Yearly, MLB Trade Rumors publishes a list of salary arbitration projections based mostly on an inner mannequin. Fortunately, wage arbitration isn’t one thing Purple Sox followers must get too labored up about. For as a lot as Sox followers complain concerning the Fenway Sports activities Group’s obsession with value effectivity, I can’t consider a single occasion when the Sox traded a participant away as a result of he received too costly in arbitration, as some actually parsimonious groups make a behavior of doing.
In reality, the Sox have solely gone to arbitration a whopping 3 times within the final 23 years, getting there with Fernando Abad in 2017, Mookie Betts in 2018, and Eduardo Rodriguez in 2020. And this can be a sensible means of doing enterprise, particularly when you think about the dangerous emotions that the arbitration course of can engender. In spite of everything, wage arbitration usually includes groups and gamers quibbling over a pair million {dollars} on the absolute most (it was really lower than one million within the case of each the Abad and E-Rod). The Sox can simply dig up that sum of money by turning over just a few sofa cushions in Aura Pavilion.
Having stated that, let’s check out who’s eligible for arbitration heading into the 2026 season, and what MLB Commerce Rumors tasks every participant might obtain. After which let’s break them down in keeping with how the Sox ought to proceed.
Simply give the dude his cash
Brennan Bernardino: $1.1MM
Each considered one of these guys can and might be anticipated to be a contributor on the 2026 Purple Sox. Hell, considered one of them was one of many shock stand-outs on the 2025 workforce, whereas one other nonetheless has All-Star potential. (I’m clearly speaking about Casas right here, however Jake Roy would need me to offer a shout-out to Kutter Crawford, too.) And whilst you’re in all probability not significantly enthusiastic about Winckowski and Bernardino, they’re not less than sometimes efficient back-of-the-bullpen relievers getting paid peanuts. Simply pay these guys their cash and transfer on to different extra vital points.
Contemplate buying and selling, however not due to cash
Brian Fluharty-Imagn Photos
Jarren Duran: $8.4MM (Purple Sox maintain an $8MM membership possibility with a $100K buyout)
All winter lengthy final yr I waited for the entrance workplace to commerce somebody from their surplus outfield corps. They by no means did, which resulted in dropping two-and-a-half months of manufacturing out of Roman Anthony whereas he wasted away in AAA, and sophisticated the Alex Bregman/Rafael Devers/Masataka Yoshida roster match. I are not looking for the Sox to make the identical mistake once more, particularly when considered one of Duran, Wilyer Abreu, or Ceddanne Rafaela may very well be used to herald one other beginning pitcher. It’s simply too dangerous the Sox have already missed an opportunity to get one thing actually large in return for Duran when he was coming off a profession yr.
Picture by Daniel Shirey/MLB Images by way of Getty Photos
With Triston Casas anticipated to start the yr wholesome — together with the potential addition of somebody like Pete Alonso — I don’t see any want for the Sox to hold on to Nathaniel Lowe.
Connor Wong, then again, might be somebody we’ll see once more in Fort Myers. He was dangerous, however he’s additionally a backup catcher and backup catchers are virtually all dangerous as a rule. So whereas the Sox can and will attempt to improve there, it’s the the kind of choice that’s going to make or break a season.
Houck is probably going going to overlook everything of the 2026 season after which may have solely a single yr of workforce management remaining when he hopefully returns to well being in 2027. A number of groups would non-tender him in that scenario — in spite of everything, that’s how the Sox ended up with Patrick Sandoval. However the Purple Sox completely shouldn’t try this. As we noticed this yr, pitching depth is vitally vital. As we noticed final yr, Tanner Houck is an above common starter when wholesome. And as we see yearly, the Purple Sox are a money-printing machine. Get him signed, get him wholesome, and let’s see him once more in 18 months.
