Role
Eli White came over from Atlanta at the Aug. 3 deadline for right-hander Tyler Uberstine. He was supposed to be a late-inning glove and pinch runner. He played 27 games for Boston and hit .276/.300/.379, then hurt his right foot crashing into the grate in front of the center field wall at Fenway on Sept. 8. The Red Sox announced that he had Lisfranc repair surgery (per MLB Trade Rumors), and he finished the year on the 60-day injured list.
Outlook
The speed is real. His sprint speed ranked in the 99th percentile in 2026, the second straight year, and his arm strength was in the 80th. The bat is thin. Across both teams he hit .246/.289/.398 with 11 walks in 204 plate appearances, and Statcast's expected slugging was .333. MLB Trade Rumors projects a $1.4 million arbitration salary and notes that he's out of minor league options.
Our take: a 32-year-old coming off foot surgery, with no options left, is a tough fit on a crowded roster. Nate Eaton does a similar job and can be sent down. We think White is non-tendered on Nov. 20.