Red Sox Designate Eduardo Rivera for Assignment
Boston moves the 23-year-old left-hander off the 40-man roster as free agency opens.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Baseball
The Boston Red Sox designated left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera for assignment on Monday, November 2, 2026. Rivera is expected to be sent outright to AAA Worcester.
Why it matters
Rivera made his MLB debut with Boston in 2026 but struggled, and the Red Sox have several left-handed bullpen options ahead of him. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster as the offseason gets underway.
Rivera logged 10.0 innings and allowed seven earned runs in his 2026 MLB action, and he finished the season on the injured list with a lumbar strain. He has a pair of minor league options remaining and limited MLB service time, and it is not yet known whether he will be traded or claimed off waivers.
The players
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Boston and a founding member of the American League.
Eduardo Rivera
Eduardo Rivera is a 23-year-old left-handed pitcher from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who made his MLB debut with Boston in 2026.
The details
The Red Sox made the move at the start of MLB free agency, and Rivera will likely be sent outright to AAA Worcester, a move he must accept given his limited service time. The 23-year-old from San Juan, Puerto Rico, finished 2026 on the injured list with below-average control.
Timeline
2026: Rivera makes his MLB debut with the Red Sox and logs 10.0 innings.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Boston designates Rivera for assignment.
This week: Rivera is expected to be traded or claimed off waivers.
2027 season: Rivera is likely to begin the season in the minors.
Season Trajectory
Clubs use outright assignments under MLB's 40-man roster rules to clear space for new additions when free agency begins. Boston's move signals that its bullpen depth at left-handed pitching is deep enough that a young pitcher with limited service time is expendable.
The move opens a 40-man roster spot for Boston as free agency begins, which matters for fantasy managers tracking left-handed relief options. Rivera's likely reassignment to Worcester means he is unlikely to contribute to the big-league bullpen in 2027.
The takeaway
Roster moves at the start of free agency often signal how a club is ranking its depth at each position. For Boston, the Rivera move shows that left-handed bullpen arms are competing for limited spots.
Further reading
For more on the club, see Baseball coverage of Boston's roster moves.
