The conclusion of the baseball season signals a wave of roster changes ahead of next year’s campaign.
The Boston Red Sox now have seven players entering free agency as the season wraps up. They could have—and perhaps should have—traded some of these free agents at the deadline to secure a return, but a strong performance leading up to the All-Star break prompted the front office to make acquisitions instead. Notably, four of the five players Boston brought in at the trade deadline are now part of the free-agent group.
While the Red Sox have shown interest in re-signing some of these players, it’s likely that others will not return next season. Here’s a look at the 2024 free agents from the Red Sox, along with updates on players who have departed and those with contract options.
Kenley Jansen announced his intention to become a free agent before the season concluded, indicating that he does not plan to pitch for the Red Sox next year. The closer expressed his wish to join a postseason contender, which the Sox failed to provide during his two seasons with the team.
Over his tenure with Boston, Jansen posted a 3.44 ERA and earned an All-Star selection in 2023, shortly after achieving his 400th career save. He accumulated a total of 56 saves during his time with the Red Sox.
As one of the highest-paid players on the roster, earning $16 million per year, Jansen’s services are likely to remain costly this offseason. It’s anticipated that only large-market teams will pursue him for the 2025 season, with the Red Sox unlikely to be in the mix.
Nick Pivetta
Nick Pivetta has thrown the most innings for the Red Sox since 2020 at 633. He’s been a reliable option for Boston out of the rotation and bullpen since he joined the organization five seasons ago.
The righty posted a 4.29 ERA in his Red Sox career and a 4.14 with 172 strikeouts and 136 walks in 135.2 innings of work in 2024. Pivetta is a streaky player, but he’s often worth the risk. He posted five 10-strikeout starts and was exceedingly efficient on his good nights.
The Red Sox have a bunch of backend starter options, and Pivetta may not have a spot among them. Kutter Crawford, Richard Fitts, Cooper Criswell and Quinn Priester are solid 3-5 guys, and the Sox could hold onto them for less money than it’d take to keep Pivetta around. Boston is desperate for an ace, and whichever new starter it gets this offseason will need to take Pivetta’s spot in the rotation.
Chris Martin
Chris Martin was one of the Red Sox’s most reliable pitchers during his two-year stint with the club. He was the best pitcher in the league in 2023, an accolade that went mostly unnoticed nationally, as the Sox didn’t make the postseason.
Martin posted a 1.05 ERA — the lowest among all qualified pitchers— with 46 strikeouts and eight walks over 51.1 innings in 2023. The veteran threw strikes at a higher clip in 2024, but he was hit around a bit more, to the tune of a 3.45 ERA with 50 strikeouts and three walks in 44.1 innings of work.
Martin turned 38 on June 2 and indicated to reporters that next season will probably be his final one in the majors. While the Red Sox were not expected to seek another contract with the veteran, his two seasons in Boston demonstrated that he still has plenty to offer. The Sox should consider bringing Martin back for next season, allowing him to finish his career on a high note with a revamped team.
Tyler O’Neill
The Red Sox received more than they anticipated from Tyler O’Neill. The outfielder’s strong comeback season provided a significant lift for Boston’s right-handed batting lineup, leading to mutual interest in a contract for next season.
The 29-year-old recorded a .241/.336/.511 slash line with an .847 OPS over 113 games, marking the second-highest number of games he’s played in a single season during his seven-year career. O’Neill hit 18 doubles and led the team with 31 home runs.
Next season, Boston’s outfield is expected to be quite crowded, with Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida, and Roman Anthony all vying for spots. The Red Sox front office has indicated a commitment to improving the team ahead of next season, and no player is considered off-limits for trades. This means any of Boston’s outfielders could be trade candidates for quality starting pitching or a right-handed bat, potentially creating more space for O’Neill on the roster.
Danny Jansen
Boston was in urgent need of right-handed hitting and extra catching depth to give Connor Wong more rest. The Sox traded four prospects to their division rival, the Blue Jays, to acquire Danny Jansen. While he was an upgrade over the recently designated-for-assignment Reese McGuire, Jansen’s performance with both bat and glove fell short of expectations.
Jansen batted .188/.323/.300 with three homers over 30 games. He’d never been a real contributor on offense before and the Red Sox should’ve pursued a more consistent bat at the deadline.
Lucas Sims
Former Cincinnati Red Lucas Sims came to the Red Sox in a one-for-one swap for pitching prospect Ovis Portes. Sims struggled to adjust after the trade and landed on the injured list shortly after his arrival. His rough experience in Boston makes it unlikely for the Sox to pursue another deal with him next year.
Sims logged a 6.43 ERA in 14 innings with the Red Sox after he posted a 3.57 over 35.1 frames with the Reds.
Luis García
The Red Sox brought in Luis García as their final move before the trade deadline to bolster their struggling bullpen. García didn’t pitch well after his arrival and landed on the injured list in due time. Boston didn’t see enough from him to pursue a deal for next season.
García posted a 8.22 ERA over 15.1 innings with the Sox. He tightened up in his final seven appearances and clocked a 1.29 ERA with six strikeouts in seven innings to finish the season on a high note.
Players entering option years
Lucas Giolito and Rob Refsnyder have options for the 2025 season. The Red Sox signed Giolito before the 2024 season as a gamble to improve the rotation, but he missed the season after he underwent Tommy John surgery during spring training. Giolito would be wrong not to accept the option after his missed year and his two rough seasons in 2022-23.
Red Sox players who have already departed
Former Red Sox backup catcher Reese McGuire elected free agency on Sept. 30. He was DFA’d and optioned to Triple-A before Boston acquired Jansen. McGuire slashed .209/.280/.295 over 53 games in the majors.
James Paxton would’ve been a free agent, but he announced his retirement shortly after he partially tore his calf in Boston’s Aug. 11 game against the Astros. The lefty posted a career 3.77 ERA and a 4.40 over 100.1 innings of work between the Red Sox and Dodgers in 2024.
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