The Boston Red Sox have stayed active this offseason, focusing primarily on trades rather than free agency. While the front office continues to search for another impact bat—something chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has reportedly prioritized—the bullpen remains an area that could use reinforcement, particularly from the left side.
According to FanSided’s Zachary Rotman, one potential solution is veteran reliever Danny Coulombe, who is being projected as a strong free-agent fit for Boston. With the bullpen currently leaning heavily right-handed, adding an experienced southpaw could help balance late-inning options.
Coulombe is coming off a productive 2023 season in which he posted a 2.30 ERA across 55 appearances split between the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers. He was especially dominant in Minnesota, recording a 1.16 ERA in 40 games before being traded. Although his performance dipped with Texas, he still showed he can be a reliable bullpen arm.
Injuries limited Coulombe to just 33 appearances in 2024, but his recent track record remains encouraging. Over the past three seasons, he owns a 2.47 ERA across 149 games, underscoring his consistency when healthy. That kind of production could be valuable for a Red Sox bullpen that lacks dependable left-handed depth.
Boston already has Aroldis Chapman handling late-inning duties, but the club could benefit from another lefty who can be trusted earlier in games. Coulombe fits that role and is unlikely to command a large contract, making him an appealing low-risk addition.
Over his 11-year MLB career, Coulombe has posted a 3.35 ERA with 312 strikeouts. While his postseason experience is minimal, his veteran presence and effectiveness against left-handed hitters could address a significant need without straining the team’s budget.
With the Red Sox rotation crowded by arms like Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, and Johan Oviedo, some left-handed starters—such as Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Kyle Harrison, or Patrick Sandoval—could eventually move to the bullpen. Still, adding a proven reliever like Coulombe could provide immediate stability as Boston looks to round out its roster.
