Last year, the Red Sox first free agent signing of the offseason was a journeyman reliever who had put up an ERA+ of 79 for the Cincinnati Reds the season before. The fanbase wasn’t pleased, but Justin Wilson ended up being one of the most reliable arms in the 2025 bullpen. This year, the Sox first free agent signing is just as underwhelming. But, as with the Wilson signing, it’s not something anyone should actually get worked up about. The Sox signed 30-year-old catcher Jason Delay, who has spent
eight years in the Pirates and Braves organizations while playing in only 134 big league games, to a minor league deal. Feel free to whinge, but remember that AAA depth is a necessity and you probably won’t see his name again in the next 12 months. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Jason Delay isn’t likely to impact the 2026 Red Sox one way or the other. But the same cannot be said of Kristian Campbell. Whether Campbell can regain the form that made him the American League Rookie of the Month in April — and whether he can settle at a position — are two of the biggest questions facing the Sox going into the offseason. So what do the Sox want him to focus on to prepare for next year? Adding strength and getting some mental rest. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
The big free agents aren’t going to sign for a while. But if you want to start some offseason dreaming, here’s one outlet’s look at the top 30 free agents this year. Sox third baseman Alex Bregman comes in at number two. (Mark Feinsand, MLB.com)
What about the trade market? Tarik Skubal leads this list of the top 10 stars most likely to be traded this offseason, with the Red Sox considered potential trading partners. Jarren Duran falls at number four here. (Jim Bowden, The Athletic)
But the offseason isn’t only about player movement; there are plenty of coaches who will have new employers in 2026, too. Red Sox bench coach Ramon Vazquez, however, isn’t likely to be one of them. Though he interviewed for the post, Vazquez reportedly has not advanced in the search for the next manager of the Minnesota Twins. (Dan Hayes, Brittany Ghiroili, The Athletic)
