Red Sox Designate Zack Kelly for Assignment
Boston cleared a 40-man roster spot by removing the right-hander, who cleared waivers and is now a free agent.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Baseball
The Boston Red Sox designated right-hander Zack Kelly for assignment on Monday, and he cleared waivers by Friday, making him a free agent. In a related move, Boston traded left-hander Eduardo Rivera to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Why it matters
Kelly is out of minor-league options for 2027, so Boston could no longer send him to Triple-A Worcester, and the team needed room on its 40-man roster ahead of the offseason deadline. The move opens a path for Kelly to sign elsewhere as he becomes arbitration-eligible for the first time.
Kelly is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 131⅓ innings across 115 appearances, and his projected arbitration salary falls between $800,000 and $1 million. His 2026 season ended early because of an elbow injury, later reported as a fracture in the olecranon bone.
The players
Zack Kelly
Right-handed pitcher who spent five seasons with the Boston Red Sox after a path through several organizations, and who is now a free agent.
Boston Red Sox
Major League Baseball franchise based in Boston that designated Kelly for assignment to clear a roster spot before the offseason deadline.
St. Louis Cardinals
Major League Baseball franchise based in St. Louis that acquired left-hander Eduardo Rivera from Boston in the accompanying trade.
The details
Kelly, 31, completed five seasons with the Red Sox after a winding path that included being released by Oakland in 2018 and by the Angels in 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown. Boston signed him to a minor-league contract in January 2021, and he made his major-league debut against the Minnesota Twins in August 2022. Projections anticipate strong interest from clubs once he officially reaches free agency, and he is expected to be healthy enough to contribute in 2027.
Timeline
March 3, 1995: Kelly is born in Roanoke, Virginia.
2017: No team drafts Kelly.
2018: Oakland Athletics release Kelly.
2020: Angels release Kelly during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Jan. 4, 2021: Red Sox sign Kelly to a minor-league contract.
Season Trajectory
Kelly's removal reflects the offseason roster squeeze that teams face under the 40-man roster rules before the November deadline. Players who run out of minor-league options, like Kelly, often reach free agency through this exact process.
Kelly's free-agent status means any club that signs him could add a pitcher with 131⅓ major-league innings and a strikeout total of 127 to its bullpen mix. Fantasy managers tracking Boston's pitching staff will need to drop him from Red Sox rosters unless he lands with a new team.
The takeaway
Roster deadlines and option rules often push solid major-league pitchers into free agency, which can create opportunities for teams looking for depth. Kelly's arbitration timeline suggests his next contract will be set in the coming months.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, see the latest Baseball coverage.
