The Boston Red Sox bullpen remains a work in progress with key pieces hitting the free agent market and their hesitance to strike at the available replacement options.
Joe Kelly‘s departure for Los Angeles creates a hole in the middle relief core and Craig Kimbrel‘s potential exit opens a bigger void in the ninth inning. The expectation is that Boston will sign a closer in free agency, whether it be Kimbrel becoming more realistic about what relievers are worth in this market or pivoting to a cheaper alternative.
How the rest of the bullpen lines up depends on who steps into the closer role.