The Boston Red Sox have addressed their starting rotation needs, but they could also target a reliever from a division rival.
The Red Sox made one of the biggest acquisitions of the early offseason, trading for star pitcher Sonny Gray, but they’re also expected to remain active in free agency. Boston boasted one of the best bullpens in baseball this season, but with multiple relievers set to test free agency this offseason, the team could target a hurler from their hated rivals, the New York Yankees.
MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa urged the Red Sox to pursue 32-year-old reliever Luke Weaver from the Yankees after a down year.
“The Red Sox had a tremendous bullpen in 2025, finishing second in the majors with a 3.41 ERA thanks in large part to the duo of Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman at the back end,” Randhawa wrote Monday. “But with left-handers Steven Matz and Justin Wilson on the free-agent market, Boston stands to lose two of its relievers and would need to fill those holes.
“Weaver is coming off a down year by his standards in his second season with the Yankees, but there is plenty of reason to believe he’ll bounce back in 2025, and adding him could create a three-headed monster in the Boston pen. Beyond that, it’s always nice for the Red Sox when they can take from their archrivals in the Bronx.”
Weaver began his career as a starting pitcher but has flourished as a reliever. The 32-year-old was claimed by the Yankees in September 2023, but he will hit free agency after struggling this season, posting a 3.62 ERA and allowing five earned runs while only recording one out in three postseason appearances.
Despite his struggles, Weaver is a prime bounce-back candidate for next season and could be a great addition to Boston’s bullpen.
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