Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu: Will face more lefties in 2026
Rotowire
The Red Sox plan to challenge Abreu to face more left-handers this coming season, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
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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Red Sox's Triston Casas: Spending winter in Fort Myers
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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.
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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Red Sox's Isaiah Jackson: Flipped to Boston
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The Red Sox acquired Jackson from the Angels on Tuesday in exchange for Vaughn Grissom, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Jackson was an eighth-round draft pick of the Angels in 2025 and slashed just .219/.324/.344 in his first 10 games in pro ball with High-A Tri-City. The 21-year-old will likely return to A-ball in 2026 as he moves to the Red Sox farm system.
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Red Sox's Alec Gamboa: Gets split contract from Red Sox
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The Red Sox signed Gamboa to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Tuesday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
It's a split contract that will pay Gamboa $925,000 if he's in the majors. The left-hander finished the 2025 season with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization, posting a 3.58 ERA and 117:49 K:BB over 108 innings covering 19 starts. Gamboa, who turns 29 in January, has yet to reach the big leagues and is likely headed to Triple-A Worcester to begin the 2026 season.
Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Red Sox designated Criswell for assignment Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
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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Red Sox's Adonys Guzman: Dealt by Pirates
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Guzman was traded along with Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego from the Pirates to the Red Sox in exchange for Jhostynxon Garcia and Jesus Travieso on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Pirates selected Guzman with the 144th pick in the 2025 draft, and he profiles as a defensive-minded catcher. He's made only five plate appearances as a pro, so he'll likely begin the 2026 season in the lower levels of the minors.
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Red Sox's Tyler Samaniego: Joining Red Sox
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Samaniego was traded along with Johan Oviedo and Adonys Guzman from the Pirates to the Red Sox in exchange for Jhostynxon Garcia and Jesus Travieso on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Pirates added Samaniego to the 40-man roster in mid-November, but he'll now try to reach the majors with the Red Sox. He'll be entering his age-27 season and has yet to pitch above Double-A, though he did post a strong 3.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP across 26.1 innings with Altoona while working exclusively as a reliever. Samaniego is a strong candidate to begin the 2026 season with Triple-A Worcester, but he could provide depth to the Boston bullpen at some point in 2026.
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Red Sox's Johan Oviedo: Headed to Boston
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Oviedo was traded from the Pirates to the Red Sox in exchange for Jhostynxon Garcia and Jesus Travieso on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Tyler Samaniego and Adonys Guzman are also going to Boston in the deal.
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, the right-hander managed a 3.57 ERA,1.21 WHIP and 42:23 K:BB across 40.1 frames. Control has been a consistent concern for Oviedo throughout his 361 innings in the big leagues, but he should be a decent back-end starter for the Red Sox.
Red Sox's Vinny Capra: Signs MiLB deal with Red Sox
Rotowire
The Red Sox signed Capra to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
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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