Red Sox Pick Up Garrett Whitlock’s $8.25 Million Option for 2027

A cost-conscious decision with a clear role

Boston’s decision to bring Garrett Whitlock back for 2027 gives the Red Sox a proven late-inning arm at a salary that looks modest for his recent production. The club exercised its $8.25 million option on the right-hander, who’s expected to serve as the primary bridge to closer Aroldis Chapman. That role matters because a bullpen’s late innings depend on more than its closer: teams need reliable outs before the ninth, when a lead can still change hands.

The option gives Boston a known pitcher and a defined place for him in the bullpen. That’s a practical advantage in a roster area where availability and performance can shift quickly. It doesn’t guarantee Whitlock will repeat his results, but it lets the club plan around a pitcher who has recently shown he can miss bats, limit walks and keep the ball in the park.

The salary also frames the decision. At $8.25 million, Boston is committing to a meaningful expense, but one that appears restrained beside the production described here. The club is buying the chance to retain that value while preserving a further option for 2028. A reasonable price, provided the elbow and the rest of his health hold up.

Strong results after elbow surgery

Whitlock has delivered two strong seasons since returning from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, which sidelined him for most of 2024. In 2025, he posted a 2.25 ERA across 72 innings, striking out 31.1% of hitters and walking 8.2%. Those figures point to a pitcher who could both generate swings and avoid giving away free baserunners, an appealing combination for a high-leverage reliever.

He also allowed only two home runs, a rate of 0.25 per nine innings that ranked second among pitchers with at least 60 innings. The home-run figure stands out because one mistake in a late inning can erase a lead. Still, it’s a narrow measure: two seasons of strong run prevention don’t remove the ordinary uncertainty that comes with projecting a reliever’s next year.

His results remained sharp this year: a 1.72 ERA in 52 1/3 innings and a strikeout rate just below 30%. Whitlock’s walk rate fell to 4.5%, fourth-lowest among relievers with at least 50 innings, narrowly behind Phillies closer Jhoan Duran’s 4.2%. That level of control gives Boston a reason to trust him in situations where a walk can put pressure on the next pitcher as well as the current one.

FanGraphs credits Whitlock with 4.2 WAR across 2025 and 2026, tied with Chapman and Louis Varland for fifth among qualified relievers. That comparison helps explain why Boston would value him as more than a convenient name to fill an inning. It also needs context: a ranking summarizes past contribution, while the option is a bet on future availability and performance.

Production tempered by injuries

Injuries limited his workload. Whitlock missed time with left knee inflammation in May and June, then right elbow inflammation in August. He struggled in Game 2 of Boston’s Wild Card Series against the Yankees, allowing three earned runs while recording four outs. A difficult postseason appearance can loom large in memory, but it’s only one outing; the wider concern is whether his body can support a larger and steadier workload.

After the series, the team revealed he had played through a fractured tibia for much of September. He didn’t need surgery and is expected to be healthy by Spring Training. That’s encouraging, though the stated expectation isn’t the same as a guarantee that he’ll arrive at full strength or stay there through the season. His recent performance is persuasive. His recent injury history is the qualification attached to it.

And this is the part most people overlook: innings matter even when the rate statistics look excellent. Whitlock’s 2026 total was lower than his 2025 workload, and the injuries offer a clear reason to be cautious about treating his ERA or strikeout rate as a complete forecast. Boston can count on his role in planning, but it’ll still need enough other capable relievers to cover the nights he isn’t available.

Boston’s bullpen takes shape

The option also preserves Boston’s $10.5 million club option for 2028. Whitlock’s recent performance suggests he could have commanded more than an $8.25 million annual salary on the open market, alongside top right-handed relievers David Bednar and Raisel Iglesias. The comparison signals the club’s view of his market value; it doesn’t tell us what offers he’d actually have received.

For now, Chapman and Whitlock anchor a projected top group that also includes Erik Miller and Tyron Guerrero. If Whitlock returns healthy, Boston will have a strong foundation for another high-performing bullpen. The word “projected” carries weight here: an established closer and a productive setup arm make a promising outline, but the group’s actual depth will depend on health and performance across the season.

If you’re working in this space, the decision is a useful reminder that bullpen construction is as much about preserving options as adding headline talent. Boston has kept a pitcher with recent evidence of high-end results, set out a likely late-inning assignment and retained flexibility for the following year. What happens next turns on whether Whitlock can stay on the mound. That’s the hinge.

What the option means for Boston

This is more significant than it looks: Boston isn’t simply paying for Whitlock’s past numbers. It’s keeping continuity in a part of the roster where a dependable bridge to the closer can reduce the strain on the rest of the relief corps. If he’s healthy, the club gets a pitcher whose recent control and run prevention support a demanding role. If injuries recur, the option’s value will look different, and the projected group will need to absorb more work.

The decision is therefore measured rather than risk-free. The $8.25 million salary reflects a concrete commitment, while the preserved 2028 option gives Boston another decision later. For now, the case is straightforward: Whitlock has produced like a valuable reliever, the team expects him to be healthy by Spring Training, and his role alongside Chapman is taking shape. The health caveat remains central.

More to come.