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  • 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.
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    Steve Drumwright
    In what promises to be a busy weekend for bullpen moves, the Boston Red Sox have swapped out another arm.
    The Red Sox on Saturday activated right-handed reliever Justin Slaten from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-handed reliever Jack Anderson to Triple-A Worcester. Slaten was on the IL since April 8 with a strained right oblique.
    Anderson had just been called up Friday and didn't pitch in a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox entered the weekend without a designated starter for the Saturday and Sunday games. Left-hander Payton Tolle is starting today.
    Slaten appeared in four games and didn't allow an earned run in 3⅓ innings, walking two and striking out five. He posted a 4.24 ERA in 36 appearances with the Red Sox last year after a 2.93 ERA in 44 games in 2024.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Boston Red Sox continue to shuffle their pitching staff.
    Right-hander Jack Anderson was called up by the Red Sox from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, with left-handed starter Jake Bennett being sent back to Triple-A.
    Anderson, who is in his second stint this season with the Red Sox, has started three of his five appearances at Worcester, but all three of his games in the majors have been in a relief role, including his MLB debut. The Red Sox have not officially named a starter for Saturday or Sunday, the final two games of the series vs. the Tampa Bay Rays. It is possible Anderson appears in either role Saturday and is sent back down for a fresh arm for Sunday.
    Anderson has allowed three runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts with the Red Sox. At Triple-A, he allowed nine runs on 21 hits, including four homers, with three walks and 17 strikeouts in 18 innings.
    Bennett made two starts as he also had his MLB debut. He gave up five runs on 11 hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 10⅓ innings.
     
    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.
     
    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
    Expected to be a key contributor to the Boston Red Sox's bullpen, left-hander Danny Coulombe has mostly been solid, with one minor blowup. But now, he will be lost for the near future.
    Coulombe was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday with cervical spasms. Left-hander Alec Gamboa  was called up from Triple-A Worcester to make his MLB debut. Left-hander Patrick Sandoval was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Gamboa on the 40-man roster.
    Coulombe is the eighth pitcher to currently be on the Red Sox's injured list. His overall numbers don't look great, but his 5.63 ERA in eight innings over 12 appearances is skewed by an April 23 outing vs. the New York Yankees. That is when he allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning of a 4-2 loss.
    The 29-year-old Gamboa has made three starts at Worcester this season, allowing nine runs on 17 hits and five walks against 15 strikeouts in 13 innings. He was signed as a minor-league free agent this offseason after being released by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He appeared in just eight games (two starts) at Triple-A last year.
     
     
    Steve Drumwright
    It is Jake Bennett's day.
    The Boston Red Sox called up Bennett, a left-hander, from Triple-A Worcester to make his MLB debut as the starter in Friday's game against the Houston Astros. Infielder Nate Eaton was optioned to Triple-A on Thursday.
    Bennett, Talk Sox's No. 12 prospect, was acquired from the Washington Nationals in the offseason in a trade for another top prospect, right-hander Luis Perales. In five starts at Worcester, Bennett had a sparkling 0.86 ERA in 21 innings, allowed just three runs (two earned) on 12 hits with three walks and 16 strikeouts. He has a chance to stick in the rotation with the recent injury to ace Garrett Crochet.
    Bennett was a second-round pick of the Nationals in 2022 out of Oklahoma. Bennett missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023. He returned in 2025 to appear in 19 games (one in relief) and compiled a 2.27 ERA in 75⅓ innings with 19 walks and 64 strikeouts.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Boston Red Sox will be without their ace for a while.
    Left-handed starter Garrett Crochet went on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to inflammation in his left shoulder. Third baseman-outfielder Nate Eaton was called up from Triple-A Worcester to take Crochet's roster spot. Crochet had been slated to start Friday, with left-hander Jake Bennett a likely candidate.
    Crochet hadn't displayed the same form that led to his brilliant 2025 season, when he finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting and went 18-5 with a 2.89 FIP with an 5.7% walk rate and 31.3% strikeout rate, leading MLB with 255 strikeouts. In six starts this year, Crochet had a 4.33 FIP and 6.30 ERA, having allowed five runs twice and 11 in another. He has a 8% walk rate and 26.8% strikeout rate.
    Surprisingly, this move comes after perhaps his best start of the season. In Saturday's 17-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, Crochet went six shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out seven.
    Eaton played in 41 games for the Red Sox last year, putting up a .296/.348/.383 slash line with one homer, four RBIs and nine stolen bases. In 27 games for Worcester this year, Eaton's slash line is .292/.373/.458 with three homers, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Boston Red Sox, off to a 10-17 start, fired manager Alex Cora and five members of the coaching staff Saturday in an early-season stunner. A sixth coach is being reassigned.
    Hitting coach Peter Fatse, bench coach Ramon Vazquez, third base coach Kyle Hudson, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson and major-league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin were also fired by the Red Sox. Game-planning coach Jason Varitek is considering a possible reassignment.
    Chad Tracy, the 40-year-old manager of Triple-A Worcester since 2022, has been named interim manager.
    "Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude,” Red Sox principal owner John Henry said in a released statement. “He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways. These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult given what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived. I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude."
    The moves came shortly after the Red Sox pounded out a 17-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles snapped a four-game losing streak.
    Despite that offensive showing, the Red Sox were last in the AL East and had a .667 team OPS, which ranks 26th out of 30 teams, and ranked 20th in runs scored with 112 in 27 games (4.15 per game). Entering Saturday, the Red Sox had lost four straight and six of seven.
    Cora's contract runs through 2027 and has just over $13.5 million remaining following an extension in 2024.
    Cora led the Red Sox to the 2018 World Series championship following a 108-54 record in his first season as an MLB manager. Cora compiled a 620-541 record, missing the 2020 season as a result of a suspension for his involvement in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal. He was initially fired by the Red Sox in January 2020, then rehired after the season. After posting winning records in his first three seasons, the Red Sox finished 78-84 in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons and 81-81 in 2024. Boston went 89-73 last year. His 620 wins are the third-most in Red Sox history.
    The Red Sox made the postseason just twice in the eight seasons since winning it all in 2018, losing to the Houston Astros in six games in the 2021 AL Championship Series, then falling to the rival New York Yankees in the final game of the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series last year.
    Double-A Portland manager Chad Epperson will become the third base coach and Worcester hitting coach Collin Hetzler will join the Red Sox's hitting staff.
    Cora also played four seasons as an infielder for the Red Sox, including being a member of the 2007 World Series championship team. His last season as a player was in 2011.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Boston Red Sox feel Eduardo Rivera is ready for a big jump.
    A day after promoting the left-handed starter from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester, the Red Sox called up Rivera on Wednesday to make his MLB debut. So Rivera is basically going straight from Double-A to the majors. Right-handed reliever Jack Anderson was optioned back to Triple-A. First baseman Triston Casas (ruptured left patellar tendon, abdominal strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to make room for Rivera on the 40-man roster.
    What role the 6-foot-7 Rivera will fill is another question as the rotation currently has a hole due to right-hander Sonny Gray going on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a strained right hamstring. But the bullpen has also been overworked in recent days and left-hander Payton Tolle, Talk Sox's No. 1 prospect, is primed to be called up to fill Gray's spot.
    The 22-year-old Rivera had made two starts at Double-A Portland this year, pitching 10 innings with three walks and 16 strikeouts. In 2025, splitting time between High-A and Double-A, Rivera made 15 starts and five relief appearances, walking 46 and striking out 108 in 87 innings. Rivera pitched for Puerto Rico this spring in the World Baseball Classic.
    Anderson was called up April 14 to make his MLB debut and has pitched three times covering eight innings, which could be the role for Rivera. Anderson allowed one run in each of those outings, while giving up eight hits and two walks while striking out six.
     
     
    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.
     
     
    Nick John
    UPDATE: Johan Oviedo is hitting the 60-day IL to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Anderson; Tyler Samaniego is being optioned to the minors to clear a spot on the active roster.
    Original post as follows.
    In need of bullpen assistance after Monday night’s loss to the Minnesota Twins, the Boston Red Sox have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jack Anderson from Triple-A Worcester, per Ari Alexander of 7News Boston.
    Anderson, who was a selection in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft back in 2024, spent most of 2025 with the Portland Sea Dogs before making three late season starts for Worcester.
    2026 has been an up-and-down year so far for the 26-year-old after pitching for Great Britain during the World Baseball Classic. Since the minor-league season began, he’s made two starts for Worcester tossing 9 2/3 innings. In that span, he’s allowed four runs on eight hits (one home run) and three walks. He also struck out nine.
    There has yet to be a corresponding roster move; both the active roster and the 40-man roster are currently full and will require reconfiguring to make room for Anderson.
    Alex Mayes
    The Boston Red Sox have placed reliever Justin Slaten on the 15-day injured list with a right oblique strain. To replace him in the bullpen, the team has called up LHP Tyler Samaniego before the series finale with the Brewers.
     
    Alex Cora revealed in his media availability after the 3-2 win on Tuesday that Slaten was dealing with soreness on his right side but hesitated to call it an oblique injury at the time. Now, we have conformation that Slaten will be missing time while he heals up. While Slaten has been useful out of the pen, his injury history isn't exactly brief, so it's disheartening to see him go down again so early in the year.
    Samaniego has appeared in three games for the WooSox, posting a 3.38 ERA with three strikeouts and a 1.31 WHIP over 5 1/3 innings. He was impressive in spring training after he fully recovered from some initial back issues. His fastball tops out at 97 mph but he lacks a solid secondary pitch at the moment. With some development, he could be an incredibly useful arm out of the bullpen down the stretch. Expect to see him serve as an up-and-down reliever for the entirety of the season.
    Justin Slaten landing on the IL again is not great news for a team already pushing their bullpen to the maximum this early in the season, but Samaniego has the opportunity to show that his strong spring was more than just a fluke once he arrives in Boston.
    Nick John
    The Boston Red Sox are making a few moves prior to their home opener on Friday. With a need for pitching, the Red Sox have recalled pitchers Zack Kelly and Tyler Uberstine, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.
    Kelly, who seemed to have a bullpen spot secured during spring training until the final week, opened the season with Triple-A Worcester. During the first week of the minor league season, he’s pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two. Since 2022, Kelly has made 98 appearances with the Red Sox. He’s tossed 115 innings with a 4.15 ERA.
    Uberstine is being called up for the first time in his career after fighting for a bullpen spot during spring training. In his lone start with Worcester this season, he tossed four innings, allowing one run on two hits, and struck out three batters. Uberstine is currently TalkSox's 17th-ranked prospect.
    In response, Garret Whitlock is being placed on the paternity list as he and his wife are expecting their next child in the coming days.
    Johan Oviedo was also placed on the injured list with a right elbow strain. Oviedo's velocity was noticeably down in his final spring training appearance and his Red Sox debut, leading to some speculation that an injured list stint could happen for the right-hander.
    The Red Sox spent the offseason acquiring pitching depth to handle such injuries, and it seems to already be paying off.
    Maddie Landis
    On Wednesday, MLB notified teams of their bonus pool and pick values for the 2026 Draft. The Red Sox rank 23rd with a total of $8,219,000 across nine picks. Their first round selection (20th overall) accounts for more than half of that value ($4,373,900). 
    Round Pick Slot Value 1 20 $4,373,900 CB-B 67 $1,317,300 3 96 $815,700 5 156 $454,100 6 185 $352,900 7 214 $278,700 8 244 $227,200 9 274 $205,400 10 304 $194,000 As a brief refresher, two of the Red Sox’s offseason moves impacted their spending power. The Red Sox received the 67th pick in the supplemental second round (CB-B) in the Caleb Durbin and Kyle Harrison trade. After signing  Ranger Suarez five-year, $150 million contract, they lost their second and fifth picks and $1 million from their international bonus pool. 
    The 2026 MLB Draft is scheduled for July 11 to 13.
    Nick John
    After a busy morning of finalizing roster decisions, the Boston Red Sox continued to whittle down the roster heading into the final day of spring training. Among the group were Zack Kelly, Tyler Uberstine, and Payton Tolle. Tommy Kahnle was also reassigned to minor league camp.
    Of those optioned, Kelly seemed to be a lock for low-leverage innings in the bullpen up until the signing of Danny Coulombe. With the announcement that Ryan Watson had made the team, it seemed likely that Kelly was going to be sent to Worcester, especially after the team said they might keep one of Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early or Tolle as a reliever to open the season.
    Uberstine was another player once considered for a long reliever role in the bullpen but instead was optioned back to Worcester where he will likely pitch out of the rotation. Tolle will join him there also pitching from the rotation as the duo will provide depth for the organization should injury or inconsistency hit.
    Kahnle, on the other hand, was reassigned to minor league camp, having joined the team on a minor-league contract. The organization must have felt he needed a bit more time to catch up with the other pitchers despite playing in the World Baseball Classic. Kahnle is a veteran of 11 seasons and has an assignment clause on May 1 and an opt-out on June 1.
    It is now all but guaranteed that both Early and Oviedo will have spots on the Opening Day roster.
    Nick John
    The Boston Red Sox have seemingly decided upon their bench for Opening Day, as Nate Eaton has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo. Eaton was in a competition with Andruw Monasterio for the final bench spot, but in the end, it was Monasterio who won it.
    What may have swung the decision towards Monasterio was his ability to play second base and the potential to platoon with Marcelo Mayer by hitting left-handed pitching well.
    Eaton signed as a minor league free agent prior to the 2025 season and played well enough to garner a call up to Boston. In 41 games with the big-league club, Eaton hit .296/.348/.383 with four doubles, one home run, four RBIs, and nine stolen bases. He can also play all three outfield positions and third base will provide excellent depth in Worcester. He will likely be one of the first players called up should injury or inconsistent play occur.
    The Red Sox's bench now should look as such come Opening Day: Connor Wong, Masataka Yoshida, Andruw Monasterio, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
    In other roster-related news, Ryan Watson was informed Monday that he made the team. Watson was a Rule 5 pick over the winter and was required to be on the active roster in order to remain with Boston. In response, Boston optioned Tyler Samaniego to Worcester per MassLive's Chris Cotillo. 
    The roster is nearly complete, as the only spots remaining is who out of Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early,  and Payton Tolle will be the final member of the rotation and who might be the final bullpen arm.
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