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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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    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
    While the Boston Red Sox as a team didn't bring home any hardware, two of their players may need to make room on their mantles for individual awards.
    The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWA) announced its award finalists on Monday, including Garrett Crochet as a Cy Young award finalist and Roman Anthony as a Rookie of the Year award finalist. Detroit Tigers Starting Pitcher Tarik Skubal is the favorite to win his second Cy Young in as many seasons, and Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is the favorite for Rookie of the Year.
    Crochet, in his first season with the Red Sox, started 32 games, throwing a career high 205 1/3 innings. He posted a 2.59 ERA (2.89 FIP) and a 25.6% K-BB rate. Relying more heavily on his sinker than in years past, it proved to be the perfect pitch to counteract one of the best sweepers in the league. Opponents batted  .226 and .126 against the sinker and sweeper, respectively.

    The 21-year-old Anthony made his big league debut on June 9th against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. After collecting just two hits in his first nine games (.064 batting average), he turned things around, finishing the season with an .859 OPS, eight home runs, and four stolen bases. Though he had an elevated strikeout rate of 27.7%, he also sported an elite 13.2% walk rate. This all accumulated to a 140 wRC+ in 303 plate appearances. On the defensive side of the ball, he accumulated 6 Outs Above Average (OAA) in just 55 games, which would rank him 12th in baseball amongst other outfielders had he had the innings to qualify.
    Do you think either player will take home their respective awards? Let us know in the comments!
    Matthew Lenz
    Hours after the Boston Red Sox received confirmation that superstar third baseman Alex Bregman was opting out of his deal, they learned another player would follow suit.
    Alex Speier of the Boston Globe is reporting that Boston Red Sox Starting Pitcher Lucas Giolito has declined his mutual option. He will receive a $1.5 million buyout and hopes to earn at least $17.5 million in 2026 and/or future years via free agency. However, the Red Sox could opt to give him a qualifying offer of $22 million.
    Giolito started 26 games, totaling 145 innings pitched. He finished the season with a pedestrian FIP of 4.17 and a subpar 10.6% K-BB rate due to an elevated walk rate. This marked his first full season pitching since undergoing a right elbow ulnar collateral ligament repair in March 2024, which could explain the difference in production between his first and second halves. In the first half of 2025, he posted a 3.67 FIP and 14.6% K-BB rate before the figurative wheels fell off in the second half. In total, Fangraphs has his 2025 value at the equivalent of a $15.6 million salary. While the Red Sox may try to bring him back via free agency, it seems unlikely they will give him a qualifying offer, given his production. On the other hand, a weak starting pitching market could drive up costs, leading to overpaying for players. Regardless, the Red Sox's primary goal will be to sign one of Bregman or Pete Alonso.
    Do you think the Red Sox should look to bring back Giolito? Let us know in the comments!
    Matthew Lenz
    The 2025-2026 offseason got underway on Sunday, allowing teams and players to make decisions on options for the 2026 season. To no surprise, Boston Red Sox third basemen swiftly made their decision.
    Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe is reporting that Bregman has opted out of his contract, as was fully expected. Both sides have expressed interest in a reunion for 2026 and beyond.
    Bregman finished the year with an OPS of .821 across 114 games. He hit 18 home runs and scored 64 runs, while adding one stolen base. His advanced metrics include a wOBA of .356 and a wRC+ of 125, indicating an above-average performance relative to the league. Bregman produced a total of 0 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 1 Outs Above Average (OAA). The veteran infielder was acquired by Boston as a free agent in February 2025. In all, his season was worth 3.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
    He'll be one of the most sought-after free agents, if not the most, of the offseason. Eugenio Suarez represents another option on the hot corner for teams to pursue. It's previously been reported that the Red Sox will set their sights on Pete Alonso if talks with Bregman fall through.
    How much should the Red Sox offer the 32-year-old Bregman? Let us know in the comments! 
    Nick John
    While the Boston Red Sox weren’t the World Series champions in 2025, the team still managed to bring home some hardware in the form of two Gold Glove awards thanks to some amazing defense from their outfield.
    Winning his second consecutive Gold Glove award in right field was Wilyer Abreu, as the outfielder managed to put on a defensive display despite being limited to just 104 games in right field this season. In 847 1/3 innings, Abreu wound up with 215 putouts and seven outfield assists. He also started three double plays. In total, he finished the season with a .978 fielding percentage while putting up 15 Defensive Runs Saved, eight Outs Above Average, and a Fielding Run Value of eight. Of all right fielders in the majors, Abreu’s DRS was tied for second, his OAA was tied for second, and his FRV was second. He also led all right fielders with a 5.8 FanGraphs' defensive value.
    Joining Abreu is Ceddanne Rafaela, as the center fielder won his first Gold Glove after appearing in 141 games at the position. In 1167 1/3 innings, the walking highlight reel made 319 putouts while also earning eight assists. For the season he finished with a .985 fielding percentage at the position. Though, that may be an understatement of just how good he was in center. Out of all center fielders, Rafaela led all of the majors with 20 DRS, a good five runs above second place which belonged to Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs. His 22 OAA just barely allowed him to pass Crow-Armstrong for first, as did his Fielding Run Value of 22. Rafaela also led all center fielders with a defensive value of 18.7. Rafaela had previously been named the 2025 Fielding Bible Award winner for center field back near the end of October, being the first-ever Red Sox center fielder to win the award, though Abreu had won it in 2024 for right field.
    Carlos Narváez was also a finalist for a Gold Glove award for catchers, but the award instead went to Dillon Dingler of the Detroit Tigers
    Part of the Red Sox's success in 2025 was due in part to the great defensive effort of the outfield, and now two of the main contributors to that are being recognized with their rightfully owed awards.
    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
    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
    The Boston Red Sox have a handful of player or mutual options that will significantly impact their offseason plans. Most notably, Alex Bregman is expected to opt out of his player option but has said he's interested in returning to the club. Another big name, Jarren Duran, has a unique team option despite still being arbitration-eligible, and it's unclear what direction the team may take with the former top prospect. Additionally, Lucas Giolito and Liam Hendriks have mutual options, both of which are expected to be declined by the team. Then we finally get to Trevor Story.
    Chris Cotillo of MassLive is reporting that "Boston decision makers are — cautiously — quite optimistic that Story will opt in and play out the remaining two years and $55 million on his deal." One thing that may be impacting Story is that the club can void his opt-out by adding an extra year and $20 million to the current deal, which would make him a free agent following the 2028 season at 34 years old.
    Story enjoyed a bounce-back in 2025, finishing the regular season with 25 home runs, 96 RBIs, and a career-high 31 stolen bases. He became the first Red Sox player to record a 20-home run, 20-stolen base season since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997. Despite the impressive numbers, his wRC+ of 101 indicates he was merely an average producer at the plate.
    Of the players they control, which options should be accepted? Would you like to see Story come back? Let us know in the comments!
    Brock Beauchamp
    It's hard to predict how this offseason will unfold, as there is an increasing chance of (yet another) MLB lockout following the 2026 season. Will teams spend big this offseason, hoping to create surety in the face of an unknown collective bargaining agreement? Or will they be hesitant in hopes of a favorable outcome for ownership groups?
    No matter how it shakes out, teams will need to compete in the 2026 season, and they'll need to sign free agents this winter. DiamondCentric has compiled a complete list of free agents, sortable and searchable by pretty much any metric you need. Looking for a first baseman? A catcher? We have you covered. We offer two pages for your reference: one for position players, the other for pitchers.
    Free Agent Hitters In the 2025-2026 MLB Offseason
    Complete List Of 2025-2026 MLB Free Agent Hitters
    DiamondCentric.net Here is a complete list of free agent hitters in the 2025-2026 MLB offseason. Free Agent Pitchers In the 2025-2026 MLB Offseason
    Complete List Of 2025-2026 MLB Free Agent Pitchers
    DiamondCentric.net Here is a complete list of free agent pitchers in the 2025-2026 MLB offseason.
    Nick John
    While the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers continue to battle it out in the World Series, the Boston Red Sox have begun to build up depth for the 2026 season. Late Sunday night, the team came to an agreement with free agent catcher Jason Delay on a minor league deal according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo. It was first reported by Just Baseball Media's Aram Leighton.
    Delay, who has played parts of three seasons in the majors, will immediately slot in as the third catcher on the depth chart behind Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong. Delay will turn 31 in March and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He would go on to make his major league debut in 2022 and play in 134 games between then and 2024. Across that span, he hit .231/.295/.315 with 20 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 35 RBIs. In 2025, he split time with Atlanta‘s Double-A and Triple-A teams. In truth, Delay's glove is what he's better known for, as he was a strong framer in 2022 and 2023 while also throwing out 16 baserunners during his time in the majors.
    While the details of the contract are currently unknown, it is likely Delay has received a non-roster invite to spring training. The move, however, is more about acquiring depth at Triple-A in the event of a potential injury.
    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.
    Brandon Glick
    Sometimes when playoff rosters are announced, there's a surprise or two that gets the fans buzzing.
    The Red Sox have opened no such door for us this time around. Their Wild Card Round roster was just announced prior to Game 1 against the New York Yankees, and it's gone to chalk.
    PITCHERS (12): Brayan Bello, Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Crochet, Connelly Early, Kyle Harrison, Zack Kelly, Steven Matz, Justin Slaten, Payton Tolle, Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Wilson
    CATCHERS (2): Carlos Narváez, Connor Wong
    INFIELDERS (4): Alex Bregman, David Hamilton, Nathaniel Lowe, Trevor Story
    OUTFIELDERS (4): Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida
    INFIELDER/OUTFIELDERS (4): Nate Eaton, Romy Gonzalez, Ceddanne Rafaela, Nick Sogard
    The big name missing is Lucas Giolito, though it was already previously announced that he'd miss the series with an elbow issue. The fallout will be if a Game 3 is necessary, as the Red Sox will need to figure out who will start that contest.
    What do you think of the Red Sox's playoff roster? Are you surprised by any decisions made by Alex Cora and the front office?
    Nick John
    The playoffs haven't even started yet, but the Red Sox were dealt a tough blow Monday afternoon as manager Alex Cora announced that starting pitcher Lucas Giolito would not be on the roster for the Wild Card series. 
    Cora believes that the right-hander has been dealing with an elbow issue his past few starts according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier, but now it's gotten to the point where Giolito had to cut short his latest bullpen session. The right-hander is getting evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon, though any issue with the elbow is not good considering he had elbow surgery in 2024 that cost him the entire season.
    The news is a big loss for the Red Sox, as Giolito was a constant presence in the rotation after returning from the injured list on April 30. In 26 starts, he would end up going 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA across 145 innings. He also struck out 121 batters in that span while opponents hit just .239 against him. 
    While the official roster hasn't been announced just yet, it is likely a possible Game 3 would be started by either Kyle Harrison or Connelly Early. 
    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.
    Nick John
    The Boston Red Sox suffered a massive blow to their roster Wednesday afternoon as manager Alex Cora announced that Roman Anthony is headed to the injured list with an oblique strain. During his afternoon appearance on WEEI, Cora not only dropped the news about the stint on the injured list, but that the estimated timetable for recovery and return is around four to six weeks.
    Anthony suffered the injury during Tuesday night’s games against the Cleveland Guardians in the bottom of the fourth inning. After striking out, Anthony reached for his backside and made his way into the dugout before heading straight into the tunnel. He was immediately replaced in the top of the fifth by Nate Eaton.
    The loss of Anthony is a big one for Boston, as the outfielder had been a spark for the team serving as the leadoff hitter shortly after his promotion to the majors. In 71 games, the 21-year-old hit .292/.396/.463 with 18 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 32 RBIs. Since calling Anthony up, Boston has gone 46-27, taking them from a near-.500 team to one of the top teams in the American League.
    Boston will now look to navigate the final month of the season without their sensational rookie.
    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.
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