The Red Sox roster just got trimmed down to 40 players, but it took some wild moves to get there. The biggest shocker has to be the Designation for Assignment of reliever Zack Kelly, a choice that left more than a few folks raising an eyebrow.
Bullpen Shake-Up: Goodbyes and Guarantees
Seriously, they DFA’d Zack Kelly? The guy has been bouncing between AAA and the big club for a while now, and yeah, he’s battled frequent injuries. But don’t sleep on his arm: he was one of the hardest throwers in that entire organization. He put in 131.1 innings for the Sox with an ERA+ of 104, and he even looked good in his limited outings this season. The fact that they chose Raymond Burgos over him is genuinely surprising. It really makes you wonder if being out of options was the only thing that sealed his fate, because on talent alone, this feels like a tough pill to swallow.
Then there’s Eduardo Rivera, another player designated for assignment. He’s already off to the Chaim Bloom-led Cardinals, picked up in exchange for minor league pitcher Juan Carlos García. Rivera, unfortunately, just couldn’t translate his AAA success to the big leagues this year. As for García, he’s an 18-year-old out of Mexico, and let’s be real, that’s “lottery ticket” territory. Could pay off, but it’s a long shot.
On the flip side, there was one bullpen move that was a total no-brainer, a slam dunk if you ask me: the Sox picked up the one-year option on Garrett Whitlock. This dude has been an absolute stud, one of the league’s best relievers. Locking him down for at least another season is huge, and they even hold an additional option for 2028. With Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman already in the fold, that 2027 bullpen is starting to look pretty darn good at the top.
What’s Next: Offense on the Brain & Award Season
But let’s be real, the bullpen wasn’t ever going to be the main focus for this offseason. Willson Contreras said it straight up: “I think we need some more offense.” He put the ball in Craig Breslow’s court, saying, “That’s for [Craig]Breslow to figure out.” And honestly, he’s probably right. You can never have too much firepower, especially if you want to compete.
Before we fully dive into 2027, there’s still some 2026 business to clean up, and that means awards. Two Red Sox players are actually finalists for some major hardware. Payton Tolle is one of three finalists for the AL Rookie of the Year, going up against Parker Messick of the Guardians and Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers. And Manager Chad Tracy is also a finalist for Manager of the Year, alongside Kevin Cash of the Rays and Will Veneble of the White Sox. It’s awesome to see their hard work get recognized like that.
So, while the awards are a nice wrap-up to 2026, the real question for Boston is how they address that offense Contreras is talking about. These roster moves are just the start, but the future looks like it could hinge on who Breslow brings in next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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