Yesterday, amidst a bunch of other decisions to solidify the 40-man roster, the Red Sox announced they had traded left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino to the Rockies in exchange for Braiden Ward , a 26-year-old
infielder/outfielder. While this looks like the right move given the needs of the team, Bernardino had been part of the organization since 2023, which was the first full season I was invested in since maybe 2013, so his name rings louder to me than maybe to most.
Yeah, his most recent season wasn’t as good as some of his teammates, as evidenced by the numerous times he ended up on my Duds list in game recaps. It became more and more clear he wasn’t going to fit Breslow’s vision for the team as time went on. Nevertheless, he was often necessary as a southpaw bullpen arm who could shut down or neutralize the top of opposing lineups, and his 2025 season was far and away not the worst of the 2025 relievers.
I feel bad that he’s going to the Rockies, because it’s the Rockies, but I wish him the best, and I hope Braiden Ward will turn into a good acquisition. While I’m not devastated that Bernie’s gone, I’ll still miss him at least a little bit. I have a photo with him from outside Fenway, and he was one of the few guys that night that agreed to smile for a picture. I’ve heard online that he’s just a great dude overall, and I’m willing to believe it’s true.
