Red Sox DFA Danny Coulombe on Day 1 of MLB Draft

[Jack Lindsay]

The Boston Red Sox have designated left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe for assignment on Saturday after he went two innings against the Mets and walked three. Coulombe struggled through the 2026 season producing a 4.95 ERA in 20 innings of work with a 1.50 WHIP and an 11.4% strikeout rate versus a bloated 13.6% walk rate. The underlying numbers backed up his performance this season, as he produced a 4.71 FIP and a 5.91 SIERA. 

Coulombe was brought in as lefty help in the spring, with only closer Aroldis Chapman profiling as a legitimate left-handed option, but he did not meet the expectations set for him.

One interesting note from Chris Cotillo, who broke the DFA news:

So it seems that beyond his play this season, there was legitimate financial incentive for the Red Sox to make this move. No corresponding transaction has been announced yet.

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[moonslav59]

Wow.

I bet a trade is made before the DFA ticker runs out.

[notin]

So now Breslow has DFAd all the relievers he brought in tjis offseason 

[vegasbob]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Wow.

I bet a trade is made before the DFA ticker runs out.

That would be good because Coulombe was a ticking time bomb

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, notin said:

So now Breslow has DFAd all the relievers he brought in tjis offseason 

Guerrero & Watson?

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

That would be good because Coulombe was a ticking time bomb

Kinda, but he has been better than Watson.

is .646 OPS Against was better tan Sonny Gray

[moonslav59]

It's weird how OPS is like the bible for batters but OPS Against is hardly viewed as telling.

.200 Rivera (10 PAs)

.550 Bennett

.566 Moran

.572 Whitlock

.594 Sandoval (19 PAs)

.604 Guerrero

.607 Chapman (3 RP'ers are better in OPSA)

.613 Tolle (Not considered better than Gray & Suarez)

.614 Kelly (demoted to AAA)

.621 Suarez

.646 Coulombe (DFA'd over some measly bonuses.)

.654 Gray

.687 Weissert (often criticized on game threads)

.713 Anderson (32 PAs)

.714 Samaniego (AAA)

.720 Early

.752 Watson (210 PAs most among RP'ers)

.771 Gamboa (still around)

.818 Crochet (IL)

.847 Slaten (our #3 RP)

.851 Bello (AAA)

4 others are gone, demoted or on IL.