After the two parties had been linked in multiple previous offseasons, the Boston Red Sox have finally landed reliever Tommy Kahnle. The righty signed a minor league deal on March 17, a lucky and inexpensive break for the Sox.
Despite the late landing, he participated in the World Baseball Classic, so he can jump straight into Bostons bullpen competition. The Red Sox also signed Danny Coulombe four days earlier, and the two veterans make the roster battles all the more fierce as Opening Day looms less than a week away.
Kahnle could be warm enough to join the Red Sox for their season opening series in Cincinnati. If not, they could call him up in a couple of weeks. Either way, some relievers in the competition for an Opening Day roster spot might be out of the mix soon enough.
3 Red Sox relievers who need to be looking over their shoulder after Tommy Kahnle signing
Ryan Watson
Ryan Watson's spring training hasn't looked great on the surface, as he's posted a 5.79 ERA over 9.1 innings. But one rough, four-run outing is distracting from an otherwise productive string of appearances. Still, a few great outings from Kahnle could make him the right-handed casualty in the 'pen.
The Red Sox could be motivated to keep Watson on the roster, however. They selected him in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft from the San Francisco Giants, and if he isn't added to the 40-man roster, the Sox will have to offer him back to his former team. Boston may not be willing to lose a depth option in such a way while other players have options.
Zack Kelly
Zack Kelly is another righty battling for a bullpen spot who has minor league options — if Boston wants to hold onto Watson, Kelly could start the year in Triple-A and be called up any time later. He's appeared in parts of the last four seasons for Boston, but he hasn't been able to stay consistent enough to stick in the big leagues for an entire season.
Kelly has allowed four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks over 5.2 innings. While he's pitched a small sample size of innings, his command has been shaky, which could point to him starting the year in Triple-A.
Kyle Keller
The Red Sox signed veteran and NPB returner Kyle Keller to a minor league deal in early February. He hasn't pitched in the major leagues since the 2021 season when he was a Los Angeles Angel, but he's fresh off a productive season with the Yomiuri Giants, during which he posted a 3.11 ERA over 46.1 innings.
Keller has surrendered five runs on eight hits over 7.2 innings in spring training. He's struck out five batters and walked seven and his control still needs work.
Keller's contract contains an assignment clause that has a mid-April trigger date. If the Red Sox don't call him up by then, they'll have to offer him to other teams to see if one is willing to give him a roster spot. If another club wants him, Boston either has to call him up or give him up. The Red Sox could send Keller to the minor leagues in favor of Kahnle, but they'd risk losing him by doing so.