Red Sox's Justin Wilson: Agrees to deal with Boston
Rotowire
The Red Sox signed Wilson to a one-year, $2.25 million contract Thursday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
He will have the ability to earn an additional $750,000 in incentives. After missing the 2023 season following Tommy John surgery, Wilson held a 5.59 ERA but a 51:13 K:BB across 46.2 frames for the Reds in 2024. The 37-year-old will give the Red Sox another lefty in the bullpen alongside Brennan Bernardino.
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Open to contract extension
Rotowire
Houck is "always open" to discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason and is under team control through 2027, so it's not clear how much of a priority he is for the team to lock up on a long-term deal. The 28-year-old is coming off a terrific 2024 campaign, having collected a 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 154:48 K:BB over 178.2 frames covering 30 starts.
Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Role for 2025 undecided
Rotowire
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday that the team is undecided on what role Whitlock (elbow) will fill in 2025, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Breslow added that he does plan to define Whitlock's role eventually, but factoring into the decision will be what happens with other potential pitching additions the club makes this offseason. Whitlock underwent an internal brace procedure in May and is likely to get a late start to 2025 regardless of the role he fills, although the rehab would take longer if the Red Sox elect to stretch him out to be in the rotation.
The Red Sox exercised Refsnyder's $2.1 million club option for 2025.
Refsnyder was a useful platoon bat for the Red Sox again in 2024, slashing .283/.359/.471 with 11 homers over 93 games, which included a .941 OPS versus left-handed pitching. Boston currently projects to be very left-handed heavy again in 2025, so Refsnyder should be busy again as a short-side platoon outfielder.
Giolito (elbow) exercised his $19 million player option for 2025 on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Giolito was unlikely to receive anything close to a $19 million salary in free agency after missing all of 2024 due to an elbow procedure he underwent in March, so it's unsurprising to see him opt into another year with the Red Sox. The 30-year-old right-hander started a throwing program in early August, though it remains unclear if he'll be ready to go for the start of spring training.
