Boston Red Sox
fromMLB Trade Rumors
1 day agoRed Sox's Vinny Nittoli Facing Elbow Surgery
Red Sox reliever Vinny Nittoli faces season-ending elbow surgery after ligament damage diagnosis, choosing between Tommy John or internal brace procedures.
His fastball in particular was excellent. It has solid vertical movement and great velocity with big extension. In 2025, the swinging strike rate was among the best in the league at 15.6%, while the ideal contact rate was a great 31.3%. His cutter was a reliable strike-getter and also limited hard contact.
It's looking increasingly likely that the deal that sent Christian Vazquez to the Houston Astros for Wilyer Abreu will be remembered not only as Chaim Bloom's best trade during his tenure at the helm of the Red Sox, but as one of the best trade's in recent baseball memory. Abreu has already won two Gold Gloves and isn't that far off from making the all-star team.
Boston acquired Willson "Don't Forget The Second L" Contreras in late December from the St. Louis Cardinals, in exchange for SP Hunter Dobbins and pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. A catcher for the first nine years of his career with the Cubs and Cardinals, Contreras shifted to first base a year ago, playing 120 games at the position to go with 15 at designated hitter.
In 2023, Casas, who made his MLB debut the prior season, was something of a revelation at first base. Over 132 games Casas hit .263/.367/.490 with 24 home runs. That's an .856 OPS and 2.2 bWAR and earned him a 3rd place finish in the AL Rookie of the Year race.
The Sox have gotten a lot of crap in recent years for not broadcasting more spring training games, so let's give them some credit for an increased broadcast schedule this spring. So far every game but two has been televised.
I got something for you guys. I always do a pledge for the Jimmy Fund, and I know the power thing is a theme in Boston. As soon as somebody hits 20 home runs, I'm gonna give $20,000 to the Jimmy Fund. That's how sure we are that we're gonna have power.
For generations the leadoff hitter was easy for a manger to identify: A fast guy. A slap hitter. Someone who could be the "spark plug." Then you stick another guy as the table setter in the second spot. Probably your best hitter third. And your power guy at the four spot. And in some ways this wasn't terrible advice to follow. The problem was that those skills needed to be driven by something else: the ability to get on base.
Ok, this isn't quite true. But Ceddanne Rafaela is not only the best center fielder on the Red Sox but in all of baseball. Gold Glove defense, walkoff hits. Playing with intensity. He does it all. In 2025 he had his breakout - with some qualifiers. At the plate he hit .249./295/.414 with 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases overall. Of course the season looked pretty different depending on when you were tuning in.
As part of Major League Baseball's return to the 2023 jersey template, we approved a design for our home white jerseys, which Fanatics produced exactly to our specs. Once they were produced and seen in person, we felt there should be more spacing between the lettering and piping,
Manager Alex Cora announced yesterday that Red Sox utility man Romy Gonzalez is currently shut down from all baseball activities except for playing catch. This announcement came after earlier reports that he initially injured his shoulder in the final series of the 2025 regular season and has been dealing with pain and discomfort all offseason. Gonzalez has received a PRP injection and has not technically yet been ruled out for Opening Day,
Masataka Yoshida is unquestionably a productive major league hitter, having posted a career OPS+ of 109. But with $36.5 million still owed to him over the next two years and no place on the Red Sox except as a low-power DH/pinch-hitter, he arguably hurts the roster more than he helps it. The Red Sox cannot option Yoshida to the minor leagues without his consent.
Manager Alex Cora noted that Narv/Narvi/The Narv did a great job exceeding expectations in 2025, per Gabrielle Starr the Boston Herald, while being "banged up" the entire time. Red Sox Hall of Famer and current team staff member Jason Varitek commended him for his preparation and mindset in the clubhouse. Cora himself ordained him as the team's starting backstop, a call that was all but official leading up to Spring Training.
Monday's surprise trade sending Rookie of the Year finalist Caleb Durbin from Milwaukee to Boston plugged a hole in the Red Sox' infield while ostensibly opening one for the Brewers. Not only did the Brewers trade their incumbent third baseman, the deal also sent Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler to Boston -- two of Milwaukee's top options on the third base depth chart. The Brewers picked up speedster David Hamilton in that swap and will give him some spring reps at the hot corner,