The Red Sox Are Already Facing a 40-man Roster Crunch

[Alex Mayes]

The Boston Red Sox are about to be faced with some tough decisions as the offseason kicks off now that the World Series has concluded. Since the season is over, every name on the 60-day injured list has to be added back to the 40-man roster during the offseason. These names include: Tanner Houck, Liam Hendriks, Kutter Crawford, Hunter Dobbins, and Triston Casas. All but one (Hendriks) are under team control through 2026. Hendriks held a mutual option with the club, but the team turned down their side of the deal, making Hendriks a free agent. Once the club adds all of those other players to the 40-man roster, their total will sit at 41. Thus, there will be at least one player on the 40-man that will need to be cleared, and certainly more once the Sox begin to add players and protect prospects from the Rule 5 Draft.

Let’s take a look at who some of those candidates could be.

Vaughn Grissom

This seems like the most obvious name to be let go during the upcoming 40-man crunch. Grissom was acquired when the Red Sox sent Chris Sale to Atlanta. The hope was that Grissom would slot in as the second baseman of the future since he carried a high draft pedigree and showed in the Braves’ minor league system that he could be a solid contributor on both sides of the ball. Grissom failed to get going though, and the relationship with the team soured over the next two years. Most recently, he was unwilling to discuss what changes he was making in his offensive approach with media members because he “will probably be playing against them soon.” That doesn’t sound like someone who is long for the Red Sox. He was passed over for David Hamilton when Marcelo Mayer went down with a season-ending injury, so that should tell you everything you need to know about Grissom’s standing within the organization.

Josh Winckowski

Arguably the second most obvious name to be let go once the roster crunch begins, Winckowski was barely an afterthought during the 2025 season. He appeared in six games for the Red Sox in 2025. He was then placed on the 60-day injured list in June due to a right elbow flexor strain. The last update we received was in July, when he was reported to have begun his throwing progression. He’s bounced between the starting rotation and bullpen in the past but was penciled in as a low-leverage reliever for 2025 before the injury happened. Effectively, he’s lost his spot in the bullpen because the Red Sox were able to replace him rather quickly. Don’t be shocked to see Winckowski’s name hit the DFA list sooner rather than later this offseason.

Jovani Moran

Moran came over in a trade with the Twins during December of 2024. The Sox received Moran for Mickey Gasper. It was a deal that didn’t cause much commotion in the world of the Red Sox, but Moran did end up making two appearances for the team in 2025. He threw four innings, struck out five, and worked a 2.00 WHIP and an ERA of 6.75. He’s quite possibly the most expendable pitcher on the 40-man roster and will probably be the first player released once the Red Sox make their first addition of the offseason. He’s a left-handed reliever in a bullpen full of lefties that are miles better than he is. Sometimes, the low-hanging fruit is the correct pick for a reason. Moran may return to the Red Sox on a minor-league deal, but he’s taking up a valuable 40-man spot until then.

Jordan Hicks

Just kidding. But seriously…

There are other possible candidates on the 40-man that could be cleared to make room for all the names that will need to be added during the offseason. Craig Breslow has a great staff around him, which could be growing if his search for an assistant general manager proves fruitful. The first couple of names to purge from the roster seem obvious, but the conversation will grow far more difficult as the winter drags on.

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[mvp 78]

That's not a crunch, that's mushier than a bowl of fruity pebbles after it has sat in milk for a minute. 

[moonslav59]

I do not see a 40 man roster crunch, at all, unless we are looking at adding 4 or 5 players over the winter. Even then, having to trade or DFA someone like Grissom, Eaton or Guerrero is no big loss.

Counting the 9 players on the 60 Day IL, who need to be added back soon or DFA'd, we have 41 players on the 40. Add Sandlin (not Mullins or Bleis) and it's 42.

NOn tender Lowe and Grissom gets us to 40.

Add a pitcher via trade (1 forty man gut for 1 forty man pitcher- maybe try for a 2 for 1 deal)

Sign a 3Bman>>> DFA or trade Eaton

Sign a 1Bman>>>DFA or trade Guerrero

If we add anyone else, my guess is we can and will trade or DFA one of these out-of-options players:

Criswell

Hicks

Winckowski

Moran

I simply cannot believe we start the 2026 season with all these 4 guys in our 8 man pen.

Other trade candidates might be:

1 SP'er from Crawford, Fitts, Harrison, Dobbins, Perales or maybe Tolle/Early in the big trade involving an OF'er for a 32 SP'er.

DHam or Sogard

Murphy

Is anybody really worried about losing most of the players I listed above?

No major roster crunch, this winter, unless Brez wants to add 5-6+ new additions.

 

[mvp 78]

Guys that could be let go without an issue:

Criswell

Hicks (won't be due to $)

Houck (won't be due to ceiling)

Kelly (won't be as he has an option)

Moran

Winckowski

Eaton (won't be as he has an option)

Grissom

Lowe

Sogard (won't be as he has options)

All those guys are VERY replaceable. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Guys that could be let go without an issue:

Criswell

Hicks (won't be due to $)

Houck (won't be due to ceiling)

Kelly (won't be as he has an option)

Moran

Winckowski

Eaton (won't be as he has an option)

Lowe

Sogard (won't be as he has options)

All those guys are VERY replaceable. 

As controversial as it is to say, I’m not sure Connor Wong is the lock to be tendered that many think, especially if an available catcher that can hit can be found…

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I do not see a 40 man roster crunch, at all, unless we are looking at adding 4 or 5 players over the winter. Even then, having to trade or DFA someone like Grissom, Eaton or Guerrero is no big loss.

Counting the 9 players on the 60 Day IL, who need to be added back soon or DFA'd, we have 41 players on the 40. Add Sandlin (not Mullins or Bleis) and it's 42.

NOn tender Lowe and Grissom gets us to 40.

Add a pitcher via trade (1 forty man gut for 1 forty man pitcher- maybe try for a 2 for 1 deal)

Sign a 3Bman>>> DFA or trade Eaton

Sign a 1Bman>>>DFA or trade Guerrero

If we add anyone else, my guess is we can and will trade or DFA one of these out-of-options players:

Criswell

Hicks

Winckowski

Moran

I simply cannot believe we start the 2026 season with all these 4 guys in our 8 man pen.

Other trade candidates might be:

1 SP'er from Crawford, Fitts, Harrison, Dobbins, Perales or maybe Tolle/Early in the big trade involving an OF'er for a 32 SP'er.

DHam or Sogard

Murphy

Is anybody really worried about losing most of the players I listed above?

No major roster crunch, this winter, unless Brez wants to add 5-6+ new additions.

 

I think you gave up on Guerrero far too quickly, and Hamilton is better than he gets credit for.  I like Moran, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was DFAd…

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

As controversial as it is to say, I’m not sure Connor Wong is the lock to be tendered that many think, especially if an available catcher that can hit can be found…

They'd have to trade for one, so that doesn't make sense IMO. 

The Dalton Rushing trade scenario is not happening. 

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

I think you gave up on Guerrero far too quickly, and Hamilton is better than he gets credit for.  I like Moran, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was DFAd…

Guerrero is young and far from MLB ready. He was still working on his pitch mix this season. Really only has one above average pitch. 

Maybe I got hit in the head and didn't realize it, but I think I'm coming around on Hamilton. 234 BABIP in '25 seems a little unlucky to me. 🙃

[notin]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They'd have to trade for one, so that doesn't make sense IMO. 

The Dalton Rushing trade scenario is not happening. 

Dalton Rushing is unlikely, but Ive mentioned him because the Sox have tried before.

Trading fir another catcher might not require opening a 40 man roster spot if said catcher is acquired for a player on the 40 man roster.

I do agree there is no crunch.  Even when Sandlin gets added…

[notin]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Guerrero is young and far from MLB ready. He was still working on his pitch mix this season. Really only has one above average pitch. 

Maybe I got hit in the head and didn't realize it, but I think I'm coming around on Hamilton. 234 BABIP in '25 seems a little unlucky to me. 🙃

Guerrero does have a good arm and might not be as ready as you like, but that doesn’t make him DFA material.

As for getting hit on the head vs Hamilton’s BABIP, can’t it be both?

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Dalton Rushing is unlikely, but Ive mentioned him because the Sox have tried before.

Trading fir another catcher might not require opening a 40 man roster spot if said catcher is acquired for a player on the 40 man roster.

I do agree there is no crunch.  Even when Sandlin gets added…

Added or traded. Definitely taken in the Rule 5 if unprotected.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Guerrero does have a good arm and might not be as ready as you like, but that doesn’t make him DFA material.

As for getting hit on the head vs Hamilton’s BABIP, can’t it be both?

I don't believe he's DFA worthy, just mentioning that he has more stuff to work on in regards to his sweeper/slider. 

[notin]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't believe he's DFA worthy, just mentioning that he has more stuff to work on in regards to his sweeper/slider. 

Ok.

I think on the 40 man roster front, Grissom, Criswell and Lowe are definite departures.  Winckowski and Moran are possible.  Wong is possible but very situational so not likely. No idea on Kelly and Murphy…

[moonslav59]

35 minutes ago, notin said:

As controversial as it is to say, I’m not sure Connor Wong is the lock to be tendered that many think, especially if an available catcher that can hit can be found…

We will have to have another catcher in the fold before we let him go, but I think he'll be back.

[moonslav59]

34 minutes ago, notin said:

I think you gave up on Guerrero far too quickly, and Hamilton is better than he gets credit for.  I like Moran, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was DFAd…

I think DHam is a keeper or gets traded, assuming they like Sogard more, now.

They will likely keep Guerrero over 1 or 2 of the out of options guys. We could see criswell, wink or Moran traded, but how many teams are sure they make their 26?

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think DHam is a keeper or gets traded, assuming they like Sogard more, now.

They will likely keep Guerrero over 1 or 2 of the out of options guys. We could see criswell, wink or Moran traded, but how many teams are sure they make their 26?

I wouldn't keep Sogard over Hamilton. Sogard is the 40th guy on your 40 man. He's there because he can play a bunch of positions adequately and won't be completely embarrassing at the plate. He is the ultimate replacement level player. 

I think the better question is Nate Eaton or Nick Sogard? 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

I wouldn't keep Sogard over Hamilton. Sogard is the 40th guy on your 40 man. He's there because he can play a bunch of positions adequately and won't be completely embarrassing at the plate. He is the ultimate replacement level player. 

I think the better question is Nate Eaton or Nick Sogard? 

Sogard is a better fielder than Hamilton at every infield position and a switch-hitter who can put the bat on the ball to drive in the winning run while pinch-hitting for Rafalea.

Eaton is the fastest baserunner to never score from third on a ball thrown away past the first baseman on what should've been the winning run that eliminated the defending AL champs.

[moonslav59]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I wouldn't keep Sogard over Hamilton. Sogard is the 40th guy on your 40 man. He's there because he can play a bunch of positions adequately and won't be completely embarrassing at the plate. He is the ultimate replacement level player. 

I think the better question is Nate Eaton or Nick Sogard? 

I was thinking DHam could be traded. I meant my statement to say they might like Sogard better than before- not better than DHam, but it sounded like that's what I meant.

(Sogard has options- DHam does not, but if we need one IF utility, it should be Romy not DHam or Sogard. If we go with 2, and we can get something good for DHam, the step down to Sogard might be worth it. DHam cannot play SS well.)

 

[notin]

41 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I wouldn't keep Sogard over Hamilton. Sogard is the 40th guy on your 40 man. He's there because he can play a bunch of positions adequately and won't be completely embarrassing at the plate. He is the ultimate replacement level player. 

I think the better question is Nate Eaton or Nick Sogard? 

That could come down to whether or not they keep Abreu and still platoon him. (Don’t platoon him!)

Also does Eaton have an option? If not, that works against him.  The Sox could have as few as 3 position players on the 40 man that are in the minors (assuming maximum of 24 pitchers on the 40 man).  Figure two slots go to Campbell’s and Password.  Sogard might be the third.  Not sure if Eaton can be if necessary…

[mvp 78]

41 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Sogard is a better fielder than Hamilton at every infield position and a switch-hitter who can put the bat on the ball to drive in the winning run while pinch-hitting for Rafalea.

Eaton is the fastest baserunner to never score from third on a ball thrown away past the first baseman on what should've been the winning run that eliminated the defending AL champs.

Sogard is not a better fielder than Hamilton at SS or 2B. 

Hamilton > Eaton > Sogard

[mvp 78]

33 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I was thinking DHam could be traded. I meant my statement to say they might like Sogard better than before- not better than DHam, but it sounded like that's what I meant.

(Sogard has options- DHam does not, but if we need one IF utility, it should be Romy not DHam or Sogard. If we go with 2, and we can get something good for DHam, the step down to Sogard might be worth it. DHam cannot play SS well.)

 

Hamilton still has an option for next season. 

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

That could come down to whether or not they keep Abreu and still platoon him. (Don’t platoon him!)

Also does Eaton have an option? If not, that works against him.  The Sox could have as few as 3 position players on the 40 man that are in the minors (assuming maximum of 24 pitchers on the 40 man).  Figure two slots go to Campbell’s and Password.  Sogard might be the third.  Not sure if Eaton can be if necessary…

Eaton has one more option remaining. 

[notin]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sogard is not a better fielder than Hamilton at SS or 2B. 

Hamilton > Eaton > Sogard

Sogard is more popular because he actually had a pretty good series in NY.  But if he comes back, he is headed to Worcester until needed…

[notin]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Eaton has one more option remaining. 

That makes me think Eaton’s makes more sense than Sogard…

[mvp 78]

Just now, notin said:

That makes me think Eaton’s makes more sense than Sogard…

That went into my calc too. 

[mvp 78]

We talking about the bottom of the 40 man roster, ultimately. Not guys that have a ton of value. They are all fairly disposable at some point. 

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Sogard is a better fielder than Hamilton at every infield position and a switch-hitter who can put the bat on the ball to drive in the winning run while pinch-hitting for Rafalea.

Eaton is the fastest baserunner to never score from third on a ball thrown away past the first baseman on what should've been the winning run that eliminated the defending AL champs.

Hamilton has some of the best grades in BB at 2nd, while Sogard, in limited innings at 2nd, grades out negatively.

[mvp 78]

 

👀

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Hamilton has some of the best grades in BB at 2nd, while Sogard, in limited innings at 2nd, grades out negatively.

I figured someone would use stats to refute opinion. 

My opinion is based on watching Sogard in person at several Worcester games play second, short and third. He is always solid, with sure hands and a strong accurate arm. That's what I saw in every game.

Hamilton, however he grades at second base, for some reason can't catch throws from catchers. I don't know if there's a stat for that basic skill, but my eyes have seen the gory on live Red Sox TV too many times in the past year or two.

And every time Hamilton misses a throw, a baserunner is safe, and a pitcher has to throw more pitches to get out of an inning.

 

[moonslav59]

8 hours ago, notin said:

I think you gave up on Guerrero far too quickly, and Hamilton is better than he gets credit for.  I like Moran, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was DFAd…

For once, the Sox did what I said they might do.

I know- blind squirrel running up a broken clock.