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Wilyer Abreu Wilyer Abreu Will face more lefties in 2026
Tue, Dec 9, 2025, 7:43 PM
The Red Sox plan to challenge Abreu to face more left-handers this coming season, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Abreu has mostly been limited right-handers since his MLB arrival in 2023, but the Red Sox are ready to give him a shot against all starters. "With Willy and some of the lefties, we have to see if they can do it," manager Alex Cora said. "It's about that time, especially with Abreu. If he can hit lefties and hit for power and play defense the way he's done the last few years, he can be the guy." Abreu's made just 15 starts against lefties and has 145 total plate appearances since 2023, struggling to a .205 average and .589 OPS. |
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Triston Casas Triston Casas Spending winter in Fort Myers
Tue, Dec 9, 2025, 7:08 PM
Casas (knee) has been at Boston's training facility in Fort Myers since the end of the regular season, Lauren Campbell of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: It's unclear the type of activity in which Casas has been engaged, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora continues to have faith in the young first baseman, who was limited to 29 games last season. "That's great for a young guy to know what he needs to do to compete," the manager said. "He's done that. Hopefully we can get him heathy." The shortened 2025 season was the second consecutive one for Casas, who was limited to 63 games in 2024 due to a fractured rib. Casas is not a lock to return as the starting first baseman, and the Red Sox are rumored to have interest in free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. |
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Cooper Criswell Cooper Criswell Designated for assignment
Thu, Dec 4, 2025, 7:28 PM
The Red Sox designated Criswell for assignment Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: The Red Sox re-signed Criswell to a one-year contract in early November, but he'll lose his roster spot less than one month later. He spent the majority of the 2025 season with Triple-A Worcester and should have the chance to contribute as a reliever at some point in 2026 if he sticks with the organization. |
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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Headed to Boston
Thu, Dec 4, 2025, 6:34 PM
Oviedo was traded from the Pirates to the Red Sox in exchange for Jhostynxon Garcia and an additional player Thursday,Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: After acquiring Sonny Gray earlier in the offseason, the Red Sox remained aggressive in upgrading their rotation this winter. Oviedo rehabbed from Tommy John surgery for much of the 2025 season, though he managed to join the Pirates' rotation for the final two months of the campaign. In nine starts, Oviedo managed a 3.57 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with a 42:23 K:BB across 40.1 frames. Control has been a consistent concern for Oviedo throughout his 361.0 innings in the big leagues, but he should be a decent back-end starter for the Red Sox. |
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Vinny Capra Vinny Capra Signs MiLB deal with Red Sox
Thu, Nov 27, 2025, 9:47 AM
The Red Sox signed Capra to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Analysis: Capra managed just a .125/.157/.177 batting line across 47 contests for the Brewers and White Sox in 2025. The 29-year-old offers plenty of defensive versatility and will give Boston some useful depth at Triple-A Worcester. |
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Sonny Gray Sonny Gray Traded to Red Sox
Tue, Nov 25, 2025, 10:36 AM
The Red Sox acquired Gray and cash considerations from the Cardinals on Tuesday in exchange for Brandon Clarke, Richard Fitts and a player to be named later or cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Gray had a no-trade clause but has agreed to waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a deal to the Red Sox. The 36-year-old posted a 4.28 ERA (3.39 FIP) and 201:38 K:BB over 180.2 innings for St. Louis in 2025, marking the second straight year he reached the 200-strikeout plateau. Gray is owed $35 million in 2026 and has a $5 million buyout on a $30 million mutual option for 2027. |
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Connor Wong Connor Wong Avoids arbitration with Red Sox
Thu, Nov 20, 2025, 11:01 AM
The Red Sox and Wong (hand) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday.
Analysis: Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com says the deal is worth $1.375 million, with an additional $75,000 possible in performance bonuses. It was a disastrous 2025 season for the 29-year-old Wong, as he lost his starting job to Carlos Narvaez and finished with a .500 OPS and zero home runs over 63 regular-season contests. Wong -- who is expected to be recovered from October right hand surgery by spring training -- will be Narvaez's backup at catcher again in 2026. |
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Ceddanne Rafaela Ceddanne Rafaela Focusing on CF, adding strength
Wed, Nov 19, 2025, 1:54 PM
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that he would like to keep Rafaela in center field "as long as possible" next season, Foul Territory TV reports.
Analysis: Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said something similar last offseason, and while Rafaela made 129 starts in center field in 2025, he was also needed for 19 starts at second base. Rafaela posted a .752 OPS with 14 home runs and an 18.8 percent strikeout rate through the end of July but had just a .622 OPS with two homers and a 22.2 percent strikeout rate between August and September. Cora attributed Rafaela's late-season struggles to the 25-year-old wearing down, and the team has tasked Rafaela with getting "bigger and stronger" this offseason so he won't become fatigued as easily. |
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Josh Winckowski Josh Winckowski Booted from 40-man roster
Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 12:50 PM
The Red Sox designated Winckowski (elbow) for assignment Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: The move frees up a spot on Boston's 40-man roster. Winckowski made just six appearances for the Red Sox in 2025, as he spent time in the minors and also missed a large chunk of action with a flexor strain. It's unclear what Winckowski's current health status is. The 27-year-old has a career 4.20 ERA and 195:89 K:BB across 242.1 innings. |
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Nathaniel Lowe Nathaniel Lowe DFA'd by Red Sox
Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 12:46 PM
The Red Sox designated Lowe for assignment Tuesday.
Analysis: Lowe had been set to be non-tendered later this week, so this transaction just serves a way to remove him from the 40-man roster sooner. The veteran first baseman slashed only .228/.307/.381 with 18 home runs over 153 regular-season games between the Nationals and Red Sox in 2025. Lowe will become a free agent once he officially clears waivers. |
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Tristan Gray Tristan Gray Traded to Red Sox
Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 12:37 PM
The Red Sox acquired Gray from the Rays in exchange for Luis Guerrero on Tuesday.
Analysis: Gray has managed a .207/.264/.369 batting line over parts of three big-league seasons. He can handle all four infield positions and will join Boston's 40-man roster. |
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Richard Fitts Richard Fitts Enters winter with no limitations
Sun, Nov 16, 2025, 9:06 AM
Fitts (arm) heads into the winter with no limitations, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Fitts, who missed the final 30 games of the season due to right arm neuritis, is throwing again and should have a normal offseason, per Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. Injuries to projected rotation members during the spring opened a spot for Fitts early on before he landed on the IL with a pectoral strain. Pending the team's offseason moves -- re-sign Lucas Giolito or add a viable free agent -- Fitts will be part of a group competing for a spot at the back end of the rotation or the bullpen. |
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Luis Guerrero Luis Guerrero Outrighted to Triple-A
Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 12:57 PM
The Red Sox outrighted Guerrero to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Guerrero had been designated for assignment last week, and he will remain in the organization after somewhat surprisingly clearing waivers. The hard-throwing reliever has posted a 2.63 ERA but a problematic 19:16 K:BB across 27.1 frames covering parts of two major-league seasons. |
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Roman Anthony Roman Anthony Will have normal offseason
Tue, Nov 11, 2025, 9:06 AM
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that Anthony (oblique) is asymptomatic and will have a normal offseason, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Analysis: Anthony suffered a left oblique strain in early September that sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. However, the rookie outfielder is heading into the offseason with a clean bill of health. Anthony slashed .292/.396/.463 with eight homers and four steals over 71 contests in his rookie campaign. |
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Marcelo Mayer Marcelo Mayer Should be healthy for spring
Tue, Nov 11, 2025, 9:03 AM
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that Mayer's recovery from right wrist surgery had progressed to the point that he could have been available had the team made a deep postseason run, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Analysis: That suggests Mayer -- who underwent a right wrist arthroscopy in August -- should be fully recovered well ahead of spring training. As things currently stand, Mayer could open the 2026 season as the starter at either second or third base, though much will depend on what additions the Red Sox make to their roster. |
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Lucas Giolito Lucas Giolito Fully recovered from elbow injury
Mon, Nov 10, 2025, 8:32 AM
Giolito said on Audacy's "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast that he began his offseason throwing program in mid-October and is fully recovered from the right elbow injury that ended his season in late September.
Analysis: The right-hander came down with right elbow soreness at the end of the regular season and was unavailable to pitch in the playoffs for the Red Sox. However, Giolito noted that "within three days, my elbow felt 100 percent fine again," and "whatever injury there was, it's gone." Giolito is entering free agency and, assuming his medicals do indeed check out, should receive plenty of interest on the open market. The 31-year-old held a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 innings for Boston in 2025. |
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Luis Guerrero Luis Guerrero Designated for assignment
Thu, Nov 6, 2025, 2:34 PM
The Red Sox activated Guerrero from the 60-day injured list and designated him for assignment Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Guerrero missed a significant chunk of the 2025 season with an elbow issue, but he's healthy now, having made four appearances in the Dominican winter league. The 25-year-old has an uninspiring 19:16 K:BB over 27.1 innings at the big-league level, but he has a 29.8 percent strikeout rate in the minors and has minor-league options remaining, so Guerrero could draw interest on waivers. |
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Cooper Criswell Cooper Criswell Re-signs with BoSox
Thu, Nov 6, 2025, 1:18 PM
Criswell signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Red Sox on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Criswell appeared in seven games for Boston in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 3.57 ERA and 1.58 WHIP through 17.2 innings. He put up similar numbers at Triple-A Worcester (3.70 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) before elbow inflammation put an early end to his season in late August. The 29-year-old righty doesn't have any more minor-league options remaining, so he will have to make the Red Sox's Opening Day roster to avoid losing his 40-man spot. |
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Trevor Story Trevor Story Will not opt out of contract
Tue, Nov 4, 2025, 3:01 PM
Story will remain with the Red Sox after choosing not to opt out of the two years and $50 million left on his contract, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Story is owed $25 million each of the next two seasons and the Red Sox have a $25 million club option or $5 million buyout on him for 2028. He might have been able to get more than that on the open market, but Story -- who will turn 33 later this month -- has opted to stay put. Story slashed .263/.308/.433 with 25 home runs and 31 stolen bases over 157 regular-season games for Boston in 2025. |
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Jarren Duran Jarren Duran Avoids arbitration with Red Sox
Tue, Nov 4, 2025, 12:24 PM
The Red Sox and Duran avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $7.7 million contract Tuesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: The team had an $8 million option on Duran, but it will give him a $100,000 buyout instead and bring him back at a slightly lower salary than what the option would have paid him. Duran will remain under club control through the end of the 2028 season. The 29-year-old outfielder slashed .256/.332/.442 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 157 regular-season contests for Boston in 2025. |
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