The Boston Red Sox have been connected to several players over the past month or so as they seek to retool the roster this winter, but Tuesday marked their first significant moves of the offseason.
Among them: As expected, right-hander Nick Pivetta declined his qualifying offer from the team and the Red Sox added right-hander Hunter Dobbins and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia to the 40-man roster to protect them from December’s Rule 5 Draft. To make room on the roster, the club designated right-handers Bryan Mata and Isaiah Campbell for assignment.
Pivetta, who joined the Red Sox at the trade deadline in 2020, posted a 4.29 ERA in 131 games, 106 starts, over five seasons in Boston. In 2024, he had his best season as a starter with 4.14 ERA in 26 starts with a 28 percent strikeout rate. Because of those numbers, Pivetta appears to have a robust market in free agency. If he signs with another team, the Red Sox will gain an additional pick after the second round in the 2025 draft, which was likely part of Boston’s calculus in giving him the QO. It’s unlikely, but Pivetta could still sign a deal with the Red Sox later this offseason.
Meanwhile the club added Dobbins and Garcia to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, which takes place Dec. 11.
Dobbins, the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024, made 21 starts at Double-A Portland and another four starts at Triple-A Worcester, posting a 3.08 ERA, 22.9 percent strikeout rate and 9.1 percent walk rate between the two teams. The 25-year-old was drafted by the Red Sox in the eighth round in 2021 and features a mid-to-upper 90s fastball along with a slider, curveball, sweeper and hybrid splitter-sinker pitch. As the Red Sox seek to expand their pitching depth, he offers another option at Triple A to bolster the team.
Garcia, whose first name is pronounced yos-TIN-son, had a breakout 2024 season, hitting .286 with an .892 OPS and 23 homers in 107 games across three levels from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland. Garcia ranks among the top-20 prospects in the system. The 21-year-old played his final 30 games of the season in Double A where his numbers were more modest, hitting .263 with a .706 OPS and it seems likely he’d begin the season in Portland. However, given Boston’s influx of young outfielders and Garica’s strong season, he could end up as part of a trade this winter to bolster the club in another area. If he had not been added to the 40-man roster by Tuesday, he wouldn’t have been able to be traded until after the Rule 5 draft.
Dobbins and Garcia were added to protect them from being selected by other teams in the draft, but unlike players selected in the Rule 5 Draft, they can be optioned to the minors and do not need to stay on the club’s big-league roster.
One pitcher not added to the 40-man roster was right-hander Michael Fulmer. The Red Sox signed Fulmer on a two-year minor league deal last winter as he recovered from a second Tommy John surgery. WEEI reported Fulmer has begun throwing and is expected to be ready by spring training, but it appears the Red Sox are seeking other options to add depth to their bullpen. Fulmer, who was a unique case as a Rule 5 draftee having already pitched in the majors, appears likely to be selected in the Rule 5 draft.
The Red Sox have already made one addition to their bullpen this offseason in reliever Justin Wilson, who signed a one-year deal last week.
To make room for Dobbins and Garcia, the Red Sox parted with Mata and Campbell.
Mata, 25, once was one of Boston’s most promising pitching prospects having signed with the club as a teenager in 2016, but his career was derailed by several injuries the last few seasons, including Tommy John surgery in 2021. Over 108 career minor league games, 101 starts, he posted a 3.46 ERA.
The Red Sox acquired Campbell last offseason to be a part of Boston’s bullpen, but he pitched in just eight games before landing on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. Following a rehab assignment he returned to the Red Sox for one game before being optioned to Triple-A Worcester. In 14 games for Worcester, he posted a 2.20 ERA before he landed on the IL with elbow inflammation in September.
There are still several players likely to be designated for assignment or traded as the offseason unfolds and the Red Sox seek to add to their rotation, bullpen and lineup.
In the meantime, with Tuesday’s moves, the Red Sox’s 40-man roster is full and includes:
Pitchers (24):
Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Lucas Giolito, Garrett Whitlock, Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, Brennan Bernardino, Cam Booser, Luis Guerrero, Liam Hendriks, Zack Kelly, Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, Justin Wilson, Josh Winckowski, Wikelman Gonzalez, Bailey Horn, Chris Murphy, Zach Penrod, Luis Perales, Quinn Priester, Chase Shugart, Hunter Dobbins
Catchers (1):
Connor Wong
Infielders (6):
Triston Casas, Rafael Devers, Vaughn Grissom, David Hamilton, Trevor Story, Enmanuel Valdez
Outfielders (5):
Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida, Jhostynxon Garcia
Infielder/Outfielders (4):
Mickey Gasper, Romy González, Ceddanne Rafaela, Nick Sogard
(Photo of Pivetta: Stephen Brashear / USA Today)
