Verizon’s nationwide service outage on Wednesday created an unexpected twist in the Boston Red Sox free agent coverage.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Chris Cotillo of MassLive, one of the most plugged-in writers on the Red Sox beat.
Cotillo’s usually the guy breaking Red Sox news. But when Ranger Suarez signed his deal Wednesday, he was completely out of the loop.
Here’s how he explained the perfect storm of bad timing:
Red Sox didn’t make a free agent signing for 2.5 months. Their $130M spend came in the midst of a Verizon outage seconds after I landed after having a flight diverted (first time ever) for 4 hours due to weather. That is a new low. High alert. Spots remain.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 14, 2026
The Red Sox went 2.5 months without a major free agent move. Then they drop $130 million on a quality left-handed starter right when their primary beat writer is dealing with flight delays and a cell service blackout.
That’s gotta sting for someone who prides himself on staying ahead of the news cycle.
Of course, this doesn’t change the fact that Boston just added an impressive arm to their rotation. Suarez gives them exactly what they needed – a proven starter who can eat innings and complement their existing group.
Cotillo will be back on top of the next move, and there’s likely more coming from the Red Sox this winter. Just hoping Verizon keeps it together for the next announcement.
