2017 holds an MLB record for the year where the most home runs were hit by all 30 teams. There were a total of 5,694. 

The Boston Red Sox finished with the 27th most home runs with a weak 168 home runs. The Houston Astros and the LA Dodgers made it to the World Series and the teams combined for an impressive 459 home runs, (Astros 238 Dodgers 221). The team that hit the most home runs in 2017 was the Yankees who lost to the Astros in the ALDS before they went onto win the World Series. Teams with high home production are much more likely to have a successful season than teams with low home run production.

For the majority of the 2017 season, the top three spots in the Red Sox batting order were filled by Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, and Dustin Pedroia. These three stars combined for a mere 41 home runs which is 9 less than New York's Aaron Judge hit alone, (50). Although the Red Sox finished with a record of 93-69, they have much to improve on if they want to have a successful 2018 season. The Red Sox hit 208 home runs in 2016 but they had a very important component that they did not have in 2017, David Ortiz. Before his retirement, Big Papi had 38 home runs in 2016 which was 18.26% of the team's 208 home runs. The Red Sox hit 20 more home runs in 2016 then 2017 simply because they had more home run hitters. 

The 2017 offseason is a very important time for the Red Sox because there is an opportunity to acquire new talent to improve their offense. The Red Sox might have interest in Chicago’s Jose Abreu. Abreu hit 33 home runs in 2017, which is 9 more than Mookie Betts, who led the Red Sox with 24 home runs. In the past when the Red Sox traded the White Sox for Chris Sale they had to give up a lot of their young prospects. Signing free agent J.D. Martinez would be a smart decision for the Red Sox because they would not have to give up any young prospects, just a lot of money. Last season Martinez had 45 home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Three players on the Red Sox that underperformed in 2016 were Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, and Jackie Bradley Jr. All three players hit more home runs in 2016 than they did in 2017. Bogaerts hit 21 in 2016 and 10 in 2017. Betts hit 31 in 2016 and 24 in 2017. Bradley hit 26 in 2016 and 17 in 2017. A total of 27 more home runs in 2016. Also, the Red Sox will have Rafael Devers for a whole season in 2018. Devers only played 28 games in 2017 instead of around 162 because he was in the minors. 

If the Red Sox want to be a team in contention for the World Series next year, they will have to add some weapons to their repertoire in the 2017 offseason.