The Red Sox secured contract extensions with Brayan Bello and Ceddanne Rafaela this past spring, but Tanner Houck didn’t receive a similar deal despite some preliminary talks.
Houck revealed to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo that although there were “discussions,” he has since moved on, focusing on the season with a mindset of winning as many games as possible. While nothing stops the Red Sox and Houck from revisiting negotiations, it appears Houck, like many players, prefers to delay such matters until the offseason to avoid distractions.
Houck is not eligible for arbitration until this winter and is under team control through 2027, so the Red Sox may not feel an immediate need to secure him with an extension. However, given Houck’s performance this season, they might have missed an opportunity for a more favorable deal. Houck has excelled with a 2.17 ERA over 58 innings in nine starts, complemented by strong grounder (55.2%), walk (4.7%), and barrel (3.7%) rates. His 1.9 fWAR ranks second in the league, trailing only Tarik Skubal.
In other AL East news, Tommy Kahnle is set to be activated from the 15-day injured list before the Yankees’ game on Wednesday, according to manager Aaron Boone (via Greg Joyce of the New York Post). Kahnle pitched a scoreless inning for Double-A Somerset on Sunday, marking his fifth and likely final rehab appearance. Shoulder inflammation ended his 2023 season prematurely and caused him to start this season on the IL. His return will bolster a Yankees bullpen that leads the majors in ERA.
Meanwhile, Anthony Santander has been dealing with a bruised left knee after colliding with the outfield wall during a game on Wednesday. Despite an off-day on Thursday, Santander served as the DH in the Orioles’ last two games but did not play in Sunday’s win over the Mariners. Santander, who is hitting .210/.290/.427 with seven home runs in 176 plate appearances, hopes an additional day of rest will alleviate the soreness. His knee is currently at “about 75 percent” when running, suggesting he might continue in the DH role for the time being. Despite his struggles, his performance still contributes to the Orioles’ powerful lineup with a 106 wRC+.
For more updates on the Red Sox, Orioles, and Blue Jays, refer to the earlier AL East Notes published on MLBTR.
