Red Sox Offseason Preview
- The Boston Red Sox won 98 games this season, their most since the 108-win championship run in 2018, and rode that momentum all the way to the World Series. But even after stealing Game 1 in Los Angeles and evening the series at home behind the red hot Jarren Duran and a dominant rotation, the gap in roster depth became impossible to ignore. The Dodgers outscored Boston 9–3 over the final two games, including a four hit shutout in the clinching Game 6.
Now, with their season officially in the rearview mirror, the Red Sox enter the winter in an enviable position. The young core of Carlos Narvaez, Kristian Campbell, and Roman Anthony is intact. The rotation features three frontline arms in Garrett Crochet, George Kirby, and Brayan Bello. Veterans Rafael Devers and Duran anchor the top of the order. And with one of baseball’s deepest farm systems and roughly $78 million in available salary space even after pending raises, Boston has the resources to reshape its roster immediately.
Here are the club’s most pressing needs as the offseason opens:
The Closer Quandary
Aroldis Chapman delivered a remarkable season at 38 years old, recording 53 saves with 82 strikeouts in 62⅔ innings and blowing just four chances. He stayed sharp in October, too until a Game 3 meltdown in the World Series allowed the Dodgers to storm back with four runs in the ninth.
Boston must now decide how aggressively to pursue the soon to be 39 year old, whose volatility and off field issues complicate the evaluation.
Chapman’s camp is believed to be targeting a deal around $10 million annually, a relative discount given his performance, but the Red Sox will explore alternatives. Free agency offers a long list of options, though most come at a higher price point. Ryan Helsley is expected to command nearly $19M AAV. Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Kyle Finnegan, and Raisel Iglesias sit in or slightly above Chapman’s tier, though several have been inconsistent in recent seasons.
The trade market may offer even more upside. Rival evaluators widely expect Boston to engage on Pete Fairbanks (Rays), Mason Miller (A’s), and Abner Uribe (Brewers), three power-armed options who could immediately stabilize the ninth inning.
Shortstop: The Unsettled Middle
Four years into his Red Sox tenure, Trevor Story remains one of Boston’s biggest uncertainties. His midseason benching, and the club’s decision to slide Ceddanne Rafaela to shortstop, spoke volumes. And while Story stayed healthy and offered strong defense, he hit just .233 during the regular season and dipped below .200 in October.
His return to the lineup after the deadline wasn’t the result of improved performance; it was a byproduct of clearing the outfield logjam created by the Abreu trade.
Boston explored moving Story at the deadline, but the three years and nearly $70 million remaining on his contract limited serious interest.
“They were actively looking for a partner, but a lot of teams were scared off by the contract,” said one league source.
The Red Sox are once again expected to canvas the market for an upgrade, whether or not Story can be moved.
Bo Bichette headlines the free agent class, but industry sources believe he may command $20M+ AAV and could still re-sign with Toronto before hitting the open market.
“They’re pushing hard to keep him off the board,” said a source familiar with the negotiations.
Boston also kicked the tires on Oneil Cruz at the deadline and is expected to revisit those talks with Pittsburgh. Cruz’s rare athleticism and positional versatility still intrigue the front office. Another name gaining traction in internal discussions is Joseph Ortiz, an emerging option with the profile of a long-term defensive anchor.
First Base: A Decision Point on Casas and a Star Target in New York
The Red Sox find themselves at a crossroads with Triston Casas, whose 2025 season was equal parts encouraging and frustrating. He matched his career high with 24 home runs, set a new personal best with 87 RBIs, and secured his first Gold Glove. But he also posted the worst slash line of his young career and struck out at a 23% clip, raising questions about whether he has plateaued.
“I think Casas has hit his ceiling, and it’s not where the Red Sox hoped it would be,” one evaluator said.
For a club searching for more reliable middle of the order production, especially as Alex Bregman trends downward, Boston appears increasingly skeptical that Casas can anchor the offense moving forward.
“He’s 26, left-handed, and cost controlled for three more years. Plenty of teams will be interested,” an AL executive said. “But Boston already has left handed thunder in Devers and Roman Anthony. They need stability behind those guys, and Casas hasn’t provided enough of it.”
Free-agent routes won’t be simple. Josh Naylor and Luis Arraez could be available, but both are expected to command massive contracts and each would further tilt an already lefty-heavy lineup.
Instead, the Red Sox and more specifically Chief Baseball Officer Kyle Red have zeroed in on one name:
Pete Alonso.
Rumors linking Boston to the Mets slugger have circulated for multiple seasons. When Alonso signed a two year deal to remain in New York, Boston pivoted to Bregman. At the time, Alonso made it clear the short term pact was designed to set up a massive free-agent payday, ideally in the Bronx.
But one year later, the landscape has changed dramatically. Alonso has requested a trade after learning he is not part of the Mets’ long-term plans.
The complication? The Mets are still chasing wins. Trading a premier slugger while operating one of baseball’s largest payrolls would require a unique type of return.
Kyle Red may already have the solution.
Boston is said to be exploring a Bregman-for-Alonso framework, a rare blockbuster involving two established stars whose teams may benefit from a change in roster construction. Bregman hit 27 homers with 79 RBIs in his first full season as a Red Sox but posted career lows in walk rate and OPS while eclipsing 100 strikeouts for the first time.
“One report I’m hearing is Alonso for Bregman gives New York a stabilizing presence at third base, replaces their disgruntled star with a proven contributor, and improves the clubhouse after a rough season,” one insider said. “For Boston, it moves Devers back to third if they want — or opens the door to pursue someone like Arraez, who adds the elite contact skills the lineup lacked.”
Other Needs
Beyond first base, the Red Sox have several roster areas they intend to fortify.
Boston expects to return its frontline trio of Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and George Kirby. Rookie Hunter Dobbins impressed and projects as the No. 4 starter, but the organization wants one more dependable arm to lengthen the rotation; ideally a mid-rotation innings eater who can stabilize workloads.
Regardless of whether Jose Leclerc re-signs, Boston aims to add at least one power arm to the bullpen. Internal evaluations of Garrett Whitlock’s postseason struggles have the Red Sox considering alternatives for his role.
Carlos Narvaez and Kristian Campbell are penciled in as starters following standout rookie campaigns. Roman Anthony, arguably Boston’s best offensive player outside of Jarren Duran, will also return to a prominent role.
Despite a rocky postseason showing, the club remains committed to Ceddanne Rafaela in center field thanks to his elite defense. But team officials will be “monitoring the bat closely,” given his streakiness and the club’s need for more consistent production.
P Kyle Gibson
P Liam Hendricks
P Max Scherzer
P Alex Cobb
OF Kevin Pillar
P Jesse Chavez
1B Justin Turner
OF Andrew McCutchen
P Justin Verlander