The Boston Red Sox continued addressing bullpen depth by signing veteran left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe to a one-year Major League contract. The team announced the move on Thursday and cleared a spot on the 40-man roster by placing infielder Romy Gonzalez on the 60-day injured list following successful arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder.
Coulombe, 36, has quietly established himself as a dependable reliever in recent seasons. Over the past five years, he has posted a 2.64 ERA across 188 appearances while striking out more than one batter per inning. His strong form continued in 2025 with the Minnesota Twins, where he recorded a 1.16 ERA in 40 appearances before being traded to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline.
His stint in Texas included limited action and a 5.25 ERA in 15 games, yet his full 2025 season still reflected solid production, finishing with a 2.30 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 43 innings. Coulombe relies more on pitch movement and command than velocity. His five-pitch mix is led by a cutter that accounted for more than 40 percent of his pitches last season. Despite an average fastball velocity of 90.3 mph, he consistently generates swings and misses while avoiding hard contact.
Red Sox Sign Veteran Lefty Danny Coulombe to Bolster Bullpen for 2026Danny Coulombe Brings Experience And Versatility To Strengthen Red Sox Bullpen Depth
Coulombe’s pitch arsenal has proven effective against both left-handed and right-handed hitters. Lefties produced a .526 OPS against him in 2025, while right-handed batters hit just .188, thanks largely to his sweeper, which features a significant vertical drop and is used frequently against right-handed hitters.
Injuries have occasionally disrupted Coulombe’s career, with six stints on the injured list since 2022. Even so, he has remained a reliable bullpen presence throughout 11 Major League seasons. During his career, he has pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Twins, and Rangers.
He now joins a Boston bullpen that includes experienced arms such as Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, and Justin Slaten. Before the signing, Chapman and Jovani Morán were the only left-handed relievers projected for the Opening Day roster. Coulombe could quickly step into a key bullpen role as the Red Sox continue shaping their pitching staff for the upcoming season.
