Boston scooped up one of the better free agents still left on March 12. Danny Coulombe, the journeyman left-hander who spent 2025 with Minnesota and Texas, signed a one-year deal to join the Red Sox.

A Look at Coulombe

Last season, Danny Coulombe waited to sign a free agent deal until February. Coulombe took a one-year deal with the Twins, a move that proved to be fruitful for the organization.

The left-hander struck out 31 over 31 and posted an ERA just over 1.00 for the Twins. He excelled yet again after what was a solid run in Baltimore after he left Minnesota. But after the Twins fell out of playoff contention in the early summer, he was flipped to Texas for Garrett Horn.

Coulombe, though, hit a skid while with the Rangers. He gave up three home runs, out of character for him, and walked nine over 12 innings for Texas. He wasn’t the only Rangers reliever to struggle over that time. But, his performance didn’t help with the Rangers much, a tough blow given that he was added to bolster that bullpen significantly.

When the 36-year-old is right, he can be one of the most effective left-handed relievers in baseball.

He’s a stingy pitcher who can be tough to pick up and time. High arm angle, cutting four-seamer that sits at around 90 MPH, and has ample to play off it, including a cut/slider, a two-seamer, a sweeper, and a knuckle-curve.

Per the team, the Red Sox gave Danny Coulombe a one-year deal.

Analysis

The Red Sox diversify the bullpen by adding not just a funky left-hander who can induce weak contact but also give that group a jolt in an area of need.

Boston already has a dominant left-hander in Aroldis Chapman, the team’s closer. But now, the Sox add someone who can slot in and fill in the gaps in the sixth and seventh against left-handed hitters.

Jovani Moran and Tyler Samaniego, the latter of whom was acquired in the Johan Oviedo trade last winter, were the other potential left-handed reliever options on the 40-man roster.

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