After he broke out in 2024, Tanner Houck's 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox did not go as expected. Having earned his first All-Star the season before, the Red Sox expected their homegrown righty to take another step toward ace territory, which didn't happen.
Houck posted an 8.04 ERA, a 1.69 WHIP, 32 strikeouts, 17 walks and he let up 10 home runs over 43.2 innings with the Sox in 2025. He made his final start on May 12, and Boston placed him on the injured list two days later with a right flexor pronator strain. Months later on August 18, the Red Sox announced that he underwent a successful UCL reconstruction, which could take well over a year to recover from.
Houck is expected to miss the entire 2026 season while he recovers. His long rehab, coupled with his regression from the season before, had some fans and reporters speculating that the Red Sox could non-tender him. Chris Cotillo of MassLive has reported that is most likely not the case, and that Boston is expected to tender him a contract. He even offered some speculation about contract extension discussions between the two parties.
"It’s unclear if the sides have talked about a creative long-term deal. Tendering Houck a contract would keep him under club control ahead of negotiations to avoid arbitration and set a 2026 salary later in the winter," Cotillo wrote.
Red Sox will most likely tender Tanner Houck a contract in 2025, and they could extend him at the same time
The Red Sox made an extension offer to Houck early in the 2024 season, which he rejected, as he was pitching as well as ever. Houck told reporters before the 2025 season that he was not approached about another deal, but there's still time for the Sox to get something done, as he's under team control until after the 2027 season (subscription required).
As noted by Cotillo, if Boston offers Houck a long-term deal while he recovers, it would make upcoming arbitration discussions easier. The Red Sox may be able to get him to sign at a lower price since he's expected to miss the entire 2026 campaign.
The Sox have seen the height of Houck's capabilities after his 2024 season. He posted a 3.12 ERA with 154 strikeouts and 48 walks over 178.2 innings in his first full season as a starting pitcher. It can take quite some time to fully recover from a UCL reconstruction, but Garrett Whitlock has thrived after the procedure and his transition to the bullpen. Boston could make the same move with Houck if it extends him and there isn't room in its rotation due to the emergence of its many younger pitching prospects.
Cotillo's speculation that the Red Sox could offer Houck an extension is just that for now, but signing rehabbing pitchers is something they've done a lot of in recent years. It wouldn't be unheard of or unrealistic for the Sox and Houck to work something out while he rehabs that would keep him in Boston long-term, and it would show the Red Sox's confidence in his ability to bounce back better.