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Payton Tolle Could Emerge as a True Fantasy Ace in 2027
After initially opening the season in Triple-A, Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle emerged as arguably his team's best starting pitcher in 2026. Across 148 2/3 innings (26 starts) in the big leagues, Tolle recorded a 9-6 record with a 3.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts. The 24-year-old averaged 96.2 miles per hour on his fastball and struck out 28.4% of the batters he faced while allowing just a 6.6% walk rate. Tolle also only allowed a .624 OPS against right-handed hitters, which will be key for him to continue as he makes his home starts in front of the Green Monster at Fenway Park. Heading into 2027, Tolle has all the makings of a fantasy ace, and he will likely come off the board very early in most drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sonny Gray Declines his Mutual 2027 Option
Boston Red Sox veteran right-hander Sonny Gray declined his side of a $30 million mutual option for the 2027 season on Friday to become a free agent, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Gray will receive a $5 million buyout payable in five $1 million installments each Jan. 15 from 2027-31 as he looks for a multi-year deal on the open market after pitching extremely well in his lone season in Beantown. The 36-year-old three-time All-Star led the league with 18 wins while also posting a strong 2.72 ERA (3.47 FIP) and 1.15 WHIP with 149 strikeouts and 46 walks in 169 innings pitched across 29 regular-season starts. The soon-to-be 37-year-old signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals in November of 2023 and was traded to the Red Sox last November. Gray's 2.72 ERA was his best in a full season in the big leagues, and although he still has value to a starting rotation, it will be difficult for him to match his numbers from 2026 with whatever team he chooses to pitch for next season.
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Sonny Gray Will Return for Another Year in 2027
Boston Red Sox veteran right-hander Sonny Gray said that he plans to continue his playing career in 2027, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. The 36-year-old and three-time All-Star will enter free agency this winter, but despite his age, he should have some suitors after a strong first season with the Red Sox. Gray led the league with 18 wins (five losses) while posting a 2.72 ERA (3.47 FIP) and a 1.15 WHIP, with 149 strikeouts and 46 walks in 169 innings across his 29 starts. He broke a streak of two straight 200-strikeout innings in 2026, but fantasy managers were not complaining about his production in his 14th year in the big leagues in the tough American League East. Teams looking for an experienced veteran starter on the open market will definitely be giving Gray a look this offseason as he looks to pitch a 15th MLB season in 2027.
Source: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
Source: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
Garrett Crochet Expected to Have a Normal Offseason
Boston Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow said that left-hander Garrett Crochet (lat, shoulder) is expected to have a "fully healthy, normal" offseason, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Crochet only made six starts during the regular season before shoulder and lat injuries caused him to miss the final five months of the year. However, the 27-year-old was able to battle all the way back and pitched out of the bullpen during Boston's American League Wild Card Series loss to the New York Yankees. While Crochet struggled in that appearance, it seems as though he made it through the outing ok from a health perspective and is now on track to go through his regular offseason routine. If Crochet can make it back to his peak form, he could re-establish himself as one of the top pitchers in baseball in 2027.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Garrett Crochet on Boston's Wild-Card Roster
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) has been activated from the 60-day injured list and is on the team's roster for the Wild-Card Series this week against the division-rival New York Yankees, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Crochet only managed to make six starts (30 innings) for Boston in his second season with the team in 2026 due to left-shoulder and lat injuries. The 27-year-old southpaw has been ramping up for the last month or so, but with time running out, he will not serve as a starter for the BoSox, at least not for the Wild-Card Series this week. The two-time All-Star was not very effective in his six starts during the regular season early in the year before he was shut down, as he went 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts in his 30 innings pitched. If Crochet can regain the form he showed in 2025, when he finished second in the American League Cy Young voting, he could be an indispensable relief asset for Boston this postseason.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Garrett Crochet's Status for AL Wild-Card Series Remains Uncertain
The Boston Red Sox currently remain undecided on left-hander Garrett Crochet's (shoulder) status for the American League Wild-Card Series against the New York Yankees, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Crochet has not pitched since late April due to shoulder and lat issues. However, the 27-year-old has been making progress toward a return and could potentially work out of the bullpen for Boston against the Yankees. Crochet was one of the very best pitchers in all of baseball in 2025, recording an 18-5 record with a 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 255 strikeouts across 205 1/3 innings (32 starts). He also has experience working as a reliever, as he pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for the Chicago White Sox in the 2021 and 2023 seasons. If Crochet is included on Boston's Wild Card roster, he could be an impact arm in the postseason.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Payton Tolle Will Start Game 1 Against Yankees
Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle will get the nod as the Game 1 starter for the Red Sox on Tuesday for the start of the Wild-Card Series in the Bronx against the division-rival New York Yankees, according to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com. Tolle has been a tough assignment for the Yankees, who have a lefty-heavy lineup, so he will get the nod for Game 1 of the series over veteran right-hander Sonny Gray. In his two starts against the Yankees this year, Tolle dominated New York, going 1-0 with only one earned run allowed on four hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out 18 in 13 innings pitched. The 23-year-old former second-rounder from TCU in 2024 went 9-6 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 171:40 K:BB in 148 2/3 innings pitched across his 26 starts for the BoSox this year in his first full season in the big leagues. Tolle heads into the postseason after a strong month of September in three starts against the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Cleveland Guardians, posting a 1.53 ERA (1.23 FIP) with only three walks and 24 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings pitched.
Source: MassLive.com - Sean McAdam
Source: MassLive.com - Sean McAdam
Garrett Crochet Will Not Pitch this Week
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) will not appear in a regular-season game this week but is still in play to return during the postseason, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Crochet is currently on the 60-day injured list and has not pitched since late April due to shoulder and lat issues. However, he's been working toward a return and could be a factor out of the bullpen for Boston at some point in the playoffs. While 2026 has been a lost year for the 27-year-old, Crochet was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2025. Across 205 1/3 innings (32 starts), he recorded an 18-5 record with a 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 255 strikeouts. Crochet also has experience as a reliever, making 54 appearances out of the bullpen for the Chicago White Sox in 2021.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Garrett Crochet Sounds Ready to Go After Live BP Session
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) said what happens next is up to president of baseball operations Craig Breslow and manager Chad Tracy after his 16-pitch live batting practice session on Tuesday against Ceddanne Rafaela, in which he hit 96 mph on the radar gun, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. "I felt like, with the way that went, I could go get outs," Crochet said. The 27-year-old southpaw has not pitched in a big-league game since May due to shoulder and lat issues, but he appears to be on the verge of returning from the 60-day injured list to help Boston's bullpen for at least the postseason and the start of a wild-card series against the division-rival New York Yankees next week. The two-time All-Star has a 6.30 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in his six starts over 30 innings this year, but he was the runner-up in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025 and could be a huge weapon for the BoSox out of the bullpen in the postseason if he is back to his pre-injury form.
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Chad Tracy Becomes Full-Time Manager, Lands Three-Year Contract
The Boston Red Sox named Chad Tracy as their full-time manager on Tuesday by signing him to a three-year contract with a club option for the 2030 season, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. The Red Sox also announced that they exercised chief baseball officer Craig Breslow's 2029 and 2030 options. Tracy is the 49th manager in Red Sox history after taking over on April 25 when Breslow fired Alex Cora. Boston was 10-17 at that point. With Tracy as the skipper, Boston has gone 74-55 and clinched a spot in the 2026 playoffs on Sunday. Tracy started 32-46 as the team entered play on June 25, but they turned in a 20-3 stretch that vaulted them into wild-card position. That insane stretch included 15 straight wins from July 3 through July 22, which tied for the longest win streak in club history. The Red Sox are currently in possession of the second American League wild-card spot and are likely to face the division-rival New York Yankees in the AL wild-card round for the second straight season at Yankee Stadium.
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Garrett Crochet Throws Two-Inning Side Session on Saturday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw a two-inning side session on Saturday that consisted of around 20 pitches, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Crochet topped out at 92 mph. If he does not have any ill effects from that session, Boston is hopeful that Crochet can face hitters at Fenway Park this week, perhaps multiple times during the team's final homestand in the lead-up to the postseason in early October. The 27-year-old southpaw was the runner-up for the American League Cy Young Award in 2025 in his first season with the BoSox, but he has managed to make only six starts (30 innings) in his second year with the team due to shoulder and lat issues that have sidelined him since May. Crochet was not on his game before he landed on the injured list either, allowing 23 runs (21 earned) while walking 11 and striking out 37. Because he does not have enough time to get all the way stretched out in a starting role, the Red Sox are expecting to use Crochet out of the bullpen in the playoffs if he is cleared to pitch.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Payton Tolle Not Starting This Weekend as Boston Prepares for Playoffs
WEEI's Rob Bradford reports that it is "sure looking like" Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle has a "good shot" at pitching Game 1 of a wild-card series to kick off the postseason with the way the Red Sox are lining things up. It means that the 23-year-old southpaw will not get a start this weekend against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. The former second-rounder from TCU in 2024 has had a strong first full season in the big leagues with Boston in 2026, going 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA (3.04 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 166 strikeouts and 38 walks in 143 innings across his 25 starts. Another lefty, Patrick Sandoval, is now scheduled to make the start for the BoSox in the series finale in Tampa. Tolle allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 31, but he has only given up one earned run with one walk and 19 punchouts in 12 innings across his last two starts against the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals in September.
Source: WEEI - Rob Bradford
Source: WEEI - Rob Bradford
Garrett Crochet Throws Another Bullpen Session
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw another bullpen session at Fenway Park on Tuesday, throwing 30 pitches, according to Perla Paredes of MLB.com. Interim manager Chad Tracy said that the session went well, and the team will see how the 2025 American League Cy Young runner-up responds before determining his next step. He threw 25 pitches in his previous bullpen session on Friday, when he incorporated his sweeper and threw his fastball in the 92-93 mph range. The 27-year-old southpaw has been on the injured list since April 29 due to inflammation in his shoulder, but he is finally nearing a return as a reliever for the BoSox. The former first-rounder by the Chicago White Sox in 2020 from Tennessee has had a frustrating second season with Boston, having made only six starts while posting a bloated 6.30 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with 37 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. Most likely, we will not see Crochet return to the big leagues until the postseason in October.
Source: MLB.com - Perla Paredes
Source: MLB.com - Perla Paredes
Garrett Crochet has Productive Side Session on Friday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw another productive side session at Fenway Park on Friday, his third side session in the last week, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Crochet threw 25 pitches during the session and said he "accomplished what I wanted to." The talented southpaw threw at around 80 to 90% intensity and threw some fastballs in the 92-93 mph range. Before facing live hitters, Crochet will throw at least one more bullpen session early next week at Fenway. He badly wants to rejoin the Red Sox either late in the regular season or early in the playoffs as a one- or two-inning reliever, but he is being cautiously optimistic after all the time he has missed in 2026 due to shoulder and lat issues. "Yeah, my shoulder feels really good," Crochet said. "For me, it's like the rest of my body is getting acclimated to throwing this intensity again. I had four months to work on the shoulder, and it's in a really good spot. It's in a good spot." Having Crochet pitch in any capacity would be big for Boston, but for fantasy purposes, Crochet's season is over.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Garrett Crochet Throws Around 20 Pitches in Side Session
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw around 20 pitches during a side session of mostly fastballs on Tuesday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. It was Crochet's second side session in five days. "Looked good," said interim manager Chad Tracy. "I just briefly talked to him. He felt good too. So, looked good and felt good. Good step in the right direction. I don't know the next steps yet. Probably another side sometime this weekend." In a very frustrating 2026 season, Crochet had been shut down from throwing for nearly three months due to a left-shoulder and lat injury. He could start facing live hitters at some point next week, but given the time of the year, he is unlikely to have time to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, with Triple-A Worcester's season ending on Sept. 20. There is a slim chance that Crochet goes from throwing live batting practice to pitching for Boston very late in the regular season, but even in that scenario, he will be returning as a reliever out of the bullpen and not a starter. But that is far from guaranteed, and there is even the possibility that he does not make the postseason roster if the BoSox make the playoffs.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
