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Five Players Boston Red Sox Could Designate for Assignment or Non-Tender with Roster Crunch Looming

Zach Coe · Roundtable Sports

Thu, Oct 15, 2026 ·

5 min read

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RedSoxRoundtable's Zach Coe and David Azer discuss the difficult spot the Red Sox find themselves in as they look to build a contender in 2027 on the 'Entering Kenmore' Podcast. Subscribe on YouTube! Be sure to join our FREE community over on RedSoxRoundtable.com!

With seven players on the 60-day injured list, the Boston Red Sox face a looming roster crunch , as four players will need to be designated for assignment or non-tendered when the IL expires after the World Series.

Here are five players the Red Sox could designate for assignment or non-tender to get compliant with 40-man roster restrictions:

Raymond Burgos

The 27-year-old lefty signed with Boston on May 7 after starting the 2026 season with the Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Mexican League. After two months with Triple-A Worcester, Burgos joined the 40-man roster and served as an up-and-down long reliever for the Red Sox, helping keep the pitching staff's arms rested ahead of the postseason.

In nine appearances with the big-league club, Burgos posted a 4.22 ERA over 21.1 innings. While he played an incredibly valuable role down the stretch for Boston, Burgos is unlikely to be claimed off waivers, making him an easy candidate to designate for assignment. However, that wouldn't end his time with the organization, as he has two minor league options remaining, so the team could outright assign him to the minors if he clears waivers.

Zack Kelly

Kelly performed well in his lone stint in Boston in 2026, from April 3 to May 22, posting a 3.31 ERA in 16.1 innings before the team demoted him after calling up fellow right-handed reliever Tyron Guerrero. After being surprisingly optioned, Kelly told MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo that he would be open to a trade, with Cotillo adding that there had been interest.

After posting a 6.91 ERA in 10 appearances with Worcester, Kelly landed on the Triple-A injured list with right elbow inflammation and was later recalled to Boston and subsequently placed on the 60-day IL, where he finished the season.

According to MLB Trade Rumors , Kelly is expected to earn $800,000 in arbitration in 2027. However, he's out of minor league options, so he'll have to be on the major league roster heading into 2027. With an already crowded bullpen and his apparent dissatisfaction with his role, it feels like the 31-year-old has thrown his last pitch in a Red Sox uniform.

Designating Kelly for assignment and seeing what trade interest remains after the season-ending injury seems like the best path for both sides.

Nate Eaton

A valuable utility man on the 2025 Red Sox, Eaton saw his big-league time all but vanish in 2026. In 24 regular-season games with Boston, the 29-year-old hit just .160/.300/.260/.560 with one home run and two doubles, driving in six runs.

Like Kelly, Eaton has no minor league options left heading into 2027, making him an obvious candidate to DFA to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. However, with Eli White's status up in the air after surgery to treat a torn ligament in his right foot, Eaton's speed and defensive versatility could earn him a spot on the big-league team heading into Spring Training. However, if White is able to go for 2027, Eaton may find himself on the outside looking in.

Eli White

Speaking of White, with his status for the 2027 season up in the air after suffering the late-season injury , the 31-year-old outfielder could be a non-tender candidate after his 60-day injured list expires for the offseason.

After being acquired from the Atlanta Braves in an under-the-radar move ahead of the trade deadline, White was productive in a fourth outfielder role for Boston, handling starting duties in center field after Ceddanne Rafaela landed on the injured list with a quad strain. In 27 games for the Red Sox, White hit .276/.300/.379/.679 with one home run, three doubles, and 12 RBI.

His blend of strong defense and 100th-percentile speed makes him an incredibly valuable fourth outfielder. However, it's a tough ask to keep him on the 40-man roster through the offseason if he misses all of 2027 with the injury.

Tsung-Che Cheng

After being claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals, the 25-year-old infielder spent most of the season in Triple-A, where he hit .241/.345/.390/.735 in 94 games. Cheng spent just over a month with Boston in 2026, hitting .256/.318/.282/.600 in 14 games at shortstop while Trevor Story and Marcelo Mayer were out of the lineup.

With a crowded group of Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, Nick Sogard, and Romy Gonzalez competing for a spot on the bench heading into 2027, it seems unlikely that Cheng will stick around. After bouncing around on waivers for much of the 2025 offseason, Cheng could be headed into a second straight offseason of uncertainty.

The Red Sox will have to comply with the 40-man roster limits just days after the World Series ends, so these decisions are coming up quickly.

Of note

With the Red Sox officially in offseason mode, Zach Coe and David Azer are back on the 'Entering Kenmore' Podcast discussing how close Boston is to winning a World Series, offseason needs, and whether or not the 2026 season was successful. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts , or in the YouTube player below:

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