Red Sox Reportedly Sign Veteran Reliever With Late-Inning Experience To Minor League Deal

The Red Sox are continuing to add depth as they look to secure their spot in the playoffs.

Boston is signing veteran reliever John Brebbia to a minor league deal, NESN’s Tom Caron reported Friday, citing sources. Brebbia, a Sharon, Mass., native, elected free agency instead of a Triple-A assignment after he was designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves.

The 35-year-old is undoubtedly a flier at this point. Because it’s so late in the season, he won’t be playoff eligible, so at most, he will be an extra arm to spell Boston’s relievers down the stretch if needed.

Brebbia is having a rough 2025 campaign. He has a 7.71 ERA across 22 appearances between the Detroit Tigers and Braves this season, with a 1.714 WHIP. However, it is possible he could get a look or two with Boston and improve his standing as a free agent heading into the offseason.

With that in mind, he generally has been a useful arm that his found his way into bullpens. Brebbia effectively has been a full-time big leaguer since 2017, posting a career 3.80 ERA, 25.9% strikeout rate and 7.3% walk rate across 355 innings before this season.