1996 Boston Red Sox season

The 1996 Boston Red Sox season was the 96th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished third in the American League East with a record of 85–77, seven games behind the New York Yankees, who went on to win the 1996 World Series.

Offseason

October 13, 1995: Butch Henry was selected off waivers by the Red Sox from the Montreal Expos.
December 14, 1995: Mike Stanley was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.
December 21, 1995: Milt Cuyler was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.
December 21, 1995: Tom Gordon was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.
January 2, 1996: Jamie Moyer was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.
January 10, 1996: Traded Rhéal Cormier, Ryan McGuire, and Shayne Bennett to the Montreal Expos for Wil Cordero and Bryan Eversgerd.
January 21, 1996: Dan Monzon, supervisor of Latin American scouting, was killed in an automobile accident in the Dominican Republic.
January 22, 1996: Alex Cole was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.
January 29, 1996: Glenn Murray, Ken Ryan, and Lee Tinsley were traded by the Red Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies for Heathcliff Slocumb, Larry Wimberly and Rick Holyfield.
March 8, 1996: Kevin Mitchell was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.
March 19, 1996: Luis Alicea was selected off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals.

September 18, 1996: Roger Clemens struck out 20 batters for the second time in his career, becoming the only player ever to do so. The performance came against the Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Clemens' second 20-K day occurred in his second-to-last game as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

April 18, 1996: Bryan Eversgerd was traded by Red Sox to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later. The Rangers completed the deal by sending Rudy Pemberton on April 24.
May 17, 1996: Brad Pennington was selected off of waivers from the California Angels.
June 5, 1996: Jeff Frye was signed as a free agent.
June 9, 1996: Traded Scott Backum to the Philadelphia Phillies for Lee Tinsley.
July 30, 1996: Kevin Mitchell was traded by the Red Sox to the Cincinnati Reds for Roberto Mejía and Brad Tweedie.
July 30, 1996: Jamie Moyer was traded by the Red Sox to the Seattle Mariners for Darren Bragg.
July 31, 1996: Mike Stanton and a player to be named later were traded by the Red Sox to the Texas Rangers for Mark Brandenburg and Kerry Lacy. The Red Sox completed the deal by sending Dwayne Hosey to the Rangers on November 4.
August 1, 1996: Greg Pirkl was selected off waivers by the Red Sox from the Seattle Mariners.
August 26, 1996: Traded for a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins for Pat Mahomes. Brian Looney was sent to the Twins on December 17 to complete the deal.

June 4, 1996: 1996 Major League Baseball draft
* Chris Reitsma was drafted by the Red Sox in the 1st round. Player signed June 22, 1996.
* Dernell Stenson was drafted by the Red Sox in the 2nd round. Player signed July 12, 1996.
* Robert Ramsay was drafted by the Red Sox in the 7th round. Player signed June 15, 1996.
* Justin Duchscherer was drafted by the Red Sox in the 8th round. Player signed June 14, 1996.
* Shea Hillenbrand was drafted by the Red Sox in the 10th round. Player signed June 6, 1996.
* Aaron Harang was drafted by the Red Sox in the 22nd round, but did not sign.

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

The Lowell Spinners replaced the Utica Blue Sox as the Red Sox' Class A-Short Season affiliate.
The Red Sox shared a DSL team with the Houston Astros.

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