Red Sox Re-Negotiate Contract with New Reliever Danny Coulombe

Concerns over Coulombe's physical lead to revised deal with Boston

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:53am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Boston Red Sox have re-negotiated a contract with veteran left-handed pitcher Danny Coulombe after an issue was discovered during his physical examination. The original one-year, $2.25 million deal with $750,000 in incentives has been reworked to a $1 million base salary plus the $750,000 in incentives, bringing the total potential value to $2.25 million.

Why it matters

Coulombe, 36, has dealt with several injury issues in recent seasons, including elbow surgery and forearm and shoulder problems. The Red Sox likely wanted to mitigate their financial risk by adjusting the contract terms based on the physical exam findings.

The details

Coulombe pitched for the Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins in 2025, posting a 2.30 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 43 innings. However, he missed time in both 2024 and 2025 due to various arm injuries. The details of the physical issue that led to the contract renegotiation have not been disclosed publicly.

  • Coulombe agreed to the original one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Red Sox in early March 2026.
  • The reworked $1 million base salary plus $750,000 in incentives deal was reported on March 18, 2026.

The players

Danny Coulombe

A 36-year-old left-handed relief pitcher who has played 11 seasons in the major leagues with the Dodgers, A's, Twins, Orioles and Rangers.

Boston Red Sox

The professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts that competes in Major League Baseball's American League East division.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As you get older, it just gets a little harder to get warm in the morning. But I feel good now. I feel healthy, and this is a good [Red Sox] bullpen.”

— Danny Coulombe

What’s next

The Red Sox will monitor Coulombe's health and performance closely during spring training and the start of the 2026 season to ensure he can stay healthy and contribute effectively out of the bullpen.

The takeaway

This contract renegotiation highlights the Red Sox's prudent approach to managing injury risk with veteran free agent signings, especially for pitchers. It also demonstrates Coulombe's determination to prove he can still be a productive reliever despite his recent injury history.