Red Sox sign minor league reliever, but additional bullpen depth needed

ORLANDO — In their first official addition of these Winter Meetings, the Red Sox signed lefty reliever Alec Gamboa to a minor league deal Tuesday.

Gamboa will get an invite to major league spring training and have a chance to make the big league roster. Should he make the majors, he’ll be paid $925,000. He split last year between pitching for the Dodgers’ Triple A affiliate in Oklahoma City and in South Korea.

In the minors, Gamboa has mostly pitched out of the bullpen, but while pitching for Lotta of the KBO, all 19 of his appearances were as a starter. In all likelihood, he would be used in relief for the Sox.

Boston has lost a number of lefty relievers from its organization since the end of the season. Chris Murphy was traded to the Chicago White Sox while Brennan Bernardino was shipped in a deal to Colorado.

In addition, free agent Steven Matz, acquired at the trade deadline last July, signed a two-year deal with Tampa Bay late Monday night.

The Sox also acquired Tyler Samaniego in the trade that brought them Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates last week. In 30 minor league appearances in 2025, he held lefty hitters to a .151 batting average.

“There’s some intriguing guys that we added to the roster that might have a chance in spring training,” said manager Alex Cora. “Righties to get lefties out is important. Lefties that can get righties out is huge. We have talked to a few guys on the market. We have talked to a few guys on the roster.”

Another in-house depth option is Jovani Moran, who was obtained a minor deal with Minnesota a year ago. Moran pitched well at Triple A Worcester, then appeared in two September games with the parent club.

“Moran is a guy that is very intriguing because throughout his career he’s been able to (get righties out, too),” said Cora. “He’s actually pitching for Ramon (Vazquez, managing Caguas in the Puerto Rican winter league). We asked him to do a few things to get lefties out. Hopefully we can accomplish that. And then hopefully he can be a guy that steps up and he’s part of the equation.”