All articles tagged with #red sox
Steve Buckley argues that while John Henry has been a strong Red Sox owner, his silence amid fans’ ‘Sell the team’ chants at Fenway is bad form and risks eroding trust; Henry should address the fan base directly about the team’s direction, even as his tenure has brought four World Series titles, with side notes on Opening Day moments, Monster Energy signage, and the pressures facing new players like Roman Anthony.
Red Sox right-hander Johan Oviedo has a flexor strain and will be shut down from throwing for six weeks, avoiding surgery but likely delaying his return after his 2023 Tommy John procedure. Even after the rest period, he’ll need time to ramp back up. Boston’s rotation will work around him with Crochet, Gray, Suárez, Early and Bello in the mix, while Sandoval and Crawford begin rehab starts and Payton Tolle is in Triple-A.
Garrett Crochet spun six scoreless innings and Roman Anthony went 3-for-4 with a walk, aided by MLB’s new automated ball-strike system overturning a ninth-inning pitch, as the Red Sox beat the Reds 3-0 on Opening Day.
Roman Anthony is being viewed as a clubhouse leader for the Red Sox as he starts his first full MLB season, with teammates like Garrett Whitlock praising his leadership and manager Alex Cora noting a youth-forward clubhouse dynamic that could define the team's culture this year.
Rookie left-hander Connelly Early will open Boston’s 2026 season in the rotation as the No. 3 starter after a standout spring (1.59 ERA) and solid late-2025 big‑league showing. The Sox plan to pair him with Johan Oviedo in the early rotation, with Oviedo serving as a multi‑inning reliever and possible piggyback option behind Ranger Suarez as he builds up. Payton Tolle was optioned to the minors, while Jovani Morán and Danny Coulombe join the bullpen alongside established late‑inning arms Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, as the club maps out its bullpen and rotation for April.
Boston optioned their No. 1 prospect Payton Tolle to Triple-A three days before Opening Day, despite a 2.53 spring ERA, keeping the Red Sox’s five-man rotation intact ( Crochet, Gray, Oviedo, Suarez and Bello ).
Seven Globe writers preview the 2026 MLB season, predicting the Red Sox will contend in the AL East and likely reach the playoffs, with only one writer forecasting Boston misses postseason. The Sox open the year in Cincinnati, and the piece weighs rivals like the Blue Jays and Yankees, plus notes on players such as Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Mookie Betts, Kyle Schwarber and Tarik Skubal as context for the broader season outlook.
Boston finalized its position-player roster by keeping Andruw Monasterio as a versatile reserve and Connor Wong as the backup catcher, while optioning Nate Eaton and Mickey Gasper and reassigning Matt Thaiss. The team also assembled a five-man outfield (Yoshida, Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Anthony) to enable late-inning pinch hitting, and trimmed several pitchers (Kelly, Uberstine, Samaniego, Tolle, Kahnle) to minor league camp as spring training winds down. Ryan Watson earned a spot as a multi-inning reliever, with rotation spots still up for grabs between Johan Oviedo and Connelly Early, as Coulombe remains in the mix.}
The Red Sox trimmed spring roster decisions, optioning Mickey Gasper and Nate Eaton and reassiging Matt Thaiss to minor league camp (likely Worcester) as catching depth. The bench will include Connor Wong, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andruw Monasterio (who earned the spot on a strong spring), and Masataka Yoshida. Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson earned a bullpen role and must stay on the big-league roster all season, while Tyler Samaniego was optioned to Triple-A.
Red Sox pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson, a 2025 LSU alum and third-round pick, touched 100 mph for the first time and struck out the side in a Spring Breakout game against Orioles minor leaguers, showcasing his fastball, a developing splitter, and a wipeout curve.
Marcelo Mayer will open the season as Boston’s regular second baseman (in a left-handed platoon) while Kristian Campbell was optioned to Triple-A Worcester amid a crowded roster; Mayer, a former top prospect recovering from injury, is being groomed for a stable big‑leaguer role, and the Sox split time at 2B with IKF/Monasterio in reserve.
With Opening Day a week away, the Red Sox showcase a strengthened pitching staff led by newcomer Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello, expect Garrett Crochet to anchor the rotation, and welcome Caleb Durbin as a potential infield catalyst as Boston opens the 2026 season against Terry Francona’s Reds.
Boston signed left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe to a one-year, $1 million deal, providing bullpen depth as Romy Gonzalez lands on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder issue. The 36-year-old posted a 2.30 ERA over 43 innings last season with the Twins and Rangers, with a 24.4% strikeout rate and 13.1% swinging-strike rate, continuing a string of sub-3.00 ERAs. He relies on a 90 mph fastball and a mid-80s cutter, offering a platoon-neutral profile that leans on command against lefties; he’ll slot into Boston’s middle-relief group behind Aroldis Chapman. The Sox still have other left-handed options in camp, including Morán and Samaniego, while Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson is a longer shot to break camp.
In a Grapefruit League game between the Pirates and Red Sox, umpire Mitch Trzeciak’s first two innings were marred by ABS reversals—three challenges overturned, including a first-pitch ball—leaving him with five consecutive calls overturned and highlighting ABS as a tool to refine umpires’ strike zones.
Righthander Tyler Uberstine, once a high school afterthought who failed to walk on at USC, later endured an elbow injury and years in the minors, has emerged as a surprising member of the Red Sox spring training roster and will start the club's first exhibition game against Northeastern, signaling his ascent from the minors to the 40-man roster with potential early-season recall opportunities.