The Boston Red Sox's starting rotation has officially lost its lone right-hander. Sonny Gray's $30 million mutual option has been declined, his $10 million buyout triggered, and he's hit free agency.
Boston doesn't have many easy internal replacements for Gray. It expects Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford to be healthy after long stints on the injured list (two years, in Crawford's case, which could render him a non-tender candidate). Brayan Bello could be another option, if he isn't traded.
The Red Sox have few truly untouchable players on their roster this year and Bello is not one of them. Reporters Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive agree in the November 3 episode of their "Fenway Rundown" podcast.
As turbulent as his 2026 season was, it might make sense to trade Bello now. Following his early struggles out of the rotation, where he posted a 7.18 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and .321 opponent batting average over 52.2 innings, Bello proved his worth as a reliever. Bello was one of the best relievers in baseball (if you count bulk arms as part of that group) over his 63.2 innigs out of the bullpen, during which he clocked a 1.98 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 50 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Red Sox might look to trade Brayan Bello after strange breakout year as a reliever
The Red Sox's 2026 rotation was so dominant even without Garrett Crochet — 3.92 group ERA, eighth-best in the league — that it could try Bello in the starter group without much risk. He's on a team-friendly contract with an AAV of just over $9 million and keeping him around is a safe call, especially now that his half-year out of the bullpen highlighted his versatility and skill as a reliever.
If Boston does want to trade Bello, it could use him as a deal sweetener in a larger trade. The Sox have reportedly been eyeing Cincinnati Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz, and top prospect Franklin Arias and Bello would make a good starting point for the Reds' return in that deal.
McAdam noted in a previous installment of "Fenway Rundown" that he doubted the Red Sox would pursue a pricey front-of-the-rotation option to replace Gray. That eliminates free agent candidates like Michael King, Freddy Peralta or Kevin Gausman, but Bello could be included in a trade for someone like Hunter Greene, Joe Ryan or George Kirby.
The Red Sox don't need to trade Bello this season — he's on an inexpensive contract and he's proven he can be an elite arm under the right conditions. But the crowded and disjointed nature of Boston's lineup doesn't give it the liberty to be overly picky about who it trades.
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