acquired in the offseason in a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, Contreras, a former catcher, has had a career season offensively, posting a .284/.378/.542 with 20 homers and 59 RBIs in 86 games. Contreras has already matched his home run totals from last year and 2023, while his career best is 24 in 2019.

      Contreras is also awaiting word on his appeal of a seven-game suspension resulting from an incident with the Washington Nationals. Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli, the other primary figure in that incident, had his suspension reduced from seven to five games and began serving that Monday.

       

      Nick John

      The Boston Red Sox made a surprise signing Saturday night, as the club and star closer Aroldis Chapman agreed on a one-year extension for the 2026 season, along with an option for the 2027 season.

      The deal, first reported by Francys Romero, will be worth $13.3 million in 2026, while the option for 2027 is a vesting option based on innings. Should the vesting option not trigger, it will instead become a mutual option. Overall, Chapman could earn $26 million over the next two seasons should the option be picked up.

      Saying Chapman has been dominant this season would be an understatement, as the left-handed pitcher has appeared in 57 games this season going 4-2 with 26 saves and a 1.04 ERA across 52 innings. In that span, he has struck out 74 batters while allowing just 14 walks. After entering spring training as part of the competition for the closer role, Chapman made it his own and has solidified the ninth inning for the Red Sox.

      By locking up Chapman, the Red Sox have made sure the back end of their bullpen is all set for the 2026 season, as relievers Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten will also be under contract.

      Chapman, who will be 38 years old next season, made his eighth All-Star team this year and his first since 2021. For his career, he has appeared in 853 games across 16 seasons. In that span, he’s gone 59-47 with 361 saves and a 2.53 ERA in 812 innings.

      Jordan Leandre

      Among a series of Thursday roster moves, the Boston Red Sox promoted outfielder prospect Jhostynxon Garcia to the majors, according to Tommy Cassell of Worcester T&G Sports.

      Garcia played 66 games for Triple-A Worcester, slashing .303/.367/.564 with 17 home runs and a 140 wRC+. In recent weeks, the No. 5 prospect on Sox Prospects started getting reps at first base and even started a game there. 

      The 22-year-old possesses a unique profile as a batter, as he's sort of the antithesis of the Red Sox organization's desired player. He swings a lot out of the zone yet takes a lot of pitches in the zone -- both under the 40th percentile. However, the pitches he does swing at he does serious damage. He ranks in the 86th percentile with a .353 expected weighted on-base average and 90th percentile for barrel rate. 

      He also is in the 81st percentile for pull-air rate, which bodes very well for a right-handed hitter at Fenway Park.

      On the downside, the corresponding move to Garcia's call-up is that outfielder Wilyer Abreu will go on the injured list. Abreu left Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins with calf tightness and was unavailable, despite still being rostered, in the Red Sox two-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. 

      This injury comes at a very bad time for Abreu, who hits the shelf for the second time this season. The Gold Glove right fielder was off to a tremendous start to August, showing signs of rebounding after slashing .222/.300/.460 with a 106 wRC+ in July.

      Nick John

      The Boston Red Sox continue to shake up their pitching staff as the team prepares for the final month of the season. With the news of top pitching prospect Payton Tolle making his major league debut Friday night in Boston, the team needed to open a roster spot. According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, the team has released struggling pitcher Walker Buehler.

      Buehler, who signed a one-year, $21.05 million contract with a $25 million mutual option for 2026, struggled throughout the 2025 season. In 23 games, Buehler made 22 starts and went 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA in 112 1/3 innings. In that span, he only struck out 84 batters while walking 55 and allowing 22 home runs. Along with that, Buehler spent close to a month on the injured list due to right shoulder bursitis.

      After his start on August 19, the Red Sox decided to move him to the bullpen instead of keeping him a starter. Part of the decision was likely due to a contract escalator he had where, for every two starts after his 20th start, Buehler would make an additional $500,000 until he hit 28 starts. After being moved to the bullpen, Buehler only made one more appearance on August 24 in a blowout loss to the New York Yankees

      A former top pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Buehler was signed with the hope that he could continue the pitching he showcased throughout the playoffs in 2024 with the Dodgers. Instead, he was inconsistent with the Red Sox and could never get into a groove with his new team. Buehler will now hit free agency and should a playoff team sign him before September 1, he could potentially be added to their playoff roster.

      Jordan Leandre

      According to the Foul Territory show, the Boston Red Sox are expected to call up left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early to make his MLB debut Tuesday against the Athletics.

      Early, Boston's No. 8 prospect according to Sox Prospects, earned his second promotion in 2025 after posting a 2.83 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings at Triple-A Worcester. The 23-year-old out of the University of Virginia has a 2.60 ERA in 100 1/3 innings pitched between Worcester and Double-A Portland this season.

      The corresponding move is expected to be right-handed pitcher Dustin May hitting the injured list, although the injury designation is not confirmed.

      May showed promise early in his Red Sox career, having two consecutive good starts after a mediocre team debut. However, three straight poor outings yield him a 5.40 ERA across 28 1/3 innings in Boston. The right-hander, poised to hit free agency at season's end, was the only starting pitcher Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow acquired at the July 31 trade deadline.

      The Red Sox traded two prospects -- James Tibbs and Zach Ehrhard -- for May's services. Depending on what his injury designation is, this could mark the end of his tenure with the team.

      Jordan Leandre

      Following their dramatic comeback victory against the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox got right to work returning their roster to full strength.

      According to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox expect to activate both right-handed reliever Justin Slaten and outfielder Rob Refsnyder ahead of Thursday's series finale.

      Slaten, who last pitched on May 28 against the Milwaukee Brewers, had been placed on the injured list with a shoulder issue that turned into a nerve problem: a transverse process.

      "It's a little bony thing that comes out of your cervical spine," Slaten told the media earlier this month. "Essentially, that bone in my neck was kind of pushing on nerves, pushing on blood vessels, causing a lot of shoulder soreness specifically..."

      Before hitting the shelf, Slaten had a 3.47 ERA and a 3.22 FIP, along with three saves and four holds, across 23 1/3 innings pitched. After consecutive bad outings to start May, the 27-year-old threw 10 straight scoreless outings, allowing just five baserunners across 11 innings.

      To make room for Slaten, the Red Sox are expected to send down left-handed reliever Jovani Morán. The southpaw was called up to replace the recently injured Richard Fitts, but didn't figure into either game he was on the roster for.

      As for Refsnyder, he's been on the injured list since Aug. 23 with an oblique injury. The 34-year-old was 2-for-his-last-10 before going on the IL, but has a .905 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025.

      Even though he hadn't produced much in his most recent small sample, the absence of Refsnyder was noticeable in Boston's recent stretch of games, as they scored just three runs combined in the two games started by lefties in the Bronx -- going 1-1 in those games. 

      The corresponding move for Refsnyder is the placement of first baseman Nathaniel Lowe on the paternity list. Lowe went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 3-2 win, but still has a .296/.375/.481 slash line with seven runs batted in across nine games with Boston.

      Jordan Leandre

      According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Boston Red Sox expect to place right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts on the injured list. 

      Fitts exited Monday's piggyback outing after four-plus innings and could be seen glancing at his arm and gesturing toward it when visited by manager Alex Cora and a trainer.

      The team announced shortly thereafter that Fitts was removed due to right biceps tightness, which seemed like the best-case scenario considering what it looked like in real time. Fitts even said postgame that he was feeling pretty good about the status of his arm despite it feeling worse after delivering his first pitch to Baltimore Orioles infielder Coby Mayo.

      This is the second time in 2025 that Fitts exited an outing due to a right arm/pectoral issue; the first time came in April during a start against the Chicago White Sox.

      The corresponding move, per Cotillo, will be the recalling of left-handed reliever Jovani Moran from Triple-A Worcester.

      The 28-year-old made two appearances for the Red Sox earlier this month, allowing three earned runs whilst striking out five across four innings of work. Moran, who last pitched for Worcester on Aug. 23, figures to join a bullpen that, despite now having five lefty relievers, might need him right away given the recent usage of Brennan Bernardino and Steven Matz.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The topsy-turvy season of the Boston Red Sox took another turn when left fielder Roman Anthony was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a sprained right wrist.

      Catcher-infielder Mickey Gasper was called up from Triple-A Worcester to replace Anthony on the 26-man roster

      Anthony was injured during a checked swing Monday in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. In the time since, Anthony has been receiving treatment and the wrist was showing improvement, but the Red Sox decided to take the safer route and put Anthony on the shelf for a brief period and not rush him back into the lineup or leave the roster shorthanded for any further games.

      Anthony's performance at the plate could also use some time off. The left-handed-hitting slugger has put together a .229/.354/.321 slash line with one homer and five RBIs in 30 games. That is a stark contrast to what he did last year after making his MLB debut. In 71 games in 2025, Anthony had a slash line of .292/.396/.463 with eight homers and 32 RBIs. He was MLB's No. 1 prospect when he was promoted last year.

      Gasper has a .296/.429/.519 slash line in 28 games at Worcester with six homers and 27 RBIs. Gasper made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2024, playing in 13 games, going 0-for-18, then was traded to the Minnesota Twins and played in 45 games last year. Between the two seasons, he has a .133/.250/.195 with two homers and 11 RBIs. The Red Sox picked him up this offseason after twice being designated for assignment.

       

      Matthew Lenz

      Earlier this week baseball America updated their top 100 prospects for the month of June. The Boston Red Sox, who had five players make the list in May, now lead baseball with six players ranked inside the top 100.

      Roman Anthony, who should have reached the big leagues by now, is tagged as the best prospect in baseball. Meanwhile, Marcelo Mayer (#7), Franklin Arias (#65), Peyton Tolle (#88), and Brandon Clarke (#90) remain on the list from the May release. Kristian Campbell, previously ranked as the best prospect, has graduated from the list.

      Jhostnyxon Garcia debuts on the list coming in as the 98th rated prospect in all of baseball. Garcia, who earned a promotion to Triple-A Worcester last month, has been debating the top level of Minor League Baseball. He is slashing .364/.386/.673 with four home runs in 57 plate appearances.

      With the big-league club in shambles, how long will it be until we see some of these names at Fenway? Join the conversation in the comments.

      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.

       

      Nick John

      The Boston Red Sox infield depth may have already taken a hit, as it was revealed by Alex Cora during the first media interview of spring training that Romy González injured his shoulder in the final series of the regular season and that the injury has bothered him throughout the offseason, as reported by the Boston Globe's Tim Healey.

      While unknown at the time, the injury could have played a role in González’s postseason struggles especially against left-handed starters Max Fried and Carlos Rodón after crushing left-handed pitching all season.

      Currently, there is no concrete knowledge regarding the current state of the injury, but the team and González will know more once he arrives to camp. However, the feeling right now is that he’s behind schedule. Should González miss time in spring training, his playing time will likely go to Nick Sogard, Mikey Romero and new acquisitions Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler.

      González said that his left shoulder originally got better but then he suffered a setback in January when he started hitting. He also received a PCP shot on January 23 and still plans to be ready for Opening Day, though things could change.

      For the Red Sox, they hope González can avoid missing significant time and will be able to catch up and be ready for the regular season.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      In desperate need of infield depth, the Boston Red Sox got a familiar face back.

      The Red Sox activated Romy Gonzalez off the 60-day injured list and inserted him into the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the rival New York Yankees. Third-string catcher Mickey Gasper was optioned to Triple-A Worcester and outfielder Roman Anthony was transferred from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL to make room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster.

      The Anthony transaction was simply a paperwork move as he has already missed nearly 60 days after going on the IL retroactive to May 5.

      Gonzalez, who can play first base, second base and third base, underwent surgery on his left shoulder in spring training. He had a bit of a scare when he sustained a hip flexor injury during his rehab assignment last weekend while playing at Triple-A, but it turned out to be nothing and he wrapped up preparing to return to the Red Sox this week.

      His bat will be a nice addition to the Red Sox's offense. Last year, Gonzalez slashed .305/.343/.483 with nine homers and 53 RBIs in 96 games.

      Gasper has appeared in 34 games for the Red Sox this year, slashing .243/.305/.308 with no homers and seven RBIs.

       

      Nick John

      It seems that the Red Sox's infield depth has already taken a massive blow before the season has even begun. On Wednesday morning, it was revealed by Romy Gonzalez that the infielder will likely not be ready for Opening Day, a revelation many were not surprised by, considering the infielder's current situation.

      Dealing with a shoulder he aggravated back in January after originally injuring it near the end of the 2025 season, González has yet to get into any regimen during spring training. González had previously undergone a PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injection in late January, but things have not progressed to the point he had hoped.

      Per MassLive’ Christopher Smith, González said on Wednesday morning “at this point, I think the ramp-up would be a little too quick and it’d be a disservice I feel like to myself and the team if I’m not ready to roll and have a good build up.”

      González will have an evaluation done by the training staff next Friday, but the infielder feels he won’t be able to begin hitting by then.

      With González likely headed to the injured list to begin the season, a battle for the utility infield spot on the roster is likely to come down between Nick Sogard and Andruw Monasterio, with the latter having earned praise from manager Alex Cora.

      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.

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