Story by
Red Sox re-negotiated contract with recent free agent addition after physical issue arose
- Story by
- Red Sox re-negotiated contract with recent free agent addition after physical issue arose
FORT MYERS, Fla. — As the Red Sox looked to fortify their bullpen with the signing of lefty Danny Coulombe last week, an issue with the veteran’s physical caused a last-minute re-negotiation of his contract.
In what team sources described as a “complicated” process, the Red Sox originally agreed to a higher guaranteed deal than the one-year, $1 million contract that was finalized Thursday but re-worked it once concerns arose during the review of Coulombe’s medicals. Ultimately, the re-worked deal gives Coulombe the same financial upside — a maximum of $3 million — but a lesser guarantee. Originally, the sides agreed to a $2.25 million salary for the 36-year-old.
Advertisement
Coulombe’s new deal, according to industry sources with knowledge of the deal, includes $1 million in guaranteed money and a total of $2 million available in performance and active roster bonuses at different checkpoints throughout the season. If Coulombe remains healthy throughout the season, he can earn a total of $750,000 in incentives based on appearances (up to 60) and $1.25 million based on days spent active on the 26-man roster. The active roster bonuses are unusual for a free agent deal but were a result of the re-negotiation, which was based on an unknown issue the Red Sox found after the initial agreement.
Throughout the last week, rival agents and club officials who had negotiated with Coulombe both expressed some surprise about the relatively low guarantee for a pitcher who logged a 2.30 ERA and recording 43 strikeouts in 43 innings last year. On Wednesday, both chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Coulombe’s agent, Matt Hannaford, declined comment when asked about the situation.
Coulombe made 55 appearances in 2025, pitching 40 times for the Twins before a deadline trade and 15 times for the Rangers in the final two months. He was on the injured list from May 18-June 8 with a left forearm extensor strain while with Minnesota and from September 4-16 with Texas due to shoulder fatigue. There are no signs that Coulombe is limited so far in spring training as he threw a live batting practice session Monday and is slated to make his exhibition debut Thursday night against the Twins, pitching an inning in relief of righty Brayan Bello . The Red Sox would certainly have backed out of the deal entirely if they had felt the issue was serious enough. On the day the deal became official, Coulombe was spotted by reporters playing catch in Red Sox gear on the back fields at Fenway South, signaling that it was finalized hours before the announcement.
Coulombe, a veteran of 11 major league seasons, has said he expects to be ready for Opening Day next Thursday in Cincinnati . He’s expected to pitch at least twice in games before then .
Advertisement
“I think this is No. 15 in spring trainings, so I kind of understand what I need to do (to be ready),” Coulombe said after arriving in camp. “You do what you’ve got to do.”
More Red Sox coverage
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
