What bullpen moves are incoming for the Red Sox?

Yahoo Sports15h ago3 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Boston Red Sox have sent Jake Bennett to Triple-A and promoted Jack Anderson. Additional bullpen changes are expected soon, potentially involving Justin Slaten and Tommy Kahnle.

Key points

Jake Bennett sent down to Triple-A
Jack Anderson promoted to the majors
Justin Slaten's return expected soon
Greg Weissert and Ryan Watson struggling
Tommy Kahnle's assignment clause could force a decision

Boston Red Sox

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 03: Greg Weissert #57 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout after pitching during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on May 03, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images We learned after the game on Thursday that Jake Bennett has been sent down to Triple-A. Jack Anderson, who allowed three runs in 8 1/3 innings in his first stint in the majors, will be the corresponding promotion. Other moves are likely on the horizon. Justin Slaten seemingly threw his final rehab outing for Worcester on Wednesday night, a scoreless inning. I had expected Slaten to be recalled today, with Bennett going down since Sonny Gray’s return brings the Red Sox back to a full rotation. It’s possible that Anderson is only here for one day and will swap with Slaten over the weekend. It’s also possible that a second, or even a third move is coming. Greg Weissert and Ryan Watson simply haven’t gotten it done thus far out of the pen. Weissert, despite blowing numerous wins for starters a year ago, finished the season with a 2.82 ERA in 72 appearances. This year has been a different story, allowing four home runs in 14 2/3 innings, and Weissert is now sporting a 5.52 ERA. Ryan Watson, despite having the Rule-5 tag, probably isn’t safe either. His 6.46 ERA in 15 appearances (23 2/3 innings) is equally concerning, and his K-BB% is just 7.2%. Slaten’s return is imminent, along with the fact that Tommy Kahnle exercised his “assignment clause” last week. If another team offers Kahnle a major league deal, the Red Sox will either have to promote him or let him go. Kahnle has a 2.38 ERA at Worcester and 11 seasons of big league experience. His ERA in the big leagues from 2019-2025 is 3.33. I could see a full-line change coming soon, with Anderson, Slaten, and Kahnle in and Bennett, Watson, and Weissert out. Of course, if this happened, Weissert would need to be DFA’d, and Watson would be returned to the Giants by the Rule Five rules. What would you do with the ‘pen over the next few days? Discuss in the comments, and be good to each other.

Q&A

What bullpen changes are the Red Sox planning after Jake Bennett's demotion?

The Red Sox are likely to promote Justin Slaten and Tommy Kahnle, while Jack Anderson has already been brought up.

How have Greg Weissert and Ryan Watson performed this season for the Red Sox?

Greg Weissert has a 5.52 ERA and Ryan Watson has a 6.46 ERA, both showing concerning performance in their appearances.

What happens if another team offers Tommy Kahnle a major league deal?

If Kahnle receives a major league offer, the Red Sox must either promote him or let him go due to his assignment clause.