![\"Sonny](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/XBEEGESDY3PHBSRCNM4HFDU5VY.JPG\")
Sonny Gray stepped up as the No. 1 performer in the Red Sox’ starting rotation.Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n
Of note: Gray is not eligible for the qualifying offer, a one-year contract worth the mean salary of the 125 highest-paid players. He received the qualifying offer from the Twins (and declined it) after the 2023 season, and players are allowed to be tagged with it only once in their careers.<\/p>\n
The Red Sox don\u2019t have any qualifying-offer candidates.<\/p>\n
Kiner-Falefa was about what the Red Sox thought he would be when they signed him to a one-year, $6 million contract<\/a> in February: a capable glove-first utility infielder (who provided an offensive boost during a monthlong stretch into mid-June). Although he expressed enjoyment regarding his time with the Sox, including an interest in continuing Driveline-inspired hitting training methods, the Red Sox have a bunch of utility types who can fill his role.<\/p>\n Sandoval wound up making more than $1.2 million per appearance on his two-year, $18.5 million deal.<\/p>\n Players who have contract options (1): Garrett Whitlock.<\/p>\n The guaranteed seasons on Whitlock\u2019s four-year contract are over. The Red Sox hold an option worth $8.25 million ($1 million buyout) on his deal for 2027. That would seem to be an easy call, given the going rate for high-end setup relievers, but the Sox have until early November before they need to decide.<\/p>\n (Whitlock\u2019s deal also contains a $10.5 million team option for 2028, but they can figure that out next year.)<\/p>\n Players who are under contract (10): Trevor Story, Garrett Crochet, Masataka Yoshida, Willson Contreras, Aroldis Chapman, Ranger Suarez, Brayan Bello, Roman Anthony<\/a>, Ceddanne Rafaela, Kristian Campbell.<\/p>\n How much production the Red Sox get from this group is anybody\u2019s guess. Earning a collective $169 million, as calculated for the current luxury-tax system, they will go a long way toward determining the club\u2019s 2027 fate.<\/p>\n There is a mix of theoretical cornerstones who spent most of 2026 injured (Crochet and Anthony), players in their mid-30s entering the last year of a contract (Story and Yoshida), All-Stars at risk of age-related regression (Contreras and Chapman), total enigmas (Bello and Campbell), the least-stressed pitcher you\u2019ll ever see (Suarez), and an elite center fielder whose September leg issues are a footnote for now (Rafaela).<\/p>\n Chapman, who will be 39 next season, triggered the vesting option in his contract by reaching 40 innings (finishing at 51\u2154) and passing his end-of-season physical. He may well be Breslow\u2019s best free agent signing through three years on the job.<\/p>\n Players who are eligible for arbitration (17): Jarren Duran ($11.1 million), Adley Rutschman ($9.1m), Tanner Houck ($4.1m), Kutter Crawford ($2.8m), Triston Casas ($1.7m), Romy Gonzalez ($1.8m), Johan Oviedo ($1.8m), Connor Wong ($2m), Wilyer Abreu ($4.6m), Andruw Monasterio ($1.6m), Greg Weissert ($1.2m), Justin Slaten ($1.2m), Tyron Guerrero ($1.1m), Jahmai Jones ($900,000), Zack Kelly ($800,000), Erik Miller ($1.5m), Eli White ($1.4m). Arbitration projections via MLBTradeRumors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is a massive group of arbitration-eligible players, who don\u2019t have signed contracts or agreed-upon salaries but are under the team\u2019s contractual control. The Red Sox are tied with the Rays for the most such players in baseball. They likely will prune this list a bit by the time the arbitration process begins (which normally is in January but will be later than that this time, assuming the lockout<\/a> still will be in effect).<\/p>\n Among the most interesting names: Duran, who is due a raise from the $7.7 million he earned in 2026, leven though his poor season represented another major step backward from his 2024 peak. The Red Sox and Duran have a history of sorting out salary stuff without needing arbitration. <\/p>\n And then there is Rutschman, who is heading into a contract year. He is positioned to be the Red Sox\u2019 most significant pending free agent in 2027 \u2014 unless the sides agree to an extension before then.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we acquired Adley, we did so because he was a really good player, at a position of need [catcher], and we felt like he could add to our 2026 outlook,\u201d Breslow said. \u201cObviously, he\u2019s under control for 2027, which is great. Beyond that, I think best just to keep conversations between Adley and me.\u201d<\/p>\n Players who are not yet eligible for arbitration (16): Caleb Durbin, Jovani Moran, Anthony Seigler, Jake Bennett, Raymond Burgos, Tsung-Che Cheng, Nate Eaton, Alec Gamboa, Mickey Gasper, Curtis Mead, Wyatt Olds, Jedixson Paez, Eduardo Rivera, Tyler Samaniego, Nick Sogard, Payton Tolle<\/a>.<\/p>\n These players \u2014 known as pre-arbitration or 0-to-3 players \u2014 have fewer than three years of service time in the majors. They have no leverage regarding or control over their salaries, which usually are at or marginally above the league minimum ($780,000 in 2026, to be determined for 2027). As key cogs, Tolle, Durbin, Mead, and potentially others look like big-time bargains.<\/p>\n Are the Red Sox Fenway Sports Group’s priority?<\/p>\n Fenway Sports Group has its hands in a myriad of organizations across the sports landscape, so are the Red Sox FSG’s priority?<\/p>\n Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @timbhealey<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Jarren](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/XV6B2OC4RXLNFHFL5AKH5ZBAF4.JPG\")
Jarren Duran is due a raise despite his poor season.Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n