Steve Drumwright

One of the reasons behind the Boston Red Sox's rise from early-season struggles to earning a postseason berth was their defense. So it was no surprise Sunday when three players were awarded Gold Gloves. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela and third baseman Caleb Durbin each took home the AL honor at their respective positions. It was Abreu's third Gold Glove in as many MLB seasons, while Rafaela has won it back-to-back in his third full season (fourth overall) and Durbin for the first time in his second MLB season. This is the first time since 2018 that the Red Sox won three Gold Gloves in a single year and the fifth time in club history (also in 1968, 1979, 2011). Abreu and Rafaela are the third pair of teammates to win back-to-back Gold Gloves and the second from the Red Sox. Dwight Evans and Fred Lynn did it in 1978-79 and the Pittsburgh Pirates' Andy Van Slyke and Barry Bonds won three in a row from 1990-92. Rafaela had 17 outs above average in center field, second in MLB behind NL Gold Glove winner Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs, who had 26. Rafaela also had an AL-best eight assists and .994 fielding percentage, committing just two errors in 352 chances. He also had a hand in two double plays. Abreu had just two OAA, but his reputation preceded him. He is always in the right position and possesses a rocket arm. His 13 assists were the most in MLB and he also had two doubles, while committing nine errors, the most among MLB right fielders for a .971 fielding percentage. Durbin only became a regular third baseman when he was called up by the Milwaukee Brewers in April 2025 to make his MLB debut. He led MLB third basemen with 282 assists and 31 double plays, while topping the AL with a .972 fielding percentage (he had 11 errors). He had six OAA. All three are now eligible to win the AL Platinum Glove, which goes to the league's top overall defender regardless of position. The winner will be announced Friday. View full rumor

The scramble to create space on the 40-man roster spots continues for the Boston Red Sox. In their second trade of the day Thursday, the Red Sox sent infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to the Detroit Tigers for cash. The 40-man roster crunch comes with the end of the season and needing enough spots for players who were on the 60-day injured list. The 60-day IL does not count against the 40-man roster. The Red Sox, even with subtracting players who became free agents Thursday with the end of the World Series, needed to clear four spots on the 40-man. To begin the day, the Red Sox traded outfielder Nate Eaton to the A's for minor-league right-hander Jareth Rayo. Cheng appeared in just 14 games for the Red Sox this year after being claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals. Cheng was claimed off waivers by four teams after being designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of last season. He went 10-for-39 (.256/.318/.282) in his one call-up. In 94 games at Triple-A Worcester, he slashed .241/.345/.390 with eight homers, 30 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. View full rumor

New manager Chad Tracy continues to fill out his first coaching staff with the Boston Red Sox. Jason Bell, the quality control coach with the Houston Astros, has been hired by the Red Sox in an unannounced role, according to a report Wednesday by Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Bell has been with the Astros in a variety of positions over the last 10 years. He also was the first base coach for Israel in this year's World Baseball Classic. The 36-year-old Bell has been with the Astros' major-league staff the last three seasons as a quality control coach while adding field coordinator the last two years. Prior to that, he was in similar roles in the Astros' minor leagues, including the 2018 season with the short-season Hudson Valley Renegades in the New York-Penn League, falling in the league finals. View full rumor

While the Boston Red Sox would rather be focused on preparations for the World Series, they are already making moves to get ready for the 2027 season. The Red Sox have signed catcher Riley Adams to a minor-league contract, according to multiple reports. Adams, 30, is a depth move for the Red Sox, who currently have Adley Rutschman as the starter and Connor Wong as the backup at the major-league level. Adams had been with the Washington Nationals since the 2021 trade deadline when he came over from the Toronto Blue Jays. But Adams, for the first time since that 2021 season, did not play in the majors this season. Instead, he was stuck at Triple-A, where he put up a .273/.389/.506 slash line with 16 homers and 50 RBIs in 82 games. He had been taken off the 40-man roster in January and outrighted to the minors, then became a free agent following the end of the regular season. Players on minor-league contracts and not on the 40-man roster are not affected by the lockout. Adams fits that category. View full rumor

Now that he has the full-time job, Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy is tweaking what will be his first MLB coaching staff. Well, sorta his. After robbing a couple of minor-league affiliates of coaching personnel when Alex Cora was fired April 25, a few of those individuals are heading back to the minors. Chad Epperson, who became the Red Sox's third base coach, will become the Triple-A manager, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Epperson had been the manager at Double-A Portland when the MLB staff changes happened. Tracy had been Worcester's skipper before taking over for Cora and then being named the full-time manager at the end of the regular season. Also, interim first base coach Pablo Cabrera will return to his role of minor-league defensive coordinator. The remainder of the coaching staff is expected to remain in their current roles. Tracy reportedly has been told that he will not be able to hire any big names to his staff due to what the Red Sox are paying everyone who was fired. View full rumor

With the sidelining of one key player, another that held hopes to make a big impact is finally coming to fruition. Infielder Curtis Mead, who was injured in his first game after being acquired via trade, was added to the Boston Red Sox's roster prior to Wednesday's Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series vs. the New York Yankees. The Red Sox trail the best-of-three series 1-0 and face elimination in Game 2. Mead replaced injured outfielder Roman Anthony on the roster. Mead was hit on his left wrist in his second plate appearance in a Red Sox uniform, sustained a nondisplaced fracture in the July 26 game against the A's. Mead did not have surgery, giving him a chance to return this year. That opportunity arose with Anthony's injury in Game 1. Mead was acquired from the Washington Nationals in exchange for pitcher Connelly Early on July 27. Mead has been staying in hitting condition by hitting off a machine. He was not in the lineup for Game 2, but could come off the bench as a pinch-hitter. He had been picked up to play either third or second base. Mead was in the midst of a career year, posting a slash line of .253/.353/.498 with 17 homers and 48 RBIs in 88 games. Before this year, Mead had five homers in 152 career games over three seasons between the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox. View full rumor

As the Boston Red Sox face elimination, they have suffered a setback with one of their better hitters. Outfielder Roman Anthony is being removed from the roster due to injury prior to Wednesday's Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the rival New York Yankees. Anthony would be ineligible to play in the AL Division Series should the Red Sox advance. The Red Sox lost Game 1 on Tuesday 9-0. Infielder Curtis Mead, out since sustaining a nondisplaced fracture of his left wrist in his Red Sox debut following a trade, replaced Anthony on the roster. Anthony aggravated his right hand and wrist injury that sidelined him a good chunk of the season. Serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff, Anthony was removed when his spot came up in the top of the sixth inning. Andruw Monasterio replaced him. Anthony had struck out swinging in the first and third innings. Manager Chad Tracy said Anthony felt something on check swings in each of his first two at-bats. According to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, Anthony sustained "new strains to different muscles," which was revealed after he was driven from New York to Boston after Tuesday's game to get new imaging. Anthony was on his way back to rejoin the team Wednesday. The previous injury was also aggravated. Another Globe reporter, Alex Speier, quoted as saying there is "more" damage than previous imaging had revealed. Jahmai Jones was in the leadoff spot as the DH for Game 2, with Nate Eaton playing right field and batting ninth. View full rumor