After a collection of choices on the finish of the 2025 season, the Purple Sox shortly went from a plethora to a dearth of left-handed pitchers, nearly in a single day. Justin Wilson, who spent a yr in Boston, and Steven Matz, who was acquired on the commerce deadline, had been each free brokers at season’s finish. Then, on the non-tender deadline, when the roster wanted to be trimmed to 40 males, the Purple Sox traded a number of left-handed relievers. Chris Murphy was despatched to the White Sox, and Brennan Bernardino to the Rockies. Three minor league pitchers had been shielded from Rule 5 on that date, one among which is a lefty, Shane Drohan.
After this slew of strikes, the workforce went from having a bullpen with a fair cut up of lefty vs. righty arms to lefty aid being a “want” going into 2026. To begin, let’s assessment who’s presently on the 40-man roster:
Aroldis Chapman is a left-handed reliever, and, in his case, when you’ve got a 30.7 Ok-BB% it actually doesn’t matter what arm you throw with, you’ve obtained the ninth inning.
Jovani Moran: Moran has 95 innings of MLB expertise beneath his belt, and his peripherals inform a special story than his ERA. His profession ERA is 4.26, however his FIP is 2.89 and a SIERA of three.84. Moran had Tommy John surgical procedure on the finish of the 2023 season, lacking 2024 solely, and at last made it again to the massive leagues with Boston this previous August. Alex Speier wrote this week about Moran having an uptick in velocity this winter in Puerto Rico, the place he’s enjoying for Purple Sox bench coach Ramon Vazquez. Vazquez mentioned, “The stuff is there. He is usually a man that may assist us, positively.”
Sadly, the 28-year-old Moran has had a 13.5 BB% in his profession and goes to wish to get that in verify if he’s to be trusted in leverage conditions.
Shane Drohan: Boston wasn’t going to permit Drohan to be plucked from them within the Rule 5 Draft for a second time, like he was by the White Sox earlier than the 2024 season. Drohan had shoulder surgical procedure that yr, struggled throughout his minor league rehab, and was then returned to the Purple Sox in August. Drohan was excellent in 11 Triple-A begins for Boston in 2025, with an ERA of two.27 and an impressive 34.5 Ok%. The Purple Sox primarily selected the 27-year-old Drohan over the extra skilled Bernardino and Murphy.
Jake Bennett: The return within the Luis Perales commerce, Bennett was doubtless nearer to his MLB debut than Perales was, and could possibly be part of the bullpen within the second half of 2026 if he can’t crack a rotation that has plenty of names in entrance of him. Baseball America ranks Bennett’s 60-grade changeup as his greatest pitch, with a 55 fastball, and 50 slider, whereas placing his management at a 60. With only a 6.4 BB% within the minors in 2025, Bennett is a strike-thrower who might want to add some velocity to enhance a pedestrian strikeout charge within the minors.
Steven Matz: Tampa Bay – 2 years, $15M
Gregory Soto: Pittsburgh – 1 yr, $7.75M
Caleb Thielbar: Re-signed with Chicago Cubs – 1 yr, $4.5M
Caleb Ferguson: Cincinnati – 1 yr, $4.5M
Drew Pomeranz: Los Angeles Angels – 1 yr, $4M
Matz appeared to get starter cash from the Rays. Soto could also be within the saves combine for the Pirates, who instantly really feel like spending earlier than they’re the poster baby for a Wage Ground within the subsequent CBA. Seeing Pomeranz, a former Sox nice, pop up in a field rating for the Cubs this yr was surprising, contemplating he hadn’t pitched since 2021, and he was pretty much as good as ever.
Whereas the Sox in all probability don’t have an enormous price range so as to add a reliever, contemplating they should add a big bat who will doubtless command a big wage, they need to add a southpaw from the checklist beneath. Neither Moran nor Drohan has the expertise to enter the season with the belief to get a key lefty out in a high-leverage state of affairs, though they might get there because the season goes on.
Danny Coulombe: Age 36, Profession ERA: 3.35 in 316 2/3 IP
2025 stats (MIN, TEX): 43 IP, 2.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 14.2 Ok-BB%, .203 Opponent BA, 107 Stuff+
Coulombe was equally nasty towards hitters from each side of the plate, with RH hitters truly having a decrease batting common (.188) towards him. He didn’t fare as effectively after being traded to Texas on the commerce deadline (5.25 ERA, 9 walks in 12 IP). Coulombe’s profession has actually ramped up since 2022, with only a 2.38 ERA in that point. Sadly, he has missed fairly just a few video games in every of these seasons resulting from accidents.
Baseball Forecaster 2026 (Ron Shandler)
Taylor Rogers: Age 35, Profession ERA: 3.34 in 541 1/3 IP
2025 stats (CIN, CHC): 50 2/3 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 13.6 Ok-BB%, .247 Opponent BA, 104 Stuff+
Just like Coulombe, Rogers struggled after a commerce this yr, sporting a 2.45 ERA with the Reds and 5.09 with the Cubs. A former nearer with the Twins and Padres, Rogers throws sidearm and has been lethal on lefties who’ve hit .199 towards him in his profession. He hasn’t had any notable accidents in his 10-year profession, and looks like a very good match for this workforce.
Justin Wilson: Age 38, Profession ERA: 3.59 ERA in 562 IP
2025 stats (BOS): 48 1/3 IP, 3.35 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 15.7 Ok-BB%, .262 Opponent BA, 105 Stuff+
Wilson was nice towards lefties for Boston a yr in the past, permitting a .212/.292/.282 slash line towards them. Righties hit .306 towards him. Wilson handled arm accidents for years, together with Tommy John, which induced him to overlook nearly all of 2023 and 2024, however he held up for all of 2025. At 38 years outdated, the fee shouldn’t be way more than it was a yr in the past ($2.25M).
Andrew Chafin: Age 35, Profession ERA: 3.35 ERA in 542 IP
2025 stats (WAS, LAA): 33 2/3 IP, 2.41 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 11.9 Ok-BB%, .238 Opponent BA, 95 Stuff+
As Eck would say, Chafin throws absolute salad with a fastball that averages 89.7 mph, however he will get away with it from pitch motion coming in on lefties. Allowed only a 3.4 barrel charge in 2025. Walks plenty of batters (5.0 BB/9 from 2023-2025) however has a very good strikeout charge as effectively. His splits are fairly even for his profession however he was lights out towards lefties in 2025 (.136 BA and .186 SLG% towards). Has performed for six totally different groups over the previous three seasons and could also be a relative of Kenny Powers.
Jalen Beeks: Age 32, Profession ERA: 4.31
2025 stats (ARI): 57 1/3 IP, 3.77 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 11.7 Ok-BB%, .201 Opponent BA, 95 Stuff+
There are ex-Purple Sox throughout this checklist. Beeks made a short look with Boston in 2018 earlier than being traded to Tampa Bay for Nathan Eovaldi, which I’d say labored out effectively. Beeks doesn’t strike many batters out however he has a novel supply and was in a position to get batters out from each side of the plate in 2025, with righties hitting simply .190. He has a superb changeup that he threw 38% of the time final yr, which allowed an absurd .067 BA.
