The Red Sox have a Sonny Gray problem, and Brayan Bello may be part of the answer - or part of the price.
Gray’s $30 million mutual option was declined, his $10 million buyout kicked in, and he’s now a free agent, leaving Boston without its lone right-handed starter. That puts the Red Sox in a tricky spot, because the internal options aren’t exactly lining up neatly behind him.
Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford are expected back healthy after long stays on the injured list, with Crawford’s absence stretching two years and potentially putting him in non-tender territory. Bello is another possibility, unless Boston decides to move him.
And that possibility is very real. Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive said on the November 3 episode of their “Fenway Rundown” podcast that the Red Sox do not view Bello as untouchable.
That matters because Bello’s 2026 season gave Boston something to think about. His work in the rotation was rough early on - a 7.18 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and .321 opponent batting average across 52.2 innings - but he flipped the script once he moved to the bullpen. Over 63.2 innings as a reliever, Bello put up a 1.98 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 50 strikeouts and 12 walks, making a strong case that his best use might not be in the role he opened the year with.
The Red Sox’s rotation was still good without Garrett Crochet, posting a 3.92 group ERA that ranked eighth in the league, and that gives the club some flexibility if it wants to keep Bello in the starter mix. He’s also on a team-friendly deal with an AAV of just over $9 million, which makes holding onto him an easy argument after he showed off his value as a versatile arm.
But if Boston wants to turn Bello into something bigger, he could be a useful chip. The Red Sox have reportedly been linked to Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, and a package built around Franklin Arias and Bello would give Cincinnati a strong starting point.
McAdam also said in an earlier “Fenway Rundown” episode that he didn’t expect Boston to chase an expensive top-of-the-rotation replacement for Gray. That would take names like Michael King, Freddy Peralta and Kevin Gausman off the board, while keeping Bello in play for a trade that could land someone such as Hunter Greene, Joe Ryan or George Kirby.
Boston doesn’t have to move him. Bello is affordable, and he just proved he can thrive in the right role. Still, with the roster crowded and a little awkwardly built, the Red Sox may not have the luxury of being too selective about what they do next.
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Red Sox Could Target An Intriguing Rotation Fit Before Time Runs Out
The Red Sox are expected to spend most of their offseason energy on the lineup after a strong year on the mound in 2026, but the rotation still has an obvious spot to monitor. Sonny Gray has hit free agency, and with his departure Boston is left with only one right-handed starter in the mix, which makes the search for pitching depth more than just a background item as winter approaches.
One name now on the radar is Kaima Taira, the Japanese free-agent pitcher recently posted by the Seibu Lions, according to ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel. Taira just turned in a breakout season as a starter in Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Red Sox could have a narrow window to make their case because the posting period for NPB free agents is expected to be shortened with an MLB lockout looming. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Early Returns On Breslow Extensions Are Hard To Ignore
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The early returns on those moves have been a mixed bag, which is part of what makes the exercise so interesting. Some of the deals already look like smart bets, while others have been harder to judge, especially with Campbell fading after a strong start and Bello still searching for more consistent pitching. The bigger question now is whether Breslows approach keeps paying off as the roster continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Rotation Puzzle Just Got More Complicated For 2027
The Red Sox can already picture a 2027 rotation that looks sturdy on paper, with Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle, Jake Bennett and Brayan Bello all in the mix. But the picture gets murkier with Sonny Gray a free agent and no guarantee he returns, which is why Bostons long-range planning has started to drift beyond its own roster and toward the market.
One name that has surfaced as an intriguing external fit is Cubs All-Star Shota Imanaga, a polished left-hander who would add quality in a hurry. The complication is obvious: Boston already has several left-handed starters in the projected group, so any pursuit of Imanaga would force the front office to balance talent against the shape of the rotation it has spent time building. [Read more 🡒]