theathleticuk
The Boston Red Sox made a pair of roster moves on Monday, designating right-handers Zack Kelly and Eduardo Rivera for assignment. The decision coincided with the official start of free agency and the deadline for teams to add players to the 40-man roster who had finished the year on the 60-day injured list.
Boston had been exploring trade possibilities for both pitchers. According to a league source who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about negotiations, the Red Sox made five players available over the past week: Nate Eaton, Tsung-Che Cheng, Kelly, Rivera, and Raymond Burgos. The team found takers for Cheng and Eaton but still needed roster spots, leading to Monday's designations.
Kelly, 31, ended the season on the 60-day IL with elbow inflammation. He posted a 3.31 ERA in 17 appearances but spent most of the year at Triple A before the elbow issue arose. He was also out of minor-league options, making him a tougher fit. Rivera, 23, appeared in four games for Boston, allowing seven runs over 10 innings.
The Red Sox's 60-day IL list also included Kutter Crawford, Triston Casas, Justin Slaten, Johan Oviedo, and Eli White, all of whom needed to be activated or designated. Monday's moves, combined with last week's trades, set the stage for what should be an active offseason.
Key MLB Dates
Nov. 9-12: GM Meetings in Las Vegas. Typically a precursor to the Winter Meetings, these meetings may carry more urgency this year with the Winter Meetings unlikely due to the impending lockout. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is expected to meet with reporters next week to discuss offseason plans.
Nov. 17 (6 p.m.): Deadline to add minor leaguers eligible for the Rule 5 draft to the 40-man roster. The Rule 5 Draft itself may not occur in December because of the lockout, but the Red Sox may consider protecting players like outfielder Braiden Ward, catcher Johanfran Garcia, and pitchers Blake Wehunt and Hayden Mullins.
Nov. 20 (5 p.m.): Non-tender deadline. Teams must tender contracts to unsigned team-controlled players. The Red Sox have several decisions to make on players including Crawford, Casas, Oviedo, Slaten, White, Tanner Houck, Jarren Duran, Adley Rutschman, Romy Gonzalez, Connor Wong, Wilyer Abreu, Andruw Monasterio, Greg Weissert, Tyron Guerrero, Jahmai Jones, and Erik Miller. Some are obvious locks (Abreu, Rutschman, Houck), while others like Duran, Casas, and Weissert have less certainty.
Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m.: Current CBA expires. Teams have until then to make moves before the lockout begins, barring an unexpected early agreement on a new CBA. November could be more active than usual.
Thoughts on Recent Moves
Garrett Whitlock option exercised: The Red Sox officially picked up Whitlock's $8.25 million team option for 2027, securing him as the setup man ahead of closer Arelis Chapman for another season. Whitlock, 30, is coming off his second straight strong season as a full-time reliever after missing most of 2024 with an internal brace procedure. In 2025, he posted a 2.25 ERA in 62 appearances (72 innings) and followed that with an even stronger year, recording a 1.72 ERA in 54 appearances (52 1/3 innings) with a 0.90 WHIP, a career-best 4.5 percent walk rate, and a 29.8 percent strikeout rate. Whitlock had signed a four-year, $18.75 million deal for 2023-26 with team options for 2027 and 2028. He pitched through a fractured right tibia at the end of the season and is currently in a walking boot but is expected to make a full recovery for 2027. A bullpen built around Chapman (whose option was secured earlier) and Whitlock is already a good start.
Bench depth takes a hit: The trades of Eaton and Cheng hurt on the periphery, but the presence of players like White and Monasterio, along with Nick Sogard, Gonzalez, and Anthony Seigler, speaks to the club's depth and ability to cut players on the margins. Still, depth is key, and other minor-league moves will be made throughout the offseason.
Coaching changes: Last week, the Red Sox hired Jason Bell as a major-league coach. Bell spent the past 10 seasons with the Houston Astros organization and will work as an outfield coach, with additional responsibilities that may include serving as first- or third-base coach. In mid-October, the Red Sox reassigned first-base coach Pablo Cabrera to a defensive minor-league coaching role and made third-base coach Chad Epperson the manager of Triple-A Worcester. Bell joined Houston's major-league staff three years ago but spent most of his time in player development, a hallmark of the Astros' winning seasons. Breslow noted a need for the coaching staff to focus on development because the team has a young core capable of taking the next step. Bell fits that mold and will work with a Gold Glove outfield group, with a key focus likely on helping Roman Anthony strengthen his defense.
In other coaching and front-office news, the Philadelphia Phillies and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski hired former Red Sox hitting coach Pete Fatse and hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin. The Washington Nationals, now led by former Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Toboni, hired David Besky, who had been Boston's director of baseball sciences, to lead their pitching strategy.
Gold Glove Trio
The Red Sox tied the Arizona Diamondbacks for the most Gold Gloves won by one team when Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Caleb Durbin earned their hardware on Sunday. It marked the fifth season in team history in which three Red Sox players received a Gold Glove and the first since 2018 (Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Ian Kinsler). It was Abreu's third straight Gold Glove in right field and Rafaela's second consecutive in center. Durbin, who won his first Gold Glove, impressed this past season by playing third base despite a dislocated pinky finger that required reconstructive surgery at the end of the season. The team also announced last week that Durbin had surgery on his right foot for an older injury involving a fracture on the outer part of his foot, along with a tendon repair. He is expected to be fully recovered from both surgeries by spring training.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.