Red Sox reshuffle coaching staff, face key Rule 5 Draft decisions

The Red Sox will have a different look to their coaching staff when they return for the 2027 season, with changes coming at both first and third base.

Boston will be searching for new coaches at both positions after interim third base coach Chad Epperson was reassigned to manage Triple-A Worcester and first base coach Pablo Cabrera was moved back to his previous role as the organization's minor league defensive coordinator.

Both Epperson and Cabrera joined the major league staff following the dismissal of Alex Cora and several members of his coaching staff after the Red Sox stumbled to a 10-17 start.

Rather than looking outside the organization, Boston filled the vacancies internally, promoting Chad Tracy to interim manager before removing the interim tag and naming him the permanent skipper with one week remaining in the regular season.

Epperson had managed Double-A Portland before joining Boston's coaching staff.

His transition to third base coach wasn't without some growing pains, particularly when it came to his decisions to send runners home.

One of the more memorable situations occurred in early June against the Orioles at Fenway Park.

With Wilyer Abreu on first base, Willson Contreras ripped a double down the third-base line. As Abreu raced around the bases, Epperson waved him home, and the outfielder narrowly beat the throw to the plate.

Baltimore challenged the call, prompting a replay review, where he was later ruled out. 

During the review, the television broadcast pointed out that Epperson had stepped onto the field of play while waving Abreu home, raising questions about whether he had violated the rules governing base-coach positioning.

However, Epperson's actions weren't necessarily a violation.

Rule 5.03(c) states:

"Base coaches must remain within the coach's box, except that a coach who has a play at his base may leave the coach's box to signal the player to slide, advance, or return to a base, provided the coach does not interfere with the play."

While Epperson drew criticism for the sequence, the rule allows coaches to leave their designated boxes under certain circumstances, provided they don't interfere with the play.

Cabrera, meanwhile, was just 29 when he was promoted to the major league staff to replace José David Flores as first base coach.

Flores moved into the interim bench coach role following the staff shakeup, reuniting him with Tracy after the two previously worked together in Worcester.

With Epperson and Cabrera returning to the minor league system, Tracy and the Red Sox will have an opportunity to reshape the coaching staff as they prepare for their first full season together in 2027.

Rule 5 Draft Decisions Loom for Red Sox

The Red Sox also have several roster decisions approaching, including which eligible prospects they intend to protect from December's Rule 5 Draft.

Boston must determine whether any of its eligible minor leaguers warrant a spot on the 40-man roster rather than risk losing them to another organization.

Among the players who could receive consideration are right-handers Blake Wehunt, catcher Brooks Brannon, infielder Mikey Romero, catcher Johanfran Garcia, outfielder Braiden Ward and left-hander Hayden Mullins.

Of that group, Romero appears to be the