Red Sox Activate $8.25 Million Option on Garrett Whitlock

The Boston Red Sox exercised their $8.25 million club option on right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock on Sunday. This move secures the pitcher for the 2027 season. It represents the first of two consecutive options held by the franchise.

Whitlock originally signed a four-year, $18.75 million pre-arbitration contract extension in April 2022. The 2028 option is valued at $10.5 million. It includes a $500,000 buyout clause. The team now controls the final two years of that initial agreement.

The 30-year-old pitcher has maintained a 2.93 earned run average over six major league seasons. He debuted with Boston in April 2021. After a strong rookie year with the team that reached the ALCS, he faced multiple injuries. He moved between the starting rotation and the bullpen from 2022 through 2024.

Whitlock returned to the bullpen full-time before the 2025 season. He has posted a 2.03 ERA over the last two years. He recorded 150 strikeouts and 33 walks in 124 1/3 regular-season innings. The Red Sox posted a 90-26 record in games where Whitlock took the mound.

The team featured the best bullpen in baseball in 2026. Whitlock served as the set-up man to closer Aroldis Chapman. He recorded a career-best 1.72 ERA over 54 games. He struck out 59 batters and walked nine in 52 1/3 innings. He pitched a scoreless September while unaware of a fractured right tibia. Doctors diagnosed the injury after the team was eliminated in the first round of the postseason.

Whitlock was advised to wear a boot for four to six weeks. Surgery is not required. He is expected to be ready for the start of spring training. The preseason schedule may face disruptions because Major League Baseball is expected to lock out players when the collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1.

The previous lockout lasted 99 days during the 2021-22 offseason. It ended on March 10, nearly a month after the typical start date for spring training.