Red Sox Linked to Multiple Left-Handed Relievers In Free Agency

[Nick John]

The Boston Red Sox have yet to sign a free agent to a major-league contract this offseason, but at least the team has remained engaged with several free agents. Currently,the team has a lack of left-handed relief options and with that in mind, the Red Sox have been linked to options such as Danny Coulombe, Tim Mayza, and Cionel Pérez as reported by MassLive's Chris Cotillo.

The Red Sox currently have nine left-handed pitchers on the 40-man roster, but of them only three are currently viewed as relief options, and one is closer Aroldis Chapman. With just Jovani Morán and Tyler Samaniego as potential left-handed relievers for 2026 following the trades of Chris Murphy and Brennan Bernardino, it is only natural the team is looking to improve its reliever situation.

Of the three relievers the team has been linked to, Coulombe is the most attractive option despite a late-season meltdown with the Texas Rangers. Coulombe split the 2025 season between Minnesota and Texas, appearing in 55 games and tossing 43 innings as he finished with a 2.30 ERA. To finish the season, Coulombe pitched in 15 games for Texas after being traded, but struggled as he walked nine batters in 12 innings while allowing three home runs. Should Coulombe pitch closer to how he did in Minnesota (and with Baltimore in 2023 and 2024: he struck out 90 batters in 81 innings while walking just 17) he would slot in immediately as a high-leverage weapon out of the bullpen.

Both Mayza and Pérez had less successful seasons in 2025. Mayza pitched in just 15 games split between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, tossing 16 2/3 innings and striking out 15 batters. The lack of appearances was due to a lat strain that cost him a good portion of the season. While healthy, he had an 87th percentile extension at 6.9 feet, a trait that the Red Sox have been interested in the past couple seasons. He also is a ground ball pitcher and could do well if the Sox continue to improve their infield defense.

Pérez struggled in 2025, appearing in 19 games with Baltimore while tossing 21 2/3 innings. In that span, he struggled with his command, allowing 18 walks. Pérez was designated for assignment in late May and spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Norfolk where his struggles continued. In 22 1/3 innings, he walked 19 batters and finished with a 6.85 ERA. While he had a 16.4% walk rate with Baltimore, he did manage to limit barrels as batters only barreled up his pitches 2.9% of the time. He also managed to get groundballs 60.9% of the time, something that could play well when paired with the Red Sox's infield.

View full rumor

[mvp 78]

Perez and Coulombe are too short for Breslow. I think Wilson is the best bet. I guess Mayza is a fallback option, but his last decent season was 2023. Not very exciting. 

[moonslav59]

We have enough good SP'ers that do well vs LHPs in the 8th and 9th innings.

LOOGY's are out of style.

[Larry Cook]

I think the lefty who might have the ability to maybe fit with the strikeout numbers bres-slow prefers in Dominguez!  But I think a lot of teams are keeping an eye on him! 
 

 

[notin]

On 1/11/2026 at 10:50 AM, Larry Cook said:

I think the lefty who might have the ability to maybe fit with the strikeout numbers bres-slow prefers in Dominguez!  But I think a lot of teams are keeping an eye on him! 
 

 

Seranthony Dominguez is right-handed.   But I agree that he’s still a better add than Danny Coulombe or Tim Mayza…

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

Seranthony Dominguez is right-handed.   But I agree that he’s still a better add than Danny Coulombe or Tim Mayza…

Agreed, but unlike the other top 3 RP'ers in the Sox pen, SD does not have good splits, career:

.555 v RHB

.751 v LHB

I think we can just have Crawford, Harrison and or Sandoval move to the pen and fill this need, especially if it means we have more resources to spend on a big bat and 3Bman, or even a SP2.