Red Sox Sign Left-Handed Reliever Danny Coulombe To One-Year Deal

[Nick John]

All offseason, the Boston Red Sox were looking for a left-handed reliever to add to their bullpen, and with the regular season just two weeks away the team has signed one. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal was the first to report that the Red Sox and free-agent reliever Danny Coulombe came to an agreement Thursday night on a one-year deal. The contract is said to be a major-league deal, meaning he'll join the 40-man roster. The contract is worth $1 million according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

Coulombe had a season of two halves in 2025. Beginning the season with Minnesota, the reliever was one of the best left-handers in the game as he appeared in 40 games and tossed 31 innings. In that span, he allowed just four earned runs on 21 hits and nine walks. He also struck out 31 batters. However, after getting traded to Texas at the trade deadline, he didn’t perform as well. Appearing in 15 games, he struggled in 12 innings as he allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits and nine walks.

Prior to 2025, he spent two seasons in Baltimore where he was once more a dominant bullpen arm. In 94 games with Baltimore, he tossed 81 innings and allowed just 23 earned runs. He also walked just 17 batters and struck out 90 in that span.

With the Red Sox's 40-man roster full, the team is placing Romy González on the 60-Day Injured List to open up a spot.  

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[Brandon Glick]

A move that probably should have happened months ago, but still a nice pickup. The salary is so small that the team can cut him loose at any point, but I'd expect Coulombe to be on the Opening Day roster barring injury.

[JoeBrady]

Nice addition for $1M.

[notin]

Finally!!   I’ve been posting it for months!  

Ok, maybe “month”…

[notin]

10 minutes ago, Brandon Glick said:

A move that probably should have happened months ago, but still a nice pickup. The salary is so small that the team can cut him loose at any point, but I'd expect Coulombe to be on the Opening Day roster barring injury.

And who goes? Cheng?

[moonslav59]

You called it, notin.

Nice deal. 

I'd say Cheng goes, and Crawford begins the season on the IL.

[Paul Cyr]

Non elite relievers are always a crap shoot …. At this price point, it’s a low risk investment. 

[mvp 78]

11 hours ago, Brandon Glick said:

A move that probably should have happened months ago, but still a nice pickup. The salary is so small that the team can cut him loose at any point, but I'd expect Coulombe to be on the Opening Day roster barring injury.

Probably wasn't going to sign for 1M a few months ago. 

[mvp 78]

Coulombe '25:

43 IP

9 K/9

3.77 BB/9

1.16 WHIP

2.30 ERA

4.04 xFIP

3.95 xERA

[moonslav59]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Probably wasn't going to sign for 1M a few months ago. 

At his age, his last season carries more weight than other recent seasons, but from 2023-2024:

3.27 xFIP (19th out of 166 RP'ers with 80+ IP.)

2.83 FIP (14th)

2.99 xERA (21st)

63 ERA- (16th)

23% k%-BB% (13th)

2023-2025

59 ERA- (8th out of 156 pitchers with 120 IP as a RP)

3.57 xFIP (44th)

3.28 xERA (40th)

For $1M, this looks pretty damn good.

[Behindenemylines]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

At his age, his last season carries more weight than other recent seasons, but from 2023-2024:

3.27 xFIP (19th out of 166 RP'ers with 80+ IP.)

2.83 FIP (14th)

2.99 xERA (21st)

63 ERA- (16th)

23% k%-BB% (13th)

2023-2025

59 ERA- (8th out of 156 pitchers with 120 IP as a RP)

3.57 xFIP (44th)

3.28 xERA (40th)

For $1M, this looks pretty damn good.

Looks like a good pickup for that price. The need for another lefty out of the pen has been one since December. I always wonder why these players haven't been signed yet. 

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said:

Looks like a good pickup for that price. The need for another lefty out of the pen has been one since December. I always wonder why these players haven't been signed yet. 

Maybe the $1M price tag is reason enough.

I like this move and the fact that he is a lefty.

I'm not sure the lefty thing was as urgent as it appeared, since our top RH'd RP'ers have done pretty well vs LHBs.

OPS Against Career

Whitlock: .648 v L/ .668 v R

Slaten: .542 v L/ .606 v R

Weissert: .711 v L/ .665 v R

Crawford: .723/ .709

Kelly: .734/ .699 (not really horrible, and he's the worst on the list.)

LHP Sandoval crushes LHBs: .598/.734

Chapman, too: .462/.553

Coulombe: .596/.694

Moran: .602/.622