The Red Sox have signed right-hander John Brebbia to a minor league deal, according to NESN’s Tom Caron. Brebbia wasn’t on the open market for long, as it was just two days ago that he elected free agency rather than an accept an outright assignment to the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate.
The signing is a homecoming for Brebbia, who was born in Boston and grew up in Sharon, Massachusetts. Perhaps the return to familiar surroundings will help turn around what has been a difficult year for Brebbia, who has a 7.71 ERA over 23 1/3 combined innings with the Tigers and Braves.
After inking a one-year, $2.75MM free agent deal with Detroit, Brebbia was designated for assignment and subsequently released in June after struggling badly over 19 appearances in a Tigers uniform. The Braves inked him to a minors deal shortly thereafter and selected his contract to the majors at the end of August, but Brebbia had a 7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings and three games. Atlanta designated Brebbia for assignment earlier this week, and (unsurprisingly) he cleared waivers, resulting in Brebbia opting for free agency.
Since the Tigers are responsible for the bulk of Brebbia’s remaining salary, the Red Sox will owe him only the prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary for any time the reliever might spend on Boston’s active roster. (Brebbia’s contract also includes a $4MM club option for 2026, yet that option is sure to be declined.) Because he is joining the organization after August 31, Brebbia isn’t eligible for postseason play.
For the cost of next to nothing, the Red Sox aren’t risking much in bringing Brebbia aboard as a depth arm for the remainder of September. A big spike in home run rate has led to a lot of struggles for Brebbia over the last two seasons, but he was a mostly effective bullpen arm earlier in his career with the Cardinals and Giants. There’s not a ton of time left in 2025 to see if Brebbia can get things turned around, but if nothing else, his time in the Sox organization could serve as an audition for another minor league deal this winter.
If Brebbia couldn’t make it in the Braves bullpen…
Maybe he gets a hometown boost? Doesn’t hurt to try.
The Rich Hill hope
Good depth pickup for Red Sox. Brebbia’s not done.
BBB will fix him! They can fix anybody!!!
Breslow, Bailey, and..?
Gary – Kyle Boddy.
Crazy that this is not a typo. He has 7.71 ERA with BOTH teams this year and thus of course his combined era is 7.71 as a result.
It’s Almost as crazy as that Oakland slugger who batted .247 every year for like 4 straight seasons.
Ah yes, a Khris Davis reference. Forgot about him
Good catch,i wonder if he goes for the triple 7 71 with Boston, that would be a cool trivia question.
For the nickels and dimes these guys cost, this is a nothing-burger.
But it is interesting to note that Grisham, Chisholm, Goldschmidt, McMahon and Belli are a combined 3-27 against Bebbia.
I’d rather roll with Uberstine or Drohan
Is Drohan back from injury yet?
Let’s say it together, BLERGH!
The cost is cheap by the contract cost.What harm is there to see what he has?
When they bring him up and put him in and he predictably gets lit up, that’s the harm in picking up a washed reliever that no one else wants. He has looked like he has got nothing left in his tank. I think using him in a MLB game is a recipe for disaster.
If the plan is to use him in a blowout win or loss I get that. We are in a wild-card race though…Texas is right there and our offense is struggling without Roman and Abreu.
Probably didnt need to just drop Walker Buehler. But, this is fine…
Didn’t get to comment on the “Sox to hire a GM” post yesterday, but this is exactly the type of Breslow move that makes me say, thank goodness theyre hiring someone.
Please be a baseball person and not an Analytics nerd….please be a baseball person and not an Analytics nerd…please be a………
This is a zero risk move. He sits in AAA until he shows something worth promoting or his contract ends.