Boston’s one-year deal reintroduces a familiar arm into the unsettled No. 4 and No. 5 starter mix for 2026.
On Tuesday, the Red Sox released a statement that could have major implications on the backend of their pitching staff in 2026:
“The Boston Red Sox today signed right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford to a one-year contract for the 2026 season.
“Crawford, 29, missed the 2025 season after starting on the 15-Day Injured List with right patellar tendinopathy. The right-hander was transferred to the 60-Day Injured List on May 15 and underwent successful surgery on July 2 to reconstruct the stabilizing sheath of the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) in his right wrist. Selected by the Red Sox in the 16th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, the Florida native owns a 4.56 ERA (199 ER/392.1 IP) with 389 strikeouts in 86 career Major League games (69 starts), all with Boston (2021-25).”
With so much uncertainty around who will be Boston’s No. 4 and No. 5 starter, Crawford is an interesting name to throw back into the discussion.
As the statement mentioned, Crawford missed all of 2025. That knocked him out of the consciousness, to a degree, with the average Red Sox fan.
In the interim, there’s plenty of discussion around the likes of newcomer Johan Oviedo, familiar face Brayan Bello, and now second-year pitchers Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. Throw the unknown that is Patrick Sandoval into the mix, and that’s been the bulk of the names discussed for those final two spots in the rotation.
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Defending Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet is the obvious No. 1, and newly acquired veteran Sonny Gray is almost assuredly your No. 2. And I can say with great confidence that Bello is going to be this team’s No. 3 starter on Opening Day 2026, even if there is an argument to be made for Oviedo grabbing that spot this spring.
Let’s say Oviedo and Bello are the two guys settling in at both No. 3 and 4, regardless of who goes where. That leaves No. 5 open, where - at the moment - things aren’t exactly clear-cut.
Tolle and Early both provide an incredible amount of upside, and would generate excitement from the jump for a fanbase that may have ended 2025 with a sour taste in their mouth after an ugly Game 3 loss at Yankee Stadium in the Wild Card Round.
But with Crawford having that proven track record as a guy that can both eat innings and post on a regular basis, isn’t that exactly the type of guy you want in your five-hole? Of course, getting more out of a starting pitcher in that slot would be great, but not everyone can be the Dodgers.
Tolle and Early both still come with inherent risk. We saw the highest of highs from both last season, but we also saw real issues that both need to work through before they can be fully trusted as major league starters.
As I sit here today, I think Crawford, if healthy, is the guy.
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.