Boston Red Sox Likely To Tender Starting Pitcher Tanner Houck

[Matthew Lenz]

The Boston Red Sox's 40-man roster is currently full, with the non-tender deadline fast approaching. By Friday, the Red Sox will have to determine whom they will tender and non-tender, the latter of which will open spots on the 40-man roster. With about four days to go until that deadline, one pitcher on the bubble is likely to be kept.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports that the Boston Red Sox are "unlikely" to non-tender starting pitcher Tanner Houck, despite the righty missing all of 2026.

Houck's 2025 season with the Red Sox consisted of nine starts before he was sidelined with an elbow issue in mid-May. He struggled through 43 2/3 innings with a FIP of 6.16 and a K-BB rate of 7.4%. Houck was placed on the shelf due to a right flexor pronator strain and later required surgery, which is expected to keep him off a major-league mound until 2027. MLBTR projects him to earn $3.95 million via arbitration.

Do you agree the Red Sox should tender Houck despite his injury? Let us know in the comments!

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[moonslav59]

He should be tenderized.

[Hitch]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

He should be tenderized.

I think it makes sense to offer hm a multi year deal at this point, pay him for rehabbing (like we love to do) but then get the benefit on the back end. 

[Hugh2]

Maybe this signals ownership optimism for a deal in 2027? because that's a big spot to burn for a guy who is going to come back and only have one year of team control left and maybe not even be able to play if there's a lock out. 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Hitch said:

I think it makes sense to offer hm a multi year deal at this point, pay him for rehabbing (like we love to do) but then get the benefit on the back end. 

100% the right thing to do. They've done it with much lesser pitchers at greater costs.

[BaseballGuru]

IMO Tanner Houck when healthy is a 1 or 2 ceiling with a 3 no brainer.   Assuming health,  He should be a solid mid to upper rotation arm.  Great movement on his offerings and has potential to be a right handed Chris Sale if he puts it all together with command and control, but his health & stamina would need to surpass Sale in Boston to materialize.