Garrett Whitlock's $8.25M option an easy call for Red Sox
· Yahoo Sports
One of the Red Sox’ first moves of the offseason became official Sunday afternoon — and it was something of a no-brainer.
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The team officially announced that it exercised its club option to retain setup man Garrett Whitlock for 2027, locking in an $8.25 million salary for next season. Boston had the option to buy Whitlock out for $1 million in a move that would have made him a free agent.
In 2026, Whitlock had another superb year out of the bullpen that made his option an easy call at that price. Serving as the eighth-inning man ahead of All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, Whitlock logged a 1.72 ERA in 54 appearances while posting a stellar 59-to-9 strikeout-to-walk rate in 52 ⅓ innings. He had 26 holds and four saves and from May 1 on, allowed earned runs in just five of his final 43 outings, logging a 1.31 ERA that ranked third in baseball in that span.
Among MLB pitchers who threw at least 50 innings in 2026, Whitlock ranked third in K/BB rate (6.56), fifth in ERA and seventh in opponent on-base percentage (.239). He had a sterling 0.90 WHIP while pitching through multiple injuries. Whitlock was out from May 28 to June 9 with a hyperextended knee after slipping on a wet mound at Fenway Park, then missed a span from August 13-29 with elbow inflammation that dissipated down the stretch. In mid-October, it was revealed that Whitlock unknowingly pitched through a fractured tibia late in the season. The issue did not require surgery and Whitlock was told to wear a walking boot for six weeks. He’s expected to be ready for the start of spring training.
Whitlock will return for his seventh season in a Red Sox uniform as part of a bullpen that will retain all of its key members after leading baseball in ERA last season. Chapman is back for a third year after his 2027 option vested and all of the club’s top middle relief options — a group including Tyron Guerrero, Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, Erik Miller, Wyatt Olds and others — are also under control for next year.
Whitlock, 30, is nearing the end of the contract extension he signed with the Red Sox in April 2022 after just one season in the big leagues. That deal, which was for $18.75 million over four guaranteed seasons, included club options for both 2027 and 2028. After next season, the Red Sox will have a $10.5 million club option (or $500,000 buyout) for 2028.
The Red Sox have opened their offseason business with little in the way of surprises since the World Series ended Wednesday. Sonny Gray joined Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Patrick Sandoval in free agency once his mutual option was declined, as expected. Boston also made two minor traded to clear 40-man roster space, shipping Nate Eaton to the A’s and Tsung-Che Cheng to the Tigers. The Sox need to clear two more spots by Monday to reinstate the players on the 60-day injured list.
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