Red Sox Make Roster Moves (11/18/25)

Just when you thought the off-season was going to be actually good for the Boston Red Sox after making the playoffs for the first time in four seasons, the front office reminded the fans that its all about money. The Sox made a bevy of roster moves not to improve the team, but to clear payroll. Let's get to the roster moves.

                                                                                 OUT

                                                                           IN

First and foremost, the Sox traded lefty Brennan Bernardino to the Colorado Rockies for 26 year old Albuquerque Isotopes centerfielder Braiden Ward. Ward was taken in the 16th round four slots after the Sox chose BJ Vela in the 2021 draft. Ward played only 97 games between AA and AAA last year although he did hit a combined .290. He's a speedster that swiped 57 bags but more importantly to John Henry, he's cheap. Bernardino was due to make 775K this coming season and Ward being a 16th round pick, only signed for 125K. The Sox shed 650k by trading one of their most dependable relievers for a triple A outfielder with no power.

But wait there's more! Another of the 2021 draft class bites the dust for the Boston Red Sox as they have traded Luis Guerrero to the Tampa Bay Rays for 29 year old utility infielder Tristan Gray. To make room for Gray on the 40 man roster, the Sox designated Nathaniel Lowe for assignment. Lowe was due 12 million this season and Guerrero was due 760K. Now Gray will make 820K this season but the real win for Henry was dumping Lowe's contract. So far that's 12.59 million saved.

Next up, the Red Sox traded relief pitcher Chris Murphy to the Chicago White Sox for 21 year old Single A catcher Ronny Hernandez. Hernandez hit just .251 with 4 home runs for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Murphy was due 820K this coming season while Hernandez was a Dominican teenage signing back in 2022. Just for arguments sake lets say he makes 125K. That's another 700K saved bringing us to 13.29 million.

In a minor league deal, the Sox traded right handed pitching prospect Alex Hoppe to the Seattle Mariners for their 14th round pick in last year's draft, 22 year old Luke Heyman. Heyman didn't even play in rookie ball last year but supposedly has a good power bat. Hoppe was due to make 820K this season while Heyman signed for 230K. That's another 590K saved bringing us to 13.88 million.

Also, relief pitcher Josh Winckowski was designated for assignment to make room for three more guys. Winckowski was making 760K as well. so that brings it to 14.64 total saved.

Added to the 40 man roster was 2020 5th round pick left handed pitcher Shane Drohan. 2021 19th round pick right handed pitcher Tyler Uberstine and 24 year old right handed pitcher David Sandlin. None of them are projected to make the team out of spring training, this was mostly to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft coming up in December.

All in all this was a salary dump to clear out Bernardino, Guerrero, Murphy, Lowe and Winckowski. Gray is a utility infielder while Hernandez, Ward and Heyman are prospects. The glass half empty situation is this is Henry penny pinching to save money. Getting rid of proven players, especially Bernardino, just to save money is a sign of a bad franchise. The half full way to look at it is the Sox cleared out 14 million to use on other players. Bottom line is with Detroit dangling Tarik Skubal as trade bait, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez as free agents, the Sox better do something. They were a rash of injuries and a true second ace away from possibly winning the pennant despite everything that happened last year. The time to strike is NOW.