Red Sox Rumors: No plans for free agent bullpen additions

Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski claims he’s done adding to the bullpen in free agency prior to the 2019 season.

There’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Boston Red Sox bullpen but there’s one thing we do know. The relief pitchers who make the Opening Day roster are already in the organization.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters prior to Monday’s exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates that he’s done signing free agents to upgrade the bullpen.

“As far as signings are concerned, I would say we’re through at this point,” Dombrowski said, per Masslive’s Chris Cotillo.

The Red Sox have already lost Joe Kelly to free agency. Closer Craig Kimbrel remains on the market but Dombrowski has remained steadfast in his insistence that the team won’t pay up to bring him back. His latest comments further that stance. Not only will they not re-sign Kimbrel, but they also have no desire to sign anyone else to compete for the vacant closer role.

Veterans with closing experience such as Bud Norris and Ryan Madson remain available yet aren’t enticing enough to convince the Red Sox to invest more in their bullpen. They could use another strong setup man to bridge the gap to their new closer but won’t even consider Tony Sipp.

Despite losing two key pieces of the bullpen this winter, the only reliever Boston added to their 40-man roster is Colten Brewer in a trade with the San Diego Padres. While they seem to be high on his upside, Brewer isn’t in the closer mix entering the season and isn’t guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster. Several relievers were signed to minor league deals with an opportunity to compete for a spot this spring.

Luxury tax concerns for a team with MLB’s highest payroll have forced the Red Sox into a quantity over quality approach. They are slinging mud at the wall and hoping something sticks.

The club will use spring training performances to evaluate their options. Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier appear to be the top candidates to take over the closer role but they’ll still need to earn it with a strong camp. Brian Johnson, Brandon Workman, Steven Wright, and Heath Hembree are solid candidates to make the roster, leaving at least one spot open in the bullpen.

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The makeup of the bullpen to start the season isn’t necessarily how it will look in the end. Injuries or ineffectiveness could pave the way for those who didn’t initially impress enough to warrant a spot on the 25-man roster.

We can’t rule out a mid-season trade to bolster the bullpen. The reluctance to spend deeper into the tax could fade if the bullpen proves to be a liability. Dombrowski could bide his time until July hoping that this patchwork bullpen can hold together long enough to get them to the postseason where they can repeat last year’s strategy of using members of the rotation for key relief innings between starts.

If a leaky bullpen threatens to keep them out of the playoff mix, the trade deadline can be used to rectify that problem. We’re months away from determining if that will even be necessary. For now, Dombrowski is content to go into the season with what they have.