2025 season: 89-73, third in AL East, eliminated in wild card
With the Red Sox eliminated by the Yankees in the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in Boston, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.
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Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Pirates, Twins and more?
Things that went right
In finishing third in the AL East and earning a wild-card spot, the Red Sox exceeded or met the expectations of most analysts. This was even more true when factoring in the organization’s controversial decision to trade superstar slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants in June.
The offseason signing of Alex Bregman turned out to be a brilliant move. Although the 31-year-old missed roughly six weeks in the first half due to a right quad strain, he was the leader of the lineup and finished with his highest OPS (.821) since 2019. His leadership was especially pivotal for prized prospect Roman Anthony, who debuted June 9 and quickly became the team’s leadoff hitter. Anthony logged a .917 OPS in the second half and was a major reason the offense thrived without Devers. Unfortunately, he missed most of September and the wild-card series due to an oblique injury.
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Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela and catcher Carlos Narváez were underrated contributors. Both were useful offensive players who were among the best defenders in the majors. Given that they play two of the most important positions, their fielding work was especially vital to a pitching staff that lacked stars beyond Garrett Crochet.
And Crochet was everything the organization could’ve hoped for when it acquired him from the White Sox last December. The lefty finished the season third in the majors in ERA (2.59) and first in strikeouts (255). He pitched an 11-strikeout gem in Boston’s only playoff victory. If not for an incredible campaign from Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, Crochet would be a few weeks from winning a Cy Young Award.
In his fourth season, Brayan Bello took a major step forward and became the team’s No. 2 starter. And after missing all of 2024 while recovering from elbow surgery, Lucas Giolito was effective (3.41 ERA) across 26 starts, though an elbow issue prevented him from pitching in the wild-card round.
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A relief corps that lacked many big-name players wound up finishing first in baseball in ERA. The ageless Aroldis Chapman emerged as the team’s closer and logged eye-popping ratios (1.17 ERA, 0.70 WHIP) while finishing fourth in the American League with 32 saves. The setup crew was consistently effective, as Garrett Whitlock, Greg Weissert, Brennan Bernardino and Justin Wilson each logged an ERA below 3.40 while making at least 55 appearances.
Things that went wrong
Although Anthony immediately delivered on his prospect hype, the same couldn’t be said for Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer. Campbell broke camp with the team but was optioned to the minors on June 19. He was hitting .223 with a .664 OPS at the time of his demotion. Mayer was promoted May 24 and primarily filled in for Bregman during his IL stint. He hit .228 with a .674 OPS before right wrist surgery caused him to play his final game of 2025 on July 23. Campbell, Mayer and David Hamilton all logged time at second base, but none contributed enough offensively to patch the hole in the lineup.
The team deserves credit for working around the absence of Triston Casas, who was expected to be a lineup centerpiece but suffered a ruptured tendon in his left knee on May 2. Devers’ subsequent refusal to cover first base was a major reason he lasted just a few more weeks as a member of the organization.
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The two biggest disappointments on the mound were Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler. Houck was one of the team’s best pitchers in 2024, when he logged a 3.12 ERA across 30 starts. But this year, he produced an 8.04 ERA in nine starts before landing on the IL due to an elbow injury. He eventually underwent Tommy John surgery and will likely miss most of 2026. Buehler arrived in the offseason on a one-year contract but was unable to get his career back on track. He held a 5.45 ERA when he was released in late August.
Put it all together, and the Red Sox were simply overpowered by the Yankees — the deeper, healthier and more talented team — in their three-game wild-card elimination.
Offseason outlook
Looking ahead, the Red Sox are unsettled at most infield positions. That said, catcher is a point of stability, as Narváez and Connor Wong will continue to form a tandem behind the plate. Bregman can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, and the expectation is that he will do so after such a strong campaign. Trevor Story will return as the shortstop, but there’s no clear answer as to who will join him in the middle of the diamond. Campbell is the most likely option, while Hamilton profiles more as a reserve. Casas should return as the first baseman but will need to show that he is healthy after major surgery. Nathaniel Lowe joined the team in August but will likely receive a substantial salary in his final year of arbitration and could be released if the front office receives optimistic reports on Casas’ recovery.
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The outfield is in much better shape than the infield. Rafaela is a standout defender in center, and Anthony can play either corner outfield spot. Jarren Duran experienced some regression from his breakout 2024 season, but he is still a key part of the team and will primarily play left field while making some appearances in center. Wilyer Abreu should be the right fielder, and with four players for three outfield spots, each of them will make some appearances at DH as well. There is also Masataka Yoshida, who missed much of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery and will need to figure out where he fits. This group is so deep that the front office could trade someone to fill a void at a different position.
On the mound, Crochet gives the Red Sox an ace who can match up against any pitcher in baseball, and Bello should be reliable as a No. 2 or No. 3. Everything else with this group is unsettled. Giolito and Dustin May are heading to free agency. Hunter Dobbins showed flashes of potential this year but will be a major question, as he’s coming off July surgery to repair a torn ACL. Kutter Crawford is more likely than Dobbins to be ready for spring training, but he’s a wild card after he didn’t pitch this season and underwent wrist surgery in June.
Prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early are strong candidates to earn roles after successful minor-league campaigns and exciting late-season debuts — plus a wild-card Game 3 start for Early. Richard Fitts is also a contender to grab a spot, but he finished this season with a 5.00 ERA across 45 innings. Then there’s Kyle Harrison, who was sent to the minors after arriving in the Devers deal but threw 182 2/3 innings with the Giants. Overall, Boston’s front office needs to add at least one veteran to this crew.
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Chapman’s contract is expiring, which leaves a massive void at the back end of the bullpen. With Whitlock, Weissert, Bernardino and Jordan Hicks set to return, there’s a solid setup crew in place. But there is an obvious need for a new closer, as none of the relievers listed here is a good candidate for that role.
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Prospects on the horizon
Even after Anthony, Campbell and Mayer graduated from the prospect list, the Red Sox still have plenty of talent in the minors. Several of their top prospects will debut in 2027 or beyond, but two notable names provided a glimpse of the future when Tolle and Jhostynxon Garcia arrived in Boston down the stretch.
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A 6-foot-6 lefty with terrific command, Tolle rose through three minor-league levels this season before making his MLB debut on Aug. 29. He was dominant in the minors (3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 13.1 K/9 rate) and could crack Boston’s rotation in spring training. Given the team’s lack of pitching depth, the door will certainly be wide open.
Garcia fared well in Triple-A this year, hitting .271 with an .832 OPS and 18 homers in 81 games. But as an outfielder, the 22-year-old plays the worst position for cracking the Red Sox’s roster. Things could change in the offseason, but if not, Garcia will open 2026 in Triple-A and wait for an injury to occur.
Early and David Sandlin are two more pitchers who could provide depth next year. Early reached Triple-A late in the year after having great success (2.51 ERA, 12.1 K/9 rate) in Double-A. He made his major-league debut Sept. 9 and got the ball for Boston’s win-or-go-home wild-card Game 3 vs. New York. After serving as a starter, Sandlin worked primarily in relief in Triple-A down the stretch.
Goals for 2026
After appearing in the postseason for the first time since 2021, the Red Sox have turned a corner in their rebuild. This iconic franchise is ready to shift back into win-now mode, as it’s stocked with young players who can form the Red Sox’s core for many years. The bold decision by Craig Breslow to trade Devers now looks like a strong move that has resulted in a more harmonious organization and allowed other players to take on leadership roles.
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It’s worth noting that rising to the top of the AL East is always much easier said than done. This is a loaded division, as the Blue Jays have ascended, the Yankees are always near the top of the standings and the Orioles have the young players to bounce back from a disappointing season. Plus, the Rays always seem to be in the mix. Qualifying for the postseason won’t be a given for Boston, but its odds will be much better if Breslow can add a closer and at least one effective starter this winter. Keeping Bregman will also be essential.
Fantasy focus
Crochet will be the first Boston player drafted in every league, and he could find his way into the first round of some drafts. The next Red Sox to have their names called will be a pair of outfielders, Duran and Anthony. Both will come off the board in the range of Round 4, as Duran attempts to bounce back from a mildly disappointing year and Anthony continues his ascent to major-league stardom.
Bregman will be a popular pick in the area of Rounds 6-7, and Bello should have his name called in Round 10. After that, there will be a wait before the likes of Abreu and Rafaela are selected in the second half of drafts. Campbell and Mayer could become late-round sleepers if they can deliver strong springs.
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