Free Agency opened up last Thursday and it became official for free agents to sign yesterday, with all that the Boston Red Sox had to active their players from the 60-day injured list as RHPs Isaiah Campbell, Lucas Giolito, Liam Hendriks, Bryan Mata, and Garrett Whitlock and LHP Chris Murphy were activated off the 60-day injured list. They also announced that have exercised the option of Rob Refsnyder’s 2025 club option. The final option they made was extending a qualifying offer to RHP Nick Pivetta while not giving one to outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
RHP – Isaiah Campbell
Campbell was out with a right shoulder impingement that he started dealing with in mid-April. He made eight appearances last season going 0-1 with a 16.20 ERA, an 8.12 FIP, a 2.40 WHIP, and six strikeouts in 6.2 innings. In Worcester he made 14 appearances going 0-1 with a 2.20 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 16.1 innings.
RHP – Lucas Giolito
Giolito missed last season with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament injury that ended his season. He is expected to be in the rotation for the Red Sox in 2025.
RHP – Liam Hendriks
Hendriks will likely be the Red Sox closer in 2025 as he comes back from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He did pitch in 2024 at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester appearing in six games posting a 0.00 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and five strikeouts in five innings of work, he was then shut down for the season.
RHP – Bryan Mata
Mata is coming back from a right hamstring strain, he made 11 appearances with seven of those coming as starts in 2024 between rookie ball, High-A Greenville, Double-A Portland, and Triple-A Worcester going 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 22.2 innings.
RHP – Garrett Whitlock
Whitlock had surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). He had made four starts in 2024 going 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA, a 3.33 FIP, a 1.15 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. He will likely be a key bullpen piece for the Red Sox in 2025 ending the starting pitching plan.
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LHP – Chris Murphy
Murphy underwent UCL reconstruction in his left elbow, it’s not determined if he’ll be in Boston or Worcester to start 2025.
OF – Rob Refsnyder
Refsnyder is back for his fourth season with the Red Sox, in his first three seasons he played in 239 games hitting .278 with a .795 OPS; he had 36 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 89 RBI, 88 runs scored, ten stolen bases, and 76 walks. In 2024 he played in 93 games hitting .283 with a .830 OPS; he had 16 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 32 runs scored, two stolen bases, and 28 walks.
RHP – Nick Pivetta
Pivetta will likely decline the qualifying offer and become a free agent which will give the Red Sox a draft pick and end his time in Boston but also may not surprise anyone if he does stay. In his time in Boston over five seasons he’s made 131 appearances with 107 of those coming as starts going 37-41 with a 4.29 ERA, a 4.18 FIP, a 1.24 WHIP, and 718 strikeouts in 633 innings. In 2024 he made 27 appearances with 26 of those coming as starts going 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA, a 4.07 FIP, a 1.13 WHIP, and 172 strikeouts in 145.2 innings.
OF – Tyler O’Neill
O’Neill not getting an offer is surprising as he provides the right-handed bat the Red Sox need, in his lone season with Boston he played in 113 games hitting .241 with a .847 OPS; he had 18 doubles, 31 home runs, 61 RBI, 74 runs scored, four stolen bases, and 53 walks.
