With Spring Training now officially underway, Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow is sending signals that could have ripple effects across the roster, particularly in the bullpen.
Rather than treating the relief corps as a fixed group of traditional relievers, Breslow confirmed on Wednesday that Boston intends to consider using starters in bullpen roles (h/t @timbhealey). This strategic shift reflects a front office that's not afraid to think outside the box to maximize innings and leverage its rather endless pitching depth.
Red Sox's Bullpen Could Be Getting a Shake-Up
Breslow's comment is notable because Boston's pitching depth is unusually robust and complicated.
The Red Sox have studs already set for the rotation like Garrett Crochet, who was confirmed as an Opening Day starter (much to the shock of all of us), Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Brayan Bello. However, they have a deep bench of arms that are considered starters as well, including Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Johan Oviedo, and prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early, who both made their debuts last season.
As for Oviedo, many will argue that he's ready for the fifth spot in the rotation. As for both Tolle and Early, they are rumored to be returning to Triple-A, awaiting an inevitable call-up.
But Crawford and Sandoval, who both came off season-ending surgeries either in 2024 or 2025, were the headliners for Breslow at this press conference, where he named both of them as possible bullpen arms (h/t @BostonStrong_34). Using them in the bullpen isn't ideal, but it gives Boston the flexibility to manage workloads as injuries or bad performance emerge.
Breslow's openness to hybrid roles mirrors what we heard last offseason about former player and top prospect Luis Perales, another starter who the Red Sox explicitly said they'd be willing to slide into the bullpen for the short-term if it helped the major league club. That mindset, prioritizing what's best for winning now even if it temporarily alters long-term development plans, seems firmly part of Boston's philosophy this offseason.
Potential Bullpen Changes Might Not Be Surprising
Why might this lead to a bullpen shake-up? It's because the Red Sox entered the offseason with a crowded rotation and bullpen that wasn't fully settled. While the left-handed bullpen was seemingly a concern, Breslow doesn't see it as so and is reportedly fine with where the bullpen is at now. This is most likely why he views Crawford and Sandoval as possible bullpen arms.
His mindset is "why would I get another arm when we have so many starters, where at least four would be left holding the bag?"
Having several starters in the bullpen gives manager Alex Cora the flexibility to deploy late-game matchups or multi-inning bridges without burning primary relievers too early. It happened a lot last year, so having the ability to use either Crawford or Sandoval in relief can allow Boston to protect the health of its backend and maintain the high-leverage arms deeper into games.
Not only does this help the bullpen, but if you truly think about it, it will also help Breslow evaluate them in lower-leverage spots without rushing them. If a starter can help eat innings in relief while giving more time for the relievers to rest and give pitching prospects more time to develop, by all means, take advantage of it.
Breslow stating his views on how the Red Sox will utilize the bullpen will ultimately kill two birds with one stone. It will be one of the bigger storylines for Boston through Spring Training and into April, but Boston's willing to take the risk.