Have the 2025 Boston Red Sox matched our preseason expectations?
If we asked that question a month ago, the answer likely would have been a resounding “no.” After an offseason of optimism, Boston looked like the same mediocre club that hasn’t been able to get out of its own way since it last reached the playoffs in 2021.
But the Red Sox rolled into the All-Star break with 10 consecutive victories to put themselves back into the postseason conversation. Suddenly, the optimism that came with their active offseason seems justified.
Before the 2025 season began, our three-man NBC Sports Boston panel shared predictions for the campaign as part of our “Spring Storylines” series. We picked our team MVPs and Cy Youngs, breakout stars, All-Star break headlines, trade deadline predictions, and more.
Now that we’ve reached the All-Star break, we wanted to see how our preseason predictions have aged. See how our vision of the 2025 season has compared with reality below:
Justin Leger: MVP – Jarren Duran, Cy Young – Garrett Crochet
Duran started to heat up before the break, but he hasn’t been the team’s MVP this season. He went through some tough stretches at the plate and his defense in left field has often left plenty to be desired. While he’s still a key contributor, some might say he’s been a slight disappointment in 2025. I named Carlos Narvaez the club’s first-half MVP in my midseason superlatives, but I won’t argue with those who pick the guy I predicted to be the 2025 Red Sox “Cy Young.”
Crochet has been as advertised since joining via the blockbuster offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox. He’s the unquestioned Red Sox ace, so this very non-bold prediction has proven to be accurate.
Nick Goss: MVP – Rafael Devers, Cy Young – Brayan Bello
Oof. The Devers prediction hurts, but it’s hard to blame Nick here. No one foresaw Devers being traded to the San Francisco Giants in June.
As for the Bello pick, it wouldn’t be so bad if Crochet didn’t exist. Bello has been impressive this season, posting a 3.14 ERA over 16 outings. Can he keep it up for the rest of the year?
Darren Hartwell: MVP – Triston Casas, Cy Young – Garrett Crochet
Darren’s MVP prediction fell apart in May when Casas went down with a season-ending knee injury. Have to wonder whether he jinxed the Red Sox first baseman.
He made up for it with the Crochet pick, which was a no-brainer all along.
Justin Leger: Roman Anthony
Anthony got the call to The Show in June. After a brief adjustment period, baseball’s No. 1 prospect caught fire and played a huge role in Boston winning 10 consecutive games. He has a chance to win the AL Rookie of the Year award despite his late start.
Nick Goss: Garrett Crochet
Crochet technically broke out last year, when he earned his first All-Star nod with the Chicago White Sox. But this season, the 26-year-old has taken his game to another level and is a legitimate AL Cy Young contender.
Darren Hartwell: Marcelo Mayer
Mayer was called up to the majors in late May. The Red Sox’ top infield prospect has been silky smooth defensively, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement at the plate, particularly against lefties. We wouldn’t say he has broken out just yet.
Justin Leger: Red Sox win the American League East
The Red Sox are only three games back in the AL East standings. If chief baseball officer Craig Breslow pushes the right buttons ahead of the trade deadline, winning the division is a real possibility.
Nick Goss: Red Sox make the playoffs
Boston currently holds the second Wild Card spot, so this remains a strong possibility. Again, whether it happens or not will depend on Breslow’s deadline moves.
Darren Hartwell: Red Sox have three-plus All-Stars for the first time since 2021, but Bregman isn’t one of them
Darren was correct, sort of. The Red Sox had three All-Stars, but Alex Bregman was one of them along with Crochet closer Aroldis Chapman.
Justin Leger: Garrett Crochet shines as AL All-Star starter
Crochet was selected to the All-Star Game, but he opted out of playing in the Midsummer Classic to manage his workload. He wouldn’t have been the AL starter anyway, as that honor belonged to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Nick Goss: Red Sox will be buyers
Thanks to the Red Sox’ 10-game win streak, Nick likely nailed this one. Boston is expected to buy at the deadline, with Breslow specifically eyeing “impact starting pitching.”
Darren Hartwell: “The Kids Are All Right”
With this one, Darren was referring to Red Sox top prospects Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell. Each have reached the majors and impressed at different points in the campaign, but it hasn’t exactly gone as planned.
Campbell was sent back down to Triple-A Worcester after struggling mightily in May and June. Mayer has shown flashes, but he needs to improve against left-handed pitching. Anthony has looked the part as baseball’s top prospect, but he’s been in the big leagues for only a month.
Justin Leger: Red Sox trade for Ryan Helsley
Helsley tops our list of 10 relievers Boston should target ahead of the deadline after ESPN’s Jeff Passan named him as the Red Sox’ “best match.” The Red Sox could use another reliable high-leverage arm, and he’d form an elite setup-closer combination with Chapman.
Nick Goss: Red Sox acquire a veteran star
Nick specifically mentioned Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for this one, but the Blue Jays slugger signed a lucrative extension with Toronto in April. However, he isn’t technically wrong as Boston should add a veteran star this summer.
Darren Hartwell: Boston trades Wilyer Abreu for bullpen help
If the Red Sox trade Abreu, it’ll probably be for a frontline starting pitcher. Still, Darren was on to something with this one. Rumors have swirled in recent weeks about Boston potentially trading Abreu or Duran to clear its outfield logjam. It’s certainly something to monitor over the next two weeks.
Justin Leger: Red Sox win the division by a hair, then lose in the ALCS
It’s possible in a weak American League. Some prominent MLB insiders are even starting to call Boston a real World Series contender.
Nick Goss: Red Sox make the playoffs, lose in the ALDS, and prove they are a team on the rise
Not quite as ambitiious, but a solid prediction nonetheless that has a strong chance of coming to fruition.
Darren Hartwell: The Red Sox end their postseason drought, but their bullpen comes back to bite them.
Boston’s bullpen was a weakness in 2024, but it has actually been a strength this year with 37-year-old closer Chapman being virtually untouchable. Can the group keep it up over the second half, and will Breslow add an arm or two to the mix?
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