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Red Sox trade Nate Eaton; who's next on the chopping block?

Boston must make some tough decisions before Monday.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and the Boston Red Sox will be busy over the next few days.

The MLB offseason officially began Wednesday night after the Milwaukee Brewers were crowned 2026 World Series champions. That means clubs must add players from the 60-day injured list back onto the 40-man roster by Monday.

The Red Sox have a full 40-man roster, plus seven players on the 60-day IL: Eli White, Triston Casas, Justin Slaten, Kutter Crawford, Zack Kelly, Johan Oviedo, and Eduardo Rivera. All seven must be reactivated, meaning seven spots have to be cleared.

Three were cleared on Thursday. Left-hander Patrick Sandoval and utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa officially became free agents, and outfielder Nate Eaton was traded to the Athletics for 18-year-old minor-league pitcher Jareth Rayo. Plus, veteran right-hander Sonny Gray's $30 million mutual option will almost certainly be declined, leaving the Red Sox with three more cuts to make via trade, release, waivers, or designating for assignment.

Who could be next on Boston's chopping block? Here are the most likely cut candidates:

Raymond Burgos, LHP

Burgos provided bullpen depth in the final stretch of the 2026 season, posting a 4.22 ERA and 0.844 WHIP in nine appearances (21.1 innings pitched). The 28-year-old is a candidate to be waived, clear waivers, and land back in Triple-A.

Jovani Moran, LHP

Moran was an effective southpaw out of Boston's bullpen in 2026, finishing with a 3.15 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 50 outings. He was left off the playoff roster, however, and is out of minor-league options.

Jahmai Jones, DH/OF

Jones stepped up as a lefty masher immediately after being acquired from the Detroit Tigers, but he struggled mightily throughout September. The Red Sox outfield remains crowded even after the Eaton trade, and with Romy Gonzalez presumably good to go for 2027, having both him on Jones on the roster as specialists against southpaws would be redundant.

Zack Kelly, RHP

Kelly notched a 3.31 ERA in 17 bullpen appearances last season before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. Injuries have been an issue throughout his career, making him an obvious cut candidate especially now that he's out of minor-league options.

Tsung-Che Cheng, SS

Cheng played an important role as a fill-in shortstop during the Red Sox' incredible midseason turnaround. He hit a modest .256 in his 14 games with the club, but his defense was a legitimate difference-maker. Still, he's a fringe big-leaguer and a candidate to be traded or DFA'd before Monday.

Tyler Samaniego, LHP

Left-handed reliever Samaniego posted a 2.66 ERA across 20 outings (one as an opener) in his first MLB stint. Despite his effectiveness, he was sent down to Triple-A in early June and never called back up the majors. He'd still be a useful depth piece, but the 27-year-old could also bring back something of value in a trade if Boston opts to part ways.

Eduardo Rivera, LHP

Rivera made four appearances (three starts) with Boston in 2026. The 23-year-old had a 6.30 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 10 innings. Like Samaniego, he's expendable as a depth reliever with at least some trade value.

Alec Gamboa, LHP

Gamboa was a revelation for the Red Sox bullpen in 2026, posting a 1.91 ERA across 21 appearances (three as an opener) in his first big-league stint. The 29-year-old's efforts earned him a spot on the postseason roster.

As great as Gamboa was, he's a strong candidate to be moved. Boston has plenty of left-handed bullpen depth, and Gamboa's value after an outstanding rookie season is undoubtedly at its peak.

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