If the Red Sox had hoped to see Kirby Yates in their bullpen for the 2025 season, it seems they’ll need to adjust their plans.
While there wasn’t much buzz linking Boston to the right-handed reliever, he would have been a logical addition to strengthen the back end of their bullpen. However, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly reached an agreement with Yates.
This potential signing comes on the heels of another major bullpen upgrade for the reigning World Series champions, who reportedly secured top left-handed reliever Tanner Scott over the weekend — a player previously linked to Boston.
The Los Angeles Times had noted the Dodgers’ interest in Yates but suggested they shifted focus to Scott instead. Now, it appears LA may land both, giving them two of the top relievers on the market and leaving rival teams in awe of their aggressive spending.
For the Red Sox, alternative options are still available, though none quite match Yates’ caliber. Yates, a two-time All-Star, delivered an outstanding 2024 season with a 1.17 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and a 3-WAR performance across 61 appearances for the Texas Rangers. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo recently predicted Boston might target one of five relievers: Yates, Carlos Estévez, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, or Kyle Finnegan.
With Yates off the table, any of the remaining four could provide much-needed depth to Boston’s bullpen, but none would match the impact Yates could have brought.
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