Are the Red Sox officially back?
We can’t say that until duck boats roll through Boston streets on a sunny morning in November. That’s been the standard set by the current ownership group since they purchased the team in 2002.
John Henry and Tom Werner have presided over four World Series champions, more than four generations of fans saw between 1918 and 2004. That success has made the years following the most recent triumph in 2018 all the more frustrating.
What’s felt like corporate indifference at times has created an atmosphere well short of peak at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox missing the playoffs in all but one of the last six seasons and attendance declining by more than 9% since 2019. A franchise ranked fourth in revenue, third in estimated value and first in operating income by Forbes didn’t feature a top-10 payroll in 2024. Any fan base has its breaking point, and the loyalists on Lansdowne Street seemed well past fed up.
That’s what made this particular offseason feel like a glimmer of hope. Boston showed a measure of urgency while improving its 2025 roster and making a seemingly genuine attempt to contend. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was active both on the open market and within his own organization to strengthen what he hopes will be the next Red Sox championship core.
Alex Bregman signing a three-year, $120-million deal in free agency was a significant statement. Boston brought in a proven winner to spark the clubhouse and a right-handed bat to balance the lineup. Taking a recent cornerstone from a fellow American League contender like the Astros never hurts either.
But it’s how Bregman has been deployed in the early going that lifts more eyebrows. Rafael Devers is now a full-time designated hitter after shoulder problems, a limited offseason and a smaller sample of playing time than usual in spring training. The Red Sox have taken the highest earner currently in the organization and essentially lessened his role going forward.
It’s the kind of ruthless decision teams with real ambition make. The truth is no infield defense will ever approach something elite or even above average with Devers and Triston Casas at the corners. Boston elected to bolster its left side, with Bregman taking a place next to Trevor Story.
How to deal with any potential fallout? That’s why the Red Sox have retained and extended manager Alex Cora on multiple occasions. His relationship with Devers dates back nearly a decade, and his ability to communicate with players in every corner of the clubhouse is regarded as one of his strengths. Massaging potentially hurt feelings and still ensuring production on the field is the delicate balancing act performed by anyone in charge of a particular dugout.
