The Red Sox flirted with playoff contention at times in 2024 but ultimately fell short, finishing five games back of a Wild Card spot at 81-81. That puts their focus on the offseason and Alex Speier of the Boston Globe published a column today, trying to read the tea leaves on some recent comments from chief baseball officer Craig Breslow as well as president and CEO Sam Kennedy.
Notably, the comments suggest the club plans to enter the winter with more of a win-now mentality. “It’s time to take that next step. It really is time,” said Kennedy. “You really need to build a roster and have a team that is built to win that division. That’s where we want to get to. We just have to go and do the right things that put us in that position to push towards 90-95 wins.” Kennedy has also stated that the club feels they have “building blocks” in place that they can construct a club around.
Of course, many fans will be quick to point to chairman Tom Werner’s “full throttle” comments from a year ago as a reason to be skeptical, since the club didn’t really follow through on that promise. Generally speaking, the Sox had a relatively future-focused offseason going into 2024, with the most notable move being the trade that sent Chris Sale to Atlanta for infielder Vaughn Grissom. That deal has gone very poorly so far for the Sox, as Sale went on to have an excellent season for his new club while Grissom struggled immensely after that deal.
But as Speier points out, most of the comments made by the Boston brass around this time a year ago were far more measured, with the “full throttle” quote being the exception that received the most attention. Breslow has recently suggested that a deal like the Sale-Grissom swap will get less consideration this offseason.
“That was a decision that was made with a longer-term focus in mind as much as 2024,” said Breslow on NESN’s 310 to Left podcast, as relayed by Speier. “Exclusively looking at the future is not something that we should be prepared to do as we embark on this offseason heading into 2025. Otherwise, fans would be rightfully frustrated with this continued push-off into the future of the window of contention. We can no longer ask our fans to look to the future, to think about a Red Sox team that’s capable of winning the division and capable of making a deep postseason run. We have to talk to decisive actions that we’re taking right now to put a better team on the field in 2025.”
Breslow echoed Kennedy’s comments that the club is setting a high target for next year. “It’s time to deliver the team that’s capable of winning the AL East and making a deep playoff run,” said Breslow. “If that means that guys who haven’t yet made their big-league debut need to be on the team to help us do that, then we have to be prepared for that. And if it means we have to be aggressive in bringing players in who aren’t currently in the organization to complement those who are, we have to be open to doing that as well.”
If the Red Sox are planning to be more aggressive, that could come in many forms. One of them would be financially, as the club could decide to return to being a top spender. Per the calculations of Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the Sox had one of the top five payrolls in the league from 2004 to 2020, including being first overall a few times, but they have dipped since. They were eighth in 2021, sixth the year after that and then 12th in the two most recent seasons.
Per RosterResource, the Sox have about $105MM committed to the 2025 roster, well shy of this year’s $183MM. That doesn’t include the club’s arbitration-eligible players, but they have a fairly modest class this winter. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects salaries just under $5MM for Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford and Jarren Duran, the entirely of the club’s arb group. Even if Boston were only to carry the same payroll forward from 2024 to 2025, they would have a lot of powder dry, while they would naturally have even more to work with if they decide to push payroll up.
Another possibility would be to be active on the trade front, with Breslow acknowledging that they might have to make some tough decisions about which players stay and which ones go. “There are going to be a lot of really good major league players who aren’t going to realize their value in Red Sox uniforms because only one guy can do that at a time at second base or shortstop or center field,” said Breslow.
The Sox have promoted a number of young prospects to the big leagues in recent years, with those players having varying degrees of major league success. Duran had a huge step forward defensively this year, which made him a hugely valuable piece when combined with his offense and baserunning. He’s only just reaching arbitration for the first time as a Super Two player and can be retained for four more seasons. Triston Casas has a great combination of power and on-base ability, with four years of club control beyond this one. Connor Wong and Wilyer Abreu also had some encouraging results in 2024 and will still be pre-arb in 2025.
On top of those players, the Sox also have long-term deals for Rafael Devers, Trevor Story, Ceddanne Rafaela and Masataka Yoshida. They could pick up a cheap 2025 option on Rob Refsnyder for $2.1MM. There’s also the club’s emerging group of position player prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder/outfielder Kristian Campbell, shortstop Marcelo Mayer and outfielder Roman Anthony are all considered top 100 guys and each has now reached the Triple-A level, so they will be pushing for major league jobs next year. (Mayer technically hasn’t played in a Triple-A game yet as he landed on the injured list shortly after being promoted to that level.)
With Danny Jansen heading to free agency, there could be an easy path for Teel to eventually share time behind the plate with Wong. If Mayer eventually takes over the club’s shortstop job, Story could perhaps move to second, squeezing out other guys on the roster. Rafaela has played both the middle infield and the outfield, but Boston’s options on the grass already include Duran, Abreu and Refsnyder with Anthony on the way. Campbell, like Rafaela, can play both the middle infield and the outfield and will be a factor somewhere at some point.
As Breslow suggested, the club likely can’t find jobs for everyone here, which will naturally lead to some interesting trade discussions this winter. With all these players and only so many spots, perhaps Breslow could acquire some pitching from another club. Boston had a collective 4.05 earned run average in 2024, 16th among the 30 major league clubs. They are now slated to lose Nick Pivetta, Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin to free agency.
Between the trade market and the club’s financial situation, Breslow should have all kinds of options to consider this winter as he tries to push the Sox forward in a crowded American League East for 2025. The Yankees and Orioles just wrapped up strong seasons. The Rays and Blue Jays disappointed in 2024 but have been in good form in prior years and will be looking to bounce back in 2025.
DirtyWater04
“It really is time” is the best of their crappy, dishonest slogans I think they’ll ever come up with. That’s pretty hilarious, actually laughed out loud at that one. Nice work, guys. Really.
Warden of the North(acoss13)
I’ll see your “It really is time.” with “Full throttle!”
DirtyWater04
I didn’t think they’d be able to top full throttle but they knocked it out of the park.
This one belongs to the Reds
Well, there is “This time we really mean it!” to look forward to.
Sin65
Give up the BS Breslow and Kennedy we all know you are not going to improve this team only going to add cheap broken down players cause they don’t cost much money no one believes a word out of your mouth.
Holden Bases
“It really is time”…to develop pitching and trade for established pitchers. The young core bats have the makings of a strong offense.
mlb fan
After the Chris Sale/Vaughn Grissom disaster, only 7 more months to go until Craig Breslow has his phone privileges restored by the Red Sox.
Joemo
This should really be it for Sox fans. If they don’t have a big offseason this year, I think the FO is at serious risk of alienating a good portion of the fan base. It sounds like they are feeling the pressure.
So we all have different views of what constitutes a good off-season for them, but the important thing is that they do something. They have a ton of prospects and salary, so spend on FA or spend prospects in trades. At a high level, they need pitching and RHBs. They will need a little bit of both of those to have a good 2025, let’s see what Breslow can accomplish. I hope it’s better than his trade deadline. While I appreciate him making moves, the moves were either clearly the wrong one (Paxton) or unlucky (Sims, Garcia and even Jansen didn’t really perform).
deweybelongsinthehall
More important than anything is the defense. People don’t realize how many pitches great defense can save and conversely how poor defense crushes and wears out a staff. The infield corners have to improve and Valdez has to go. Play the best defense you can assemble and go from there.
Bosox2013
I agree but this kind of all comes down to money. They have a loaded farm (minus pitching) but if they stick to the 2024 payroll or less I think we will all still be pissed whether they have success or not. This is the 3rd most valuable franchise in MLB, there is no excuse to be 12th payroll in the league. Ownership is the problem and the solution.
YankeesBleacherCreature
From full throttle to full milk baby bottle.
Warden of the North(acoss13)
Pretty sure if nothing significant happens to improve the roster this offseason, Red Sox fans might actually start boycotting games next season.
ibuititnoonecame
Pretty sure some of us did
ClevelandSteelEngines
With free agency likely to be a dud, what other than a big trade can they pretend to sell us. Because like Story or Yoshida, having money to spend only guarantees money being spent, not improving the team. Having lots of young talent is great but then you realize they don’t fit together.
Who are the targets we can realistically get? Let’s hear that before you try raising expectations to improve ticket sales, ok?
johnsilver
Several of the above are what have always termed “fair weather” Sox fans. Many of those came around only after ’04 and complain mightily when the team does foolish things, which granted.. they have done the last few seasons, but really.. Going back to a nonsense speechmade by the VP/GM etc? Is it any different than word salads put forth by the actual VP, which have more negative impact, or constant brain farts by the dude who is supposed to be the prez?
Give Breslow and kennedy some credit and stop going back to 1 lousy sentence. many of these same folks happily overlook the other 2 i mentioned spouting rubbish. Why can’t they get the same pass and let them try something this offseason?
ClevelandSteelEngines
I’m sure that’s how the boy who cried wolf was explaining it to Peter at the gates
ibuititnoonecame
You are an idiot. It’s not fair weather to run from being abused lied to and robbed by this ownership
Franklin Souze
Rubbish observation- been an avid Sawx fan since 1960 & a “Red Sox” Nation supporter since 1987 when Nathan Cobb coined the term.
ibuititnoonecame
It’s time to take that next step. It really is time,” said Kennedy
SURE SAM SITTING HERE holding our BREATH……
Sammy you had to say “it really is time”” because of the past lies
Franklin Souze
Seems the initial & visible reveal of a small market strategy & collapse of Sawx front office/ownership management began with Mookie for Verdugo, Jeter Downs, Connor Wong & half of David Price salary — the Sale for Grissom & a continuous flow of mediocre cheap AAAA broke dick pitching & roster filler.
johnsilver
Apologies Darragh. It ws a decent article with a lot invested, but your point was what the largest group of RS whiners go wild over, like the comment section underneath it quickly turned into. i recognize 2 other names (so far) among Sox fans who are full blown RS gripers, not counting a cpl others who have posted that are fans of other teams.
In many ways Boston winning that title in ’04 was the worst think imaginable, then so quickly another in ’07. It brought out all sorts of spoiled riff-raff, who feel as if they and the team are just entitled to win and that’s not how the Sox, nor the game is and nobody can explain that to them.. deaf ears..
Not 1 of them, who complain so loudly remember the buddy LeRoux-haywood Sullivan Ownership group of the team and the miscues they allowed.. Nope.. Spending the near 200m as the team does now is/will never be enough.
I’ve always hoped for a way to send miscreants back into time.. See how bad things actually were at 1 time…
metsin4
A couple big free agent pitchers and they are the favorites in the east next year.
B dog 351
It’s time all right! Time for a new manager
letitbelowenstein
“That was a decision that was made with a longer-term focus in mind as much as 2024,”, (regarding the Sale trade). No. It was a salary dump by cheapskates.
Goose
I am so looking forward to another John Henry BS promise, in on everyone and signing no one and then Sam Kennedy insulting the fans while ticket prices go up and they go further under the salary cap.
Everyone forgets the first lie. They would spend once they got under the luxury tax and break the potential penalty they were under. 3 years later still not spending though they were well under.
Fever Pitch Guy
Goose – 2020 was supposed to be the only reset year.
Pretty clear their true goal was get the payroll down to middle of the pack, which they did.
The financials will dictate how they spend going forward.
Poolhalljunkies
Full throttle…2 ?