The Pink Sox are planning to tender a contract to right-hander Tanner Houck, stories Chris Cotillo of MassLive. The membership has till Friday night to alter its thoughts however it appears they’re planning to maintain Houck on the roster.
Friday at 7pm Central is the deadline for golf equipment to resolve whether or not or to not tender contracts to pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible gamers. Groups and gamers don’t have to resolve on a wage by that date. They’ve till January eighth to file wage figures. However the group must decide by Friday as as to whether they’re dedicated to paying the participant or not. If the participant remains to be on the roster past the deadline, the group must finally pay him one thing, with numerous outcomes nonetheless attainable at that time. A non-tender on Friday permits the group to stroll away with out paying something.
Houck is arguably a borderline case on account of his well being. He simply had Tommy John surgical procedure in August. He’ll possible miss all the 2026 season. He could be retained by way of arbitration via 2027, at which level he’s slated free of charge company.
With 2026 more likely to be a restoration yr for Houck, the choice is extra about 2027. The Sox may pay him for the 2026 season, hoping that the funding pays off within the following yr. That’s one thing that groups typically do in free company. Pitchers recovering from surgical procedure typically signal two-year pacts, with the signing group realizing that they’re in all probability solely going to get significant return on funding within the second yr, whereas the participant banks a bit of money whereas recovering.
The Sox themselves did this final offseason, as they signed Patrick Sandoval to a two-year, $18.25MM deal. The lefty didn’t pitch for the Sox in 2025 however they’ll hopefully get one thing out of him subsequent yr. Different pitchers received comparable offers just lately. Shane Bieber received $26MM from the Guardians final winter, for example, with an opt-out midway via. A yr earlier, Tyler Mahle received $22MM from the Rangers, with no opt-out. The Brewers gave Brandon Woodruff two years and $17.5MM when he was recovering from shoulder surgical procedure.
Investing in Houck will value lower than that. He made $3.95MM in 2025, his first of three arbitration seasons. He solely made 9 begins in 2025 because of his arm points however gamers going via arb often see their salaries maintain pretty regular once they miss vital time. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz tasks Houck for a similar $3.95MM wage in 2026. If he stays on the roster and is tendered a contract for 2027 as properly, he would possible find yourself in the identical vary once more.
Basically, tendering Houck a contract for the following two years will in all probability value the Pink Sox about $8MM complete. They may additionally stroll away after 2026 if he experiences some kind of setback, slicing their losses. The roughly $8MM could be lower than half of what they paid to Sandoval and the ensures of these different aforementioned offers. Houck doesn’t have the identical observe report as these guys however has proven loads of potential, notably in 2024 when he logged 178 2/3 innings with a 3.12 earned run common, 20.7% strikeout price, 6.5% stroll price and 55.9% floor ball price.
If the Sox have been to non-tender Houck, it will in all probability recommend that they don’t anticipate him to totally return to that stage in 2027, although there additionally might be different contributing elements. There’s no injured listing within the offseason, so the Sox do need to hold Houck on the roster all through the winter. Tomorrow is the deadline so as to add gamers to a 40-man roster to guard them from being chosen within the Rule 5 draft. The Sox at the moment have a full 40-man and have to open some spots, assuming they need to add a couple of guys. Cotillo mentions the opportunity of a lockout disrupting 2027, which may stop the Sox from benefiting from Houck’s eventual return. Nonetheless, entrance workplace nonetheless need to plan as if the season will likely be performed, as there’s no certainty across the labor dispute proper now.
The Sox at the moment have Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello beneath membership management via at the very least 2030. Aside from that, there’s not a ton of certainty. Kutter Crawford has posted first rate outcomes and ought to be within the combine. He’s beneath membership management via 2028. The aforementioned Sandoval is signed for only one extra yr. Guys like Connelly Early, Payton Tolle and Kyle Harrison are within the combine however nonetheless aren’t confirmed massive leaguers. The Sox plan so as to add to the rotation this offseason however haven’t accomplished so but.
Even when a pitching employees seems good on paper, accidents are at all times inevitable, so it’s anybody’s guess what the depth will seem like by the point Houck is again on a giant league mound. He has additionally had some success as a reliever, so maybe there’s a state of affairs the place he will get pushed to the bullpen, particularly if there are workload considerations within the coming years. Time will inform the way it performs out however it seems the Sox would love the payoff to be with Houck pitching in Boston.
Photograph courtesy of Rick Osentoski, Imagn Photos
