The Red Sox announced that they have selected left-hander Shane Drohan as well right-handers David Sandlin and Tyler Uberstine to the roster. They opened 40-man spots by designating right-hander Josh Winckowski for assignment, trading left-hander Brennan Bernardino to the Rockies and trading left-hander Chris Murphy to the White Sox, moves which were previously reported. The three selections were reported by Chris Cotillo of MassLive prior to the official club announcement.
Boston already lost Drohan once in the Rule 5 Draft. The White Sox picked him back in 2023, but Drohan underwent a nerve compression procedure in his shoulder during spring training 2024 and began the season on the 60-day IL. He was hit hard when he was cleared for a rehab assignment, returned to the Red Sox, and finished the year back on the IL with shoulder troubles.
Unsurprisingly, that injury-wrecked season kept him from being selected in the 2024 Rule 5. That worked to Boston’s benefit. A healthy Drohan bounced back with 54 innings of 3.00 ERA ball. He struck out 34.5% of opponents against a 9.4% walk rate while sitting 93-95 with his four-seamer. Drohan still missed ample time on the injured list — this time due to a forearm issue — but he’s typically been productive when healthy, thanks largely to a plus changeup. He’ll turn 27 in January.
Sandlin, 25 in February, came to the Red Sox from the Royals in a 2022 swap sending righty John Schreiber to Kansas City. He reached a career-high 82 1/3 innings while pitching in Double-A this season and working to a tidy 3.61 earned run average with strong rate stats. The Sox moved him to a relief role upon bumping him to Triple-A, likely to manage his workload after pitching just 57 innings in 2024 and 66 innings in 2023. It was a struggle, as the righty was tagged for a 7.36 ERA while pushing his innings count far into uncharted territory. He wound up with an overall 4.50 ERA in 106 1/3 frames.
The 26-year-old Uberstine was Boston’s 19th-round pick in 2021. He split 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A, tossing 120 1/3 innings with a combined 3.58 ERA. Uberstine fanned 26.9% of opponents against an 8% walk rate. He’s a bit undersized at 6’1″ and 200 pounds, but he’s had success at nearly every minor league stop. Were it not for a Tommy John procedure that wiped out all of his 2023 season and most of his 2024 campaign, Uberstine may already have gotten a big league look. Now, coming off a healthy 120 innings with strong results, he figures to be in line for a call to Fenway Park at sometime in 2026.
Shane Drohan is the new Brennan Bernardino
Meow – I hope so! I was a fan of Bernie since Day One, sorry to see him go 😢
FPG
Very surprised they traded Bernardino. He had some very good runs coming out of the bullpen.
cdc – hi!
Yeah this was definitely an analytics-driven move, his K rate dropped from 10.3 in 2023 to 9.9 in 2024 and way down to 7.5 this year.
They are kinda following the Belichick mantra “better to dump a player a year too soon than a year too late”.
FPG
Couple interesting views I’ve come across. With the Brewers offering a QO to Woodruff they may be more inclined to trading Peralta. Also I think if the Tigers sign Bregman, how could they possibly afford to sign Skubal??. I’m thinking Bregman is not going to be persued by Detroit. With a expected payroll of $155 million,it would eat up approximately 40% of that figure on 2 players. Any thoughts or updates or trade speculations?
cdc – hi !
Thoughts: Tigers can afford Skubal and Bregman, Alex is expected to sign for “only” $160M/6yrs which is less than $27M annually.
Update: Woodruff already accepted the QO, so he is there to stay.
Trade speculation: Passan says Duran or Abreu will be traded this offseason, he’s usually right.
Baltimore trading Rodriguez for Ward is kinda interesting. I know he did not pitch last year but Rodriguez has big upside. A league and a team that’s desperate for pitching,it makes me wonder.
He’s better, just not experienced
So we go from a plethora of lefties to zero lefties!? I hope there’s a plan here. Both Murphy & Bernardino were decent pieces. But it’s early. Patience I’m told.
Nope no plan. Who makes a plan for the offseason? NERDS, thats who. They havent all been strategizing for months now in anticipation for this very day.
The Red Sox have so many starters that you will probably see Fitts, Harrison (L), Drohan (L) in the MLB bullpen. Why keep your number 9, 10, 11 starters in AAA when they are better than who you might sign in free agency for the MLB bullpen.
Bernardino trade makes 0 sense.
I actually think Chris Murphy is going to turn out to be the better pitcher of the two. I am sorry to see him go.
I like Murphy and Bernardino better than drohan. Oh well
The only real question with Drohan is health. He’s got great stuff and I’m guessing he’s going to be given every chance to win the bullpen job. If healthy his stuff is legit. He got a 40% whiff rate on his fastball and his change is his best pitch along with at least an average or better slider and a better than average curve. It’s the health I’m concerned about but the stuff is real.
Health is a concern, but I also look at the fact that he was taken by the white Sox in the rule 5 before and got returned to us. Hopefully he’s a late bloomer and will find a home in the bullpen, but I think his ceiling is what Bernardino already is
Tang, keeping a player on the MLB roster is hard, especially coming back from an injury. That hopefully explains both the return and late blooming status.
The upside of Shane Drohan is high. His swing and miss, his stuff is that of a big league pitcher. He would have made his big league debut last year but the old bugaboo of injuries reared there ugly head. Still when he was available and in a very difficult pitching environment of Worcester he was quite good. The risk here is he has only started he hasn’t to my knowledge come out of the pen if they are planning to bring him out of the pen. Let’s not forget Sandlin really struggled coming out of the pen when they tried to transition him.
Curious who the LHs will be in the pen. Murphy and Bernardino gone. Matz and Wilson have decisions to make. Might create a spot for someone like Tolle. That would be a fun experiment.
They will develop Tolle as a starter I’m sure of that he’s starting in AAA. Drohan hasn’t been able to stay healthy as a starter so I’ll bet he’s going to be one of the lefties out of the pen. His stuff is legit.
Tolle, Early, Kutter, Dobbins, Harrison, Sandoval, Sandlin, Criswell, Fitts
Some of these guys will be in the BP, no?
And I’m pretty confident they add another BP piece from outside. Who knows with relievers. But the RS seem to have a head start for 2026 on what was a decent BP in 2025
Looks like theyre getting the right guys onto the 40man.
It ain’t gonna be easy to replace Bernardino’s 55 appearances though
Surprised they didn’t pick Miguel Bleis but I get there some question marks. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s picked up by someone else, though, at least to test him out.
Thats a name that kind of never lived up to the early hype hes only 21 but really hasn’t shown he is deserving of a 40 man spot on a contender..id be shocked if some team thought enough of him to carry him on the 26 man.
Someone might take a chance on Miguel Bleis but highly doubt he sticks when they realize this 5 tool player is actually a 4 tool guy lacking the hit tool.
Or traded
Blies has not progressed in the last two years. His prospects status is way down. I highly, highly doubt he is selected in Rule 5. If the Red Sox need a third player in a trade he is gone.
Blies had a .686 OPS in AA, and has slipped to #18 on Soxprospect rankings. I think his best chance to progress is with a second division team who does not expect to compete for several years.
York – Not many people realize Bleis is only 21. He really sucked in AA, but he’s got time to improve.
@Fever Pitch Guy
Well, I’m not suggesting he’s the best player in the world so I don’t think it matters if someone takes him or not but the potential is there and he’s only 21. I think if he’s still struggling by 23, then he isn’t really that good.
I hate to cheer against a guy so young but you’re probably right that he’s not going to end up as much of anything.
York – I didn’t make any predictions about how he will end up. LOL!
I’ll be hoping for the best though.
Uberstine = Big German Beer Mug 🍺
I’m speculating some team will take a shot with Mullins.
Mullins is almost certainly gone. I have always thought he was a bullpen guy and we are going to find out. Not only is he going to be picked but he will not be returned he will make it with the new organization he’s picked by.
I agree, he looked good in Portland last season. A team that won’t compete well, he’s an ideal fit with his control. They can hide him in their pen all season.
I’m gunna miss Bernie
“He’s a bit undersized at 6’1″ and 200 pounds”
So was Pedro… I hope he can be half as good.
Perales, Duran and Harrison to Minnesota for Joe Ryan.