Red Sox Exercise Garrett Whitlock Contract Option
Boston will keep the reliever on a one-year, $8.25 million deal after his strong 2026 season.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Baseball
The Boston Red Sox exercised a one-year, $8.25 million contract option on relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock, announced Sunday. Whitlock, 30, went 7-2 with a 1.72 ERA in 54 relief appearances as setup man to closer Aroldis Chapman.
Why it matters
The move keeps a key late-inning arm under contract for the coming season after a standout campaign. Whitlock's reliability in high-leverage situations was central to the bullpen's performance.
The one-year option is valued at $8.25 million, with Whitlock posting a 1.72 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings in 2026. Whitlock's full-season workload and his role going forward have not been detailed.
The players
Garrett Whitlock
A right-handed reliever who has spent his entire major league career with the Boston Red Sox after being drafted by the Yankees and selected in the Rule 5 draft, and who attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Boston Red Sox
A Major League Baseball franchise based in Boston that competes in the American League East division.
The details
Whitlock pitched through a fractured tibia for a month before the Red Sox were eliminated from the playoffs, a injury revealed only after the season ended. The Red Sox acquired him as a Rule 5 selection out of the Yankees system in 2020, and he has pitched all six of his major league seasons in Boston.
Timeline
2017: The Yankees drafted Whitlock in the 18th round.
2020: The Red Sox acquired Whitlock as a Rule 5 selection.
November 1, 2026: The Red Sox exercised his contract option.
Roadmap
Whitlock's path from a 2020 Rule 5 selection to a $8.25 million setup role illustrates how Boston has used the Rule 5 draft to develop bullpen depth. The exercise of his option extends a pattern in which the club retains homegrown relief arms through arbitration-era contracts.
Whitlock's retention means the Red Sox bullpen keeps a proven late-inning arm, which affects how managers sequence relievers in close games. Fantasy managers tracking holds and strikeouts will want to watch his workload in the coming season.
The takeaway
Whitlock's performance after an injury-affected season shows that a Rule 5 pickup can become a dependable setup option on a short contract.
Further reading
Follow more coverage in Boston Baseball for the Red Sox's roster moves and bullpen developments.
