Exactly one year ago, for our March 2024 issue, I wrote an article entitled “Foolish Optimism for the 2024 Red Sox Season.” I’m afraid to say that my optimism was indeed foolish. The Red Sox finished 81-81, a .500 winning percentage, missing the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row. Seemingly in the Wild Card race at the trade deadline, they “bought-in” with a few additions, none of whom added much value. Despite the promising first half, over the second half, they fell back to mediocre. But I promise that this year will be different. The Red Sox should be in contention for winning the AL East, and a force to be reckoned with in the American League. However, after last year’s article’s inaccuracy, this year I’ll attempt to temper my optimism, offering a balanced look at what we can expect entering the 2025 season. There were two big areas of need entering the offseason: more pitching and a right-handed bat. Let’s look at how effectively they’ve addressed those issues.

The front office went on a pitching frenzy in December. A one-year, $10 million dollar contract with the flamethrowing southpaw past his prime, Aroldis Chapman, was certainly intriguing, but the blockbuster trade which followed one day after was a much bigger move. The Red Sox swung a trade with the White Sox for last year’s AL Comeback Player of the Year, lefty ace Garrett Crochet. While it did send away MLB’s #32 prospect Kyle Teel, the trade gave the Red Sox the top of rotation help they needed. They then added Patrick Sandoval (who won’t pitch until around August after getting Tommy John surgery) and Walker Buehler, adding even more punch to the rotation. With Lucas Giolito coming back from injury, Tanner Houck looking to build on his breakout season last year, and new additions, the Red Sox should have a better rotation than they have had for years.

The other big addition the Sox made was signing 3rd baseman Alex Bregman to a 3-year, $120 million contract. Yes, this is a massive $40 million average annual value, but part of the contract is deferred, and the slugger’s stats don’t lie. In 98 plate appearances at Fenway, he’s batted .375, mashed 7 home runs and 9 doubles, and has an OPS of 1.240. That’s the best OPS of all time at Fenway (for players with at least 75 plate appearances). His power should play well off, and over, the Green Monster, and he’s already off to a hot start in spring training (3/3 in his first game, with one home run). Bregman will likely slot in at 2nd, a position he hasn’t played much, but should fit well in. In a lefty-heavy lineup, Bregman will be a crucial power-bat.

The Red Sox have had one of the most active, and perhaps the best offseason in the MLB. I think they almost certainly will be in playoff contention, and have a chance at making a run for the AL East crown. But I did say I’d temper my expectations. Setbacks to pitchers Kutter Crawford and Brayan Bello may thin out the rotation to start off the season. Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida are both coming into camp with injuries. Simply put, the team is not without flaws, but if they can stay healthy, and if their additions bring their A-game, they’ll (fingers-crossed) be pretty good.