​The Boston Red Sox acted with practicality as they navigate the roster and a potential contract bonus for pitcher Danny Coulombe. Coulombe was one game away from triggering a contract bonus, but his impact out of the Boston bullpen had been limited. On Sunday, the Red Sox officially designated Coulombe for assignment, per MLB’s transaction log. This move removes him from the 40-man roster and the MLB70 roster while placing him on waivers, meaning another club can claim him. If he goes unclaimed, Coulombe could end up at Triple-A, or, as a veteran, he could elect free agency. In any case, it appears unlikely that he will pitch for Boston again this season.
Coulombe carried a 4.50 ERA through 29 relief appearances, including 37 pitches in his final appearance with the Red Sox. His Spotrac page indicates that if he reaches 30 outings this season, he would earn $75,000, with incremental $75,000 increases at 35, 40, and 45 appearances. As noted, he has appeared in 29 games for Boston this season. If there was a moment to make this move, this could be considered that moment.
Sources note that Coulombe did collect $250,000 in bonuses for being on the active roster for 30, 60, and 90 days, which effectively nets him $1.75 million from the Red Sox for roughly half a season, a fact highlighted by SI’s Jackson Roberts on Sunday. The move also aligns with the team’s broader needs, especially with Brayan Bello returning to MLB and Ranger Suarez moving toward healing. While Coulombe is nearing the end of his major league career, there remains a possibility he could latch on elsewhere as a lefty specialist, just not in Boston.
This decision marks a practical reshaping of the bullpen as the Red Sox balance immediate needs with the potential return on the roster in the near term. For now, Coulombe’s time with Boston appears to have reached its conclusion, and his future will likely unfold with another organization rather than with the Red Sox.
Latest Red Sox news includes updates on the 2026 schedule and roster, along with a comprehensive look at the team’s history of championships for broader context. If you’re tracking the team’s ongoing developments, you’ll want to keep an eye on further moves as Boston positions itself for the 2026 season and beyond.