The Boston Red Sox exercised Garrett Whitlock’s 2027 club option, the team confirmed Sunday, keeping the 30-year-old reliever under contract after one of the best seasons of his career. The move locks in a pitcher who ranked among baseball’s top relievers in 2026, according to MLB.com.
The Terms
MLB.com reported only that Boston exercised Whitlock’s club option for the 2027 season. No financial figures or contract conditions were included in the announcement. The decision keeps Whitlock on Boston’s roster rather than allowing him to reach free agency.
What It Means For Boston’s Bullpen
Exercising the option guarantees the Red Sox retain one of their most reliable relief arms heading into 2027. Whitlock went 7-2 with 26 holds, four saves, a 1.72 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP across 54 appearances and 52.1 innings in 2026. Those numbers placed him fifth among MLB relievers in ERA and sixth in WHIP among pitchers with at least 50 innings, while he tied for sixth in wins and eighth in holds.
Whitlock was especially effective at Fenway Park last season, going 6-1 with 12 holds, two saves and a 1.42 ERA in 25.1 innings across 26 home appearances. That home production figures to matter for a Boston bullpen that will again lean on him in high-leverage relief work.
Whitlock’s Background With The Red Sox
Boston originally added Whitlock through the 2020 Rule 5 Draft after the New York Yankees had selected him in the 18th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. Since debuting with the Red Sox in 2021, Whitlock has compiled a 32-16 record with 71 holds, 14 saves and a 2.93 ERA over 366.0 innings and 402 strikeouts across 219 appearances, including 23 starts.
Whitlock’s standing in the organization extends beyond the mound. He has served as the Red Sox Jimmy Fund captain in each of the last four seasons, from 2023 through 2026. He also received the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Good Guy Award in 2024 and its Unsung Hero Award in 2025.
What’s Next
With the option exercised, Whitlock remains under Boston’s control for the 2027 season. No further roster moves tied to the decision have been announced.
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