Role
Brayan Bello opened 2026 in the rotation and lost his spot by June. He had a 9.12 ERA in his first six starts (per the AP), and the Red Sox optioned him to Worcester on June 5, the day after Baltimore scored eight earned runs off him. He came back on July 12 and spent most of the second half in long relief. The 2027 question is whether he starts or keeps doing the job he did best this year.
Outlook
As a starter he had a 7.18 ERA in 11 games and 52.2 innings. In relief he had a 1.98 ERA in 15 games and 63.2 innings, with 50 strikeouts and 12 walks. He did close the regular season with two good starts, including eight innings and 11 strikeouts at Tampa Bay on Sept. 19. The AP reported he pushed back in June on questions about his role and said he has always been a starter. His six-year, $55 million deal pays him $8.5 million in 2027, then $16 million in 2028 and $19 million in 2029 (per the AP).
Our take: give him the bulk role again and leave it alone. The money says Boston wants a starter by 2028, and that gives the team a full season to find out if the relief version of Bello can go five innings every time out.