Boston Red Sox News

According to Chris Henrique of The Boston Sports Journal, the Red Sox have received interest in right-handed starting pitcher Brayan Bello. Henrique notes that, given Boston's starting pitching depth, teams have begun to call to acquire Bello. Additionally, the team has started "quietly" gauging his value on the trade market. Bello logged a career-high 166 2/3 innings last season and posted a 3.35 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP. He struck out 124 hitters and showed solid command, allowing walks at an 8.4% rate. However, he posted a rather high 4.48 xERA, suggesting he may regress in 2026. With Ranger Suarez joining the rotation and several budding arms in contention for a lead role like Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, the Red Sox may look to move Bello to improve their starting lineup instead.

Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell got off to a strong start to the 2025 season, earning a starting role in Spring Training and signing an eight-year extension in April. However, the 23-year-old faded over the course of the season and spent the last three-plus months of the year in Triple-A. Across 263 MLB plate appearances overall, Campbell posted a .223/.319/.345 slash line with six home runs, 21 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases. As things currently stand, the Red Sox project to enter 2026 Spring Training with opportunities for playing time at both second and third base. As such, Campbell could be competing for a job with infielders Marcelo Mayer and Romy Gonzalez, as well as utility men Nate Eaton and Nick Sogard. Boston may also be looking to move Campbell to the outfield, although the team's outfield depth chart is significantly more crowded. Campbell's progress in Spring Training will be a storyline for fantasy managers to monitor closely.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford (wrist) is expected to begin camp with the rest of the pitching staff, according to president of baseball operations Craig Breslow (via Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic). Crawford resumed throwing earlier this month, and as long as he stays healthy through spring training, he should compete for an Opening Day roster spot. The competition won't be easy, though. The Red Sox added Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray behind Garrett Crochet this offseason, and Brayan Bello should earn the No. 4 starter role if he's not traded. Assuming Boston opens the year with a five-man rotation, that leaves one spot for Crawford, Johan Oviedo, Patrick Sandoval (elbow), Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, or Kyle Harrison. The pitchers who don't make the Opening Day rotation will end up in the bullpen or Triple-A. Crawford is the most familiar face of that group, racking up 313 innings between 2023 and 2024. During the 2024 campaign, he made a whopping 33 starts, posting a 4.35 xFIP, 8.6 K/9, and 2.5 BB/9. He missed all of last year due to wrist surgery.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval (elbow) has resumed throwing and is expected to begin camp with the rest of the pitching staff, according to president of baseball operations Craig Breslow (via Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic). Sandoval hasn't pitched in an MLB game since June 2024 due to elbow surgery. Boston inked him to a two-year deal before last season in hopes that he could recover during 2025 before pitching meaningful innings in 2026. As it stands, it appears that Sandoval is on pace to do just that. However, even if healthy, he'll face competition in Boston's revamped rotation. The Red Sox added Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray behind Garrett Crochet, and Brayan Bello should earn the No. 4 starter role if he's not traded. That leaves one rotation spot for Sandoval, Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford (wrist), Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, or Kyle Harrison. The pitchers who don't make the Opening Day rotation will end up in the bullpen or Triple-A. Sandoval could certainly be the victor of that group, as he's a veteran arm who has impressed in the past. Over 79.2 innings with the Angels in 2024, he posted a 3.87 FIP, 9.2 K/9, and 4.0 BB/9. This competition will be worth monitoring as spring training gets underway and Opening Day inches closer.

The Boston Red Sox continue to explore potential infield additions, but Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports that the organization prefers to play infielder Marcelo Mayer at third base. McCaffrey speculates that Mayer would be a strong fit at the hot corner, not only because he played well in Alex Bregman's absence last year, but also because Boston views him as its franchise shortstop after Trevor Story's contract expires, so they'd like to keep him on the left side of the infield. Plus, although president of baseball operations Craig Breslow wouldn't commit to Mayer at second base or third base, he did emphasize a desire to improve the infield defense. Mayer posted 2 OAA and 2 FRV at third base last year. Connecting the dots, this would seem to indicate that if the Red Sox do pursue an external addition, they may prefer a second baseman over a third baseman. McCaffrey writes that Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner, who would fetch a significant haul if traded, might make more sense than third baseman Isaac Paredes, who has struggled defensively. As the roster currently stands, Mayer projects to play third base while Romy Gonzalez, Nate Eaton, and Nick Sogard could platoon at second.

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early could enjoy a breakout season in 2026. The team's No. 4-ranked prospect (according to MLB Pipeline) made his MLB debut in the second half and looked quite comfortable, logging 19 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.33 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. During this stint, the southpaw struck out an eye-catching 29 hitters while allowing only four free passes. He began the 2025 campaign with Double-A but was able to reach Triple-A Worcester after just 71 2/3 innings. With Double-A, he tallied 96 punchouts with a 2.51 ERA and contended to show similar productivity at Triple-A, logging 28 2/3 innings with a 2.83 ERA. However, managers should closely monitor his status in camp as he may not be guaranteed a spot in the rotation. With the Red Sox bringing in Ranger Suarez and having other budding arms like Payton Tolle, Early may have to earn his spot in spring training. If he can claim the No. 5 spot, he would become a top late-round target in all formats, given his high-end command and elite strikeout upside.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Kansas City Royals are unlikely to land either of the two hitters they have been pursuing in trade talks, Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, or Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox. Through the winter, both the Cardinals and Red Sox have been listening to offers for these two players, but have yet to strike a deal. However, Rosenthal believes that the Royals appear to be out of the running to bolster their lineup ahead of spring training. Donovan is a super-utility infielder who turned in a productive 2025 campaign, posting a .287/.353/.422 line with 10 home runs and three stolen bases. Duran took a step back in 2025 as he held a lower .256/.332/.442 line compared to the impressive .285/.342/.492 slash line he held in 2024. With the Royals likely missing out on both bats, managers should expect Jonathan India to remain the primary second baseman heading into camp, while Lane Thomas, Kyle Isbel, and Jac Caglianone hold the positions in the outfield. This is an excellent sign for former top prospect Caglianone, as he will face even less competition for a full-time role.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) said that being ready for Opening Day will be a "tight squeeze," according to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe. He hopes to ease his way back into action by playing in some games during spring training. Casas is recovering from a ruptured left patellar tendon, and doctors gave him a 12-month recovery timeline that would put his projected return in early May. He had slashed .182/.277/.303 with three home runs and 56 wRC+ through 29 games before suffering his season-ending injury. Boston would definitely like to get its left-handed slugger back, but the organization presumably feels a little less urgency after acquiring Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals. Regardless of Casas' health, Contreras should start at first base when the Red Sox open their season in Cincinnati on March 26.

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Payton Tolle made his MLB debut during the 2025 season and had mixed results. The southpaw logged 19 1/3 innings to the tune of a 6.09 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Tolle was deployed out of the rotation in each of his first three outings but was then shifted to the bullpen over his last four. Through six innings of relief, Tolle looked much more stable, allowing only two runs while striking out seven hitters. Earlier in 2025, Tolle made his professional debut with High-A and was able to quickly progress through the Boston system, which earned him the late-season promotion. Through 91 2/3 innings split between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, the No. 28-ranked prospect in baseball posted a 3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a dominant 133:23 K:BB. However, managers should keep an eye on him during spring training, as he may not be guaranteed a spot in the team's starting rotation given his inconsistent debut. Additionally, the Red Sox recently signed left-hander Ranger Suarez, which will add yet another pitcher to a largely crowded rotation. For now, Tolle is best left for deeper redraft leagues given his unknown role.

The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reports that "at least one person with the Red Sox suggested this week that there's still an opportunity to trade from the outfield group," and that outfielder Jarren Duran "remains a likely trade candidate." Boston has at least four capable outfielders currently on the roster between Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela. While the Red Sox could simply prioritize outfield depth and keep all four, the team's needs elsewhere on the roster could necessitate a trade. Across 696 plate appearances with Boston in 2025, Duran posted a .256/.332/.442 slash line with 16 home runs, 84 RBI, 86 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases. He's entering his age-29 season and will remain under team control through 2028. A Duran trade could potentially provide a playing time boost for Abreu, Rafaela, and Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida.

The Boston Red Sox "quietly shopped" starting pitcher Brayan Bello earlier in the offseason, per Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. While Bello remains a member of the Red Sox for the time being, Boston's recent big-money agreement with lefty starter Ranger Suarez could lead to renewed willingness to trade from their starting pitching depth. Across 166 2/3 innings (29 starts) for the Red Sox in 2025, Bello posted an 11-9 record with a 3.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 124 strikeouts. Bello, who turns 27 years old in May, is locked up on a team-friendly extension through at least the 2029 season. He would almost certainly generate interest on the trade market, and the presence of young arms such as Connelly Early and Payton Tolle in Boston could lead the team to move Bello in pursuit of a bat.

Free-agent left-hander Ranger Suarez agreed to a five-year deal worth $130 million with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. The Red Sox were bound to make another big move after losing third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency to the Chicago Cubs. Suarez, 30, will now join ace lefty Garrett Crochet at the top of Boston's starting rotation going into the 2026 season. Boston also acquired veteran righty Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this offseason to boost their starting rotation. Suarez isn't a big strikeout guy (career 22.1% strikeout rate) and has never reached the 200-inning mark in eight big-league seasons. However, the crafty southpaw has been lights-out in the playoffs with a 1.48 ERA in 42 2/3 innings, and he holds a strong 3.38 career ERA with a 1.27 WHIP, 705 K's, and 240 walks in 762 frames. Suarez might have the track record of a high-end starter, but he's a solid, command-driven ground-ball artist.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that some members of the Boston Red Sox organization are "high on free-agent left-hander Ranger Suarez," and speculates that signing Suarez could be one way for Boston to pivot after losing third baseman Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency. Across 157 1/3 innings (26 starts) for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025, Suarez posted a 12-8 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 151 strikeouts. He lowered his walk rate to a career-best 5.8% in 2025 and now hits free agency going into his age-30 season. In Boston, Suarez would likely slot in alongside veteran right-hander Sonny Gray as one of the top starting pitching options behind ace of the staff Garrett Crochet. However, Rosenthal also reports that Suarez's market "remains unclear," so it does not appear that a signing is imminent.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora views first baseman Willson Contreras as the cleanup hitter for the 2026 season, according to Christopher Smith of Mass Live. If Contreras does indeed become the BoSox's cleanup hitter this year after being acquired in a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, the 33-year-old former catcher will have plenty of RBI opportunities, even if the team was unable to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman. Outfielder Jarren Duran, shortstop Trevor Story, and outfielder Roman Anthony should hit in the top three spots to help set the table for Contreras. The three-time All-Star had an OPS under .800 for the first time in four seasons in 2025, but he also produced career highs in RBI (80), doubles (31), and runs scored (70) with more playing time (135 games) at first base. There will be plenty of RBI opportunities in the cleanup spot, but Contreras is more of an average fantasy first baseman without a high-end power profile.

Boston Red Sox infielder Marcelo Mayer is preparing to play both second and third base this upcoming season. In 2025, Mayer played mostly third base, but saw action at second and shortstop as well. The absence of Alex Bregman means that Mayer should be able to see regular time at third base now. The Red Sox also don't have an everyday option at second base, but Kristian Campbell figures to get a fair shot at earning the starting job. Mayer having the ability to play multiple positions should help him get in the lineup more frequently. Due to injuries, Mayer was limited to 44 games with the Red Sox last season. He slashed .228/.272/.402 with four home runs and 10 RBI during his time with the big league club.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) has resumed baseball activities and is optimistic about playing in Spring Training. Casas is working his way back from a serious knee injury that limited him to 29 games. It seems that Casas is heading in the right direction, but might not be ready for Opening Day. The 26-year-old is likely going to be limited to designated hitter duties with Willson Contreras joining the club this offseason. The Red Sox have enough organizational depth that they could potentially send Casas to the minors until he's ready to contribute again. Casas has only played one full season since making his MLB debut in 2022. There's decent upside here, but Casas is looking more like a late-round option.

Boston Red Sox outfielder/infielder Ceddanne Rafaela might not shift positions as frequently in 2026. Recently, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said it was unlikely that Rafaela would play second base this season. Due to their logjam in the outfield, Rafaela played 24 games at second base in 2025. His defensive abilities are a much better fit in center field, as Rafaela committed three errors in a little over 20 games at the keystone. The Red Sox would rather have Rafaela in center field, a position where he won a Gold Glove this past season. If he remains in the outfield, Rafaela would likely lose his second-base eligibility, which would be a bummer for fantasy managers. The elite defensive ability in the outfield should keep Rafaela in center field on an everyday basis.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford (wrist) has progressed to throwing off the mound. Crawford is reportedly a bit behind schedule, but is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. He missed all of the 2025 campaign due to a wrist issue that required surgery. Crawford has been a viable back-end option for the Red Sox, but it's unclear if he'll remain in the starting rotation. The expectation is that youngsters Connelly Early and Payton Tolle will make a push for a rotational spot. Also, Patrick Sandoval and recently acquired Johan Oviedo should get a chance to earn a spot in camp. Crawford could end up in a swingman-type role, which could be beneficial to the Red Sox, but won't offer much long-term fantasy value.

Right-handed pitcher Seth Martinez has signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox, which includes an invitation to Spring Training. Martinez spent his first four MLB seasons in Houston before moving to Miami in 2025. With the Marlins, Martinez logged just 6 2/3 innings in the big leagues and allowed four earned runs with a 4:3 K:BB. While Martinez saw a similar result in 2023 and 2024, the right-hander showed some upside back in 2022. Through 38 2/3 innings with the Astors that season, the Arizona State product turned in a strong 2.09 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP. Managers should expect Martinez to compete for a low-leverage role in the Boston bullpen. However, given his struggles over the past three seasons, he will likely begin the campaign in the minor leagues.

The Boston Red Sox and starting pitcher Kutter Crawford have agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract to avoid arbitration, according to the Washington Times Sports. Crawford did not pitch last season after beginning the year on the injured list with a knee injury, and he underwent surgery on his wrist in July. The 29-year-old led the Red Sox with 183 2/3 innings in his breakout 2024 season, pitching to a 4.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 16.3% K-BB%. Crawford has experience as both a starter and a reliever, and it remains to be seen how Boston will deploy him in 2026.