Inside The Red Sox

Longtime Red Sox Prospect Joins Rival Blue Jays In Free Agency

The Sox have to hope this release doesn't come back to haunt them
Jackson Roberts|
Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of a Toronto Blue Jays hat before game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of a Toronto Blue Jays hat before game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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Boston Red SoxToronto Blue Jays

The Boston Red Sox have developed a strong pitching pipeline over the last several years, but not every pitcher who has come through the system has proven to be a success story.

Boston selected left-hander Brendan Cellucci in the 12th round of the 2019 draft, and for a while, it looked as though they had found decent value. The southpaw always struggled with his command, but for five seasons after returning from the year off forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, he racked up strikeouts down on the farm.

However, Cellucci was released over the summer, as his numbers in Triple-A dipped to an all-time worst. And earlier this week, the Red Sox learned that the 27-year-old would be joining one of their division rivals for the upcoming season.

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Brendan Cellucci joining Blue Jays

According to the transactions log on his official roster page, Cellucci signed a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. The deal had not yet appeared on his page as of Wednesday afternoon, however. The system often takes a few days to process minor-league deals.

Cellucci pitched to a 5.00 ERA in 179 games in the Red Sox organization, and last season, he put up a 7.90 ERA in 17 games for Triple-A Worcester. He was released on July 28, finished out the summer with the York Revolution in the independent Atlantic League, then played winter ball in Puerto Rico.

There, he pitched for Criollos de Caguas under the direction of manager and Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez, who has to be at least a little conflicted about seeing a player he helped develop signing with a division rival.

Cellucci has racked up 350 strikeouts in his 259 minor-league innings, but he's also walked 184 batters. He'll have to greatly improve his command, which he seemed to be on his way to doing in York and Caguas, if he wants to make an impact in the Toronto system this year.

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Jackson Roberts
JACKSON ROBERTS

Jackson Roberts is a former Division III All-Region DH who now writes and talks about sports for a living. A Bay Area native and a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, Jackson makes his home in North Jersey. He grew up rooting for the Red Sox, Patriots, and Warriors, and he recently added the Devils to his sports fandom mosaic. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Boston Red Sox On SI, please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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