Zack Kelly’s run with the Red Sox took another turn Wednesday, as the right-hander cleared outright waivers after his recent DFA and is now set to become a free agent, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
Kelly, who turns 32 next March, has put together a respectable major league résumé despite going undrafted. He was effective in a limited sample for Boston this season before a fracture in his right elbow shut him down. In 16 1/3 innings, he posted a 3.31 ERA with a 19.7% strikeout rate and a 9.9% walk rate.
Since making his big league debut in 2022, Kelly has logged 131 innings in the majors with a 4.04 earned run average, a 22.4% strikeout rate, a 10.2% walk rate and a 45.4% ground-ball rate.
His arsenal has also evolved along the way. Kelly works with a four-seamer and sinker that both sit around 96 mph, and the sinker is a pitch he only started using in 2025. He once leaned on a changeup as his main secondary offering, but more recently he’s increased the use of a 90-91 mph cutter and paired it with an 81 mph slider.
The timeline on his recovery still isn’t fully clear. He was first placed on the injured list in late July with what was initially described as elbow inflammation, but later testing revealed the fracture that ended his season.
Because he has more than three years of major league service, Kelly can now become a free agent. If he lands with another club and gets back onto a major league roster, he’ll be controllable for at least three more years. He’s also out of minor league options, so any team that adds him will need to keep him in the majors or risk another DFA.
Given that he cleared waivers, the likeliest next step is a minor league deal, either with Boston or elsewhere. That route would also let Kelly stay in touch with his team during the looming lockout, since players on 40-man rosters won’t be able to communicate with their clubs or play in games until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
In Other News...
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
Since Craig Breslow took over as chief baseball officer, the Red Sox have made a clear habit of locking up young talent early, and the list keeps growing. Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Ceddanne Rafaela and Brayan Bello are among the players who have already signed extensions, giving Boston a chance to secure potential core pieces before they get much more expensive.
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 🡒]