The 2026 World Series is officially in the past and the offseason has started. Players and teams have already started making their first offseason moves, opting in or out of contracts and signing new ones.
The Boston Red Sox have already maintained some minor league pitching depth. The Red Sox on October 29 re-signed Triple-A reliever Angel Bastardo to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, first reported by Francys Romero and confirmed by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
Bastardo, a 24-year-old righty, hasn't made his major league debut yet. He isn't ranked among the Sox's top 30 prospects on MLB Pipeline, but SoxProspects had him ranked at No. 18 at the end of the 2026 season.
The Red Sox signed Bastardo as an international free agent in 2018. He reached Triple-A for the first time this year after spending half a season with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in 2023. He started the 2024 season in Double-A, but underwent Tommy John surgery in June which caused him to miss the entire 2025 campaign.
Red Sox re-sign Triple-A reliever Angel Bastardo to minor league deal, retaining potential bullpen depth
Before the 2025 season, Bastardo was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the Rule 5 Draft. He recovered from UCL surgery in the Jays organization, but when he didn't make the 2026 Opening Day roster, he was returned to Boston.
Bastardo posted a 4.64 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 73 strikeouts and 33 walks over 54.1 innings with the WooSox this season. Command isn't the righty's strongest suit, as his 14.4 walk percentage ranks just above the lower quartile among Triple-A hurlers. In the zone, he's very effective with a 31.9 strikeout percentage, which ranks in the 88th percentile.
Bastardo's career began as a starter before he became a full-time reliever in 2026. Before he made all 40 of his appearances out of the bullpen this year, he had only appeared in relief four times in the Florida Complex League in 2021.
The righty could've been in the conversation for a September call-up to Boston following great July and August performances with the WooSox. He logged 35 strikeouts over 25.2 innings in those months and he didn't walk anybody in July.
Re-signing Bastardo is a great first offseason move by the Sox. He's inexpensive depth the Red Sox will definitely need at some point next season and his strike throwing ability stands out.
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