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.

[JoeBrady]

10 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Kinda, but he has been better than Watson.

is .646 OPS Against was better tan Sonny Gray

Coloumbe had a 0/7 K/W in his last 7 starts.  Watson has a 3.31/3.86 ERA/FIP over his last 35.1 IPs, with multiple inning capability.

[notin]

14 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Wow.

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

Coulombe had a $75,000 appearance bonus he earned at games 30, 45, 60.  His last appearance was number 29.

He wasn’t solely cut to save $75,000; he was cut because he’s not worth the appearance bonuses.  I base this on the fact that he was kept beyond his roster bonuses of $250,000 for 30 days on the roster, with others kicking in at 60, 90, 120 and 150 days.

Coulombe won’t be on waivers long.  Sox are down one spot on the 40 man…

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Coulombe had a $75,000 appearance bonus he earned at games 30, 45, 60.  His last appearance was number 29.

He wasn’t solely cut to save $75,000; he was cut because he’s not worth the appearance bonuses.  I base this on the fact that he was kept beyond his roster bonuses of $250,000 for 30 days on the roster, with others kicking in at 60, 90, 120 and 150 days.

Coulombe won’t be on waivers long.  Sox are down one spot on the 40 man…

Okay. He was cut to save upwards of $250K.

He's better than Watson, IMO. I still think he will be traded.

[illinoisredsox]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Okay. He was cut to save upwards of $250K.

He's better than Watson, IMO. I still think he will be traded.

Different role than Watson.  Watson is the 8th guy in the pen, mop up duty and has been better after a terrible start (as noted by JoeBrady above).  He also has the ability to go multiple innings; last night was the first time Coulombe has gone more than one.  Plus Watson can actually strike out a batter.  Coulombe has struck out 5 guys since April.

Neither will be going to Cooperstown without a paid admission.

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Different role than Watson.  Watson is the 8th guy in the pen, mop up duty and has been better after a terrible start (as noted by JoeBrady above).  He also has the ability to go multiple innings; last night was the first time Coulombe has gone more than one.  Plus Watson can actually strike out a batter.  Coulombe has struck out 5 guys since April.

Neither will be going to Cooperstown without a paid admission.

K's shmays.

I'll take the .629 OPS Against. Only 6 Sox pitchers have faced more batters AND ave a lower OPSA (Bennett, Moran, Whitlock, Chapman, Tolle and Suarez, of which only 3 are RP'ers.)

RP'ers are hot & cold, so I'd keep the hot ones, knowing they may go cold at any moment.

The only plus for Watson is his age, upside and control years. The only pitcher on the staff with more PAs and a worse OPSA is Bello. That's how badly Watson has been. There is a reason he only pitches mop up and its his .752 OPSA. The whole "he's a good mop up man, because he can go two innings" cracks me up. The mop up man should be the first to go.

This is about JH wanting to save up to $250K. If we get something good back for DC, I'll retract my position.

[UtahSox]

35 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

K's shmays.

I'll take the .629 OPS Against. Only 6 Sox pitchers have faced more batters AND ave a lower OPSA (Bennett, Moran, Whitlock, Chapman, Tolle and Suarez, of which only 3 are RP'ers.)

RP'ers are hot & cold, so I'd keep the hot ones, knowing they may go cold at any moment.

The only plus for Watson is his age, upside and control years. The only pitcher on the staff with more PAs and a worse OPSA is Bello. That's how badly Watson has been. There is a reason he only pitches mop up and its his .752 OPSA. The whole "he's a good mop up man, because he can go two innings" cracks me up. The mop up man should be the first to go.

This is about JH wanting to save up to $250K. If we get something good back for DC, I'll retract my position.

Both guys suck…. I’m on pins and Needles anytime either of them take the mound. But I agree if we waived Coulumbe to save JH 250k (2 weeks worth of yacht fuel) and it puts our momentum at risk what a bozo owner. 

[UtahSox]

All that being said, we really should not second-guess Breslow and Bailey on pitching right now they have been on fire