Are Any Yankees Free Agents Good Fit For Red Sox?

The New York Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday when they lost 5-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees have several expiring contracts, and could look very different next season. With the Boston Red Sox having holes in the roster, it’s worth asking if any of the Yankees departees are a good fit for Boston.

One area that the Red Sox will look to add is the bullpen. While Boston had the second-best bullpen ERA in baseball, an additional high-leverage arm was missing during the stretch run. Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock were excellent, and Justin Slaten was solid when returning from injury, but one more arm could have compensated for the lack of length from the rotation.

Devin Williams and Luke Weaver will each be free agents after the season. Both pitchers are coming off down years after excellent 2024 seasons. Williams posted a 4.79 ERA in 67 appearances, while Weaver registered a 3.62 ERA over 62 appearances. In 2024, they posted 1.25 and 2.89 ERAs, respectively.

Of the two, Weaver more closely resembles the type of pitcher Craig Breslow has targeted during his tenure as Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer. His four-seam fastball is hard, with a flat approach angle, while his changeup returned big swing and miss numbers. He also limited free passes, walking 7.6% of hitters. His postseason performance — just one out recorded in three outings — will give fans pause, but teams will likely be willing to overlook it.

Williams’ season-long numbers look ugly, but there’s a lot to like under the hood. His “airbender” changeup remains a devastating offering, while his fastball earns whiffs at a high rate. He ran into issues with walks, and inopportune home runs inflated his ERA, but his stuff remains excellent, and he put things together in September and October.

In the field, Cody Bellinger is the biggest name who’s likely to be available. He has an opt-out that experts expect him to exercise. The Red Sox have a crowded outfield and several left-handed bats in the lineup, but Bellinger has experience at first base and crushes left-handed pitching. He also doesn’t strike out often, an area where the Red Sox need to improve. At the same time, his power is almost exclusively to the pull side, making it a difficult fit in Fenway Park.

Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario are also on expiring contracts. Goldschmidt could be a potential fit if the Red Sox wanted to use a platoon at first base, having him hit against lefties while Triston Casas played against righties. His limited defensive capabilities and declining power are concerns, though. Rosario is a versatile player who could play all over the field, but Boston has other players, such as Nick Sogard and Romy Gonzalez, who fill similar roles, making a signing unlikely.

Of the group, Weaver feels like the most likely fit, but the Red Sox will explore all avenues to improving the 2026 roster.