Red Sox Roster Crunch: Who's At Risk of Being Cut

[Nick John]

The offseason in baseball is not just about improving a team through the addition of new players, but also how each franchise handles roster construction and depth through the 40-man roster. Most teams will eventually find themselves in a roster crunch and will be forced to make tough decisions. Ultimately, players who are on the 40-man roster may find themselves traded, waived or even designated for assignment, so that the team can open a roster spot for a new addition.

Following the conclusion of the Winter Meetings and the addition of Ryan Watson following the Rule 5 Draft, Boston finds themselves in a situation where their roster currently sits at a full 40 players. Knowing that, here are four players who could see themselves battling it out for one of the final roster spots or be a casualty of the business side of baseball.

Tristan Gray
Gray was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays back in November for Luis Guerrero and as of now is likely slated for Triple-A to serve as depth. It would take a fantastic spring training paired with injuries to those ahead of him on the depth chart to get him to break camp with the major-league roster. Gray is known for his power and bat speed along with defensive versatility, but he doesn’t exactly hit the ball often enough to warrant a guaranteed roster spot. Should the Red Sox designate him for assignment, the team might be able to sneak him through waivers and keep him on the Worcester roster. However, at this point of the offseason, it’s possible another team would claim him.

David Hamilton
Hamilton regressed offensively in 2025 after a 2024 season in which he played a big role on the team by getting starts at second base. Depending on how the Red Sox finish the offseason, they may view Hamilton as being expendable. The infielder isn’t exactly a great hitter, and defensively, he’s average at second base. Really, his key skills are his game altering speed and defensive versatility, but with Nate Eaton on the roster, he may be superfluous. If Hamilton were to be designated for assignment, there is no doubt another team would claim him and use him either as a starting second baseman or a utility infielder.

Jordan Hicks
This one is more wishful thinking because of Hicks' contract. With two years and $24 million remaining, it’s unlikely the team cuts him and eats that entire contract. They would likely look to trade him first, though should he struggle in 2026, the chances of him being cut begin to grow.. The flamethrowing right-hander struggled after the Rafael Devers trade, and if the team wants to compete for a championship, they can’t keep a reliever around who could cost them games. Hicks would certainly make it through waivers due to his contract, though another team would likely scoop him up quickly afterward for the league minimum.

Zack Kelly
Kelly’s chances of being cut really depend on how the bullpen shapes up by the end of the offseason. During his time in Boston, Kelly has been two different pitchers. At times, he looks like a reliable shut-down option who could pitch the eighth to get the ball to Aroldis Chapman, and at other times, he looks like he shouldn’t be in the majors. The 2025 campaign was an extremely unlucky season for Kelly, as his ERA was over a full run higher than his xERA; in the second half, he looked much better, tossing 12 2/3 innings and allowing just four earned runs. Being paid just the minimum in 2026, Kelly has a good shot of sticking around due to the cheapness of his contract. He probably wouldn't pass through waivers due to that fact, though.

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