3 Reunions the Red Sox Could Pursue During the 2025-26 Offseason

[Alex Mayes]

It’s no secret that the Boston Red Sox need a few additional reinforcements after the team finally returned to the postseason in 2025. The only position group that appears set as we move towards the 2026 season is the outfield and even then, someone from that group will likely need to be traded to bring in talent that can push the Red Sox over the edge in 2026.

Obviously, there are a few names on the free-agent and trade markets that have experience in Boston, so running it back with them could prove intriguing during this opening phase of the team's competitive window. Let’s take a look at three names that could potentially be back in the fold once spring training starts in February. For this exercise, we'll stay away from top free-agent names like Alex Bregman that the team should obviously already be in conversations with, and instead focus on a few under-the-radar players.

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#3: Chris Martin, RHP
Martin signed for the 2025 season with his hometown Texas Rangers, but was close to returning to the Red Sox before that deal was put on the table. He pitched his way to a 2.98 ERA over 42 1/3 innings pitched. He posted a 24.7% strikeout percentage against a 4.6 walk rate on the season and was one of the better relievers in baseball. He’s currently 39 and will turn 40 during the 2026 season, but if he doesn’t hang up his cleats, he could be interested in a one-year reunion with a team that could be poised to steamroll its way to the World Series with just a few tweaks. Martin was a dependable arm out of the pen in 2023 and 2024 and can offer veteran leadership to a group of mostly young arms, outside of Aroldis Chapman.

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#2: Steven Matz, LHP
In 2025, the Red Sox maybe had too many left-handed relievers. The bullpen was loaded with guys like Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy, Matz, and Justin Wilson. That doesn’t count guys like Sean Newcomb who didn’t stick with the team or when Payton Tolle shifted to the bullpen for the postseason. Now though? Chapman might be the lone lefty penciled into the Opening Day bullpen. He needs another southpaw to help set him up, and Matz was more than fine in his middle-relief role after he was acquired from the Cardinals at the 2025 trade deadline. He’s not going to blow anyone away, but he’s dependable and that’s what the Red Sox need through the middle innings. He’d likely come fairly cheap on a short-term deal, so there’s very limited downside to bringing Matz back into the fold, especially given his long experience as a starting pitcher.

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#1: Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
The Rangers seem to be in a bit of an odd place at the moment. It’s hard to tell if they are playing for anything of note in 2026 or if they are approaching a full fire sale. They just traded Marcus Semien to the Mets, there are rumors surrounding Corey Seager, and they’ve non-tendered both Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim.

If the Rangers are indeed selling to rebuild, the Red Sox have to make a call about adding Eovaldi back to the rotation. Even with the addition of Sonny Gray, the Sox still need a true number two starter to slot in behind Garrett Crochet, and Eovaldi checks that box. He didn’t post a full season in 2025, only appearing in 22 games for 130 innings pitched. In that time, though, he worked an incredible 1.73 ERA to go along with a 26% strikeout rate, a 4.2% walk rate, and a 3.7 fWAR. On top of all of that, he’s a former champion with the Red Sox and a postseason legend. Bringing him back won’t come cheap, even if the Rangers are selling, but he’s worth the investment. He’s signed through the 2027 season with a $25 million AAV. That's not ridiculously expensive — likely cheaper than the top free-agent starters on the market — and his pedigree speaks for itself.

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There are various other former Red Sox who could end up back in Boston this offseason, but if the front office is interested in bringing in former rostered members, then they need to be looking at the pitching market before anywhere else. Both the free-agent and trade markets have yet to really get moving, so it’s anyone’s guess as to which former members of the team could be returning for the 2026 season.

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[notin]

Refsnyder?

[Alex Mayes]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Refsnyder?

He's an option, for sure, but there's far more pressing needs than him at the moment.