When it comes to the postseason, the attention immediately goes to the stars. The lights are the brightest, so it's understandable that fans dream about the biggest names coming through in the most crucial moments. However, Boston Red Sox fans know better than most how important the under-the-radar secret weapon can be.
Arguably the greatest season in Red Sox history, 2004, was saved not by David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez, but rather by Dave Roberts, whose pinch-running heroics turned the tide and were key to shocking the New York Yankees.
With that in mind, Boston must be very strategic in who it carries in the final few spots on the playoff roster. Admittedly, injuries are piling up and making this a tough ask, but there are still some guys who have unique skill sets that could put them in a position to be major difference-makers this October.
3 potential secret weapons the Red Sox can’t afford to leave off the postseason roster
Infielder Romy Gonzalez
It's been a tough year for Romy Gonzalez, who has spent a good chunk of it recovering from shoulder surgery. However, out of sight shouldn't mean out of mind for the veteran lefty killer. A career .289/.338/.510 hitter against southpaws, Gonzalez has real value, especially against the Yankees.
On top of that, with Willson Contreras banged up and Mickey Gasper likely dealing with a significant injury, Boston will need someone capable of covering first base. Gonzalez could be that guy.
Reliever Alec Gamboa
The Red Sox bullpen has had some issues of late, and while Alec Gamboa isn't the kind of strikeout arm the club usually covets, it's been hard to argue with his results. The 29-year-old lefty has posted a 1.91 ERA over 33 innings, and while that might be a tad misleading, the underlying metrics such as his 2.80 xERA and 3.16 FIP point to him being plenty good this year.
Gamboa's a bit strange in that lefties hit him much better than righties, but while he might not be a matchup guy, he has a couple of advantages. First, he is a groundball machine, keeping the ball on the ground 54.7% of the time and rarely giving up homers. That's important in bandboxes like Fenway and Yankee Stadium. On top of that, he's shown an ability to go more than one inning at a time, which can help rest some tired arms as the playoffs unfold. Don't underestimate the value of being able to reset the bullpen in these pressure-packed series.
Outfielder Jahmai Jones
Like Gonzalez, Jones is in the league for one reason and one reason alone: he crushes left-handed pitching. Or at least, it seemed like he did after an impressive 2025 campaign. However, a .137/.219/.221 line with the Detroit Tigers earned him a DFA and made it seem as if the magic was gone.
Craig Breslow knew better, and ensured that Jones wound up with the Red Sox by sending a player to be named later over to Detroit. That proved to be a savvy pickup, and Jones has hit .317/.419/.603 with Boston. The Red Sox outfield is heavily left-handed, so having a guy like Jones who can come off the bench and torment a tough lefty is extremely important. Leaving Jones off the roster would be a big mistake.
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