Matthew Lenz

Earlier this week, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said the Boston Red Sox's primary focus was on a front-line number two starter and a middle-of-the-order power bat. However, one report suggests they are interested in a high-end reliever. Will Sammon of The Athletic is reporting that the Boston Red Sox are interested in former Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees closer Devin Williams. Williams struggled through 67 appearances for the Bronx Bombers, logging 62 innings pitched in relief. Though he posted a career-high 4.79 ERA, his 2.68 FIP suggests he was better than the surface stat indicates. On the other hand, his K-BB rate of 25.0%, which would be considered low for most pitchers, was below his career average. If we can point to one thing as the reason for his struggles, it would be his league-worst 55.2% strand rate—a number roughly 20 points below his career norm and typically not predictive from one season to another. MLBTR projects him to net $68 million over four years. Do you think the Red Sox should pursue Williams in hopes of a rebound? Let us know in the comments! View full rumor

While the Boston Red Sox will be extremely busy this offseason revamping their roster via free agency and the trade market, they'll also be monitoring the progress of injuries across the organization. On Monday, Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow provided offseason injury updates from the General Manager meetings in Las Vegas, NV. Roman Anthony, who finished 3rd in AL Rookie of the Year voting, is "completely asymptomatic" after missing the final 22 games of the season and playoffs with a left oblique strain. He added that it's business as usual for Anthony, who "should start swinging in a couple of weeks..." Triston Casas, who suffered a devastating knee injury in May, is rehabbing in Fort Myers, FL. Breslow was not willing to put a timeline on Casas, but added, "Triston is anticipating being ready for spring training." Injury aside, Casas has been the subject of trade speculation and was noncommittal when asked whether he would be the team's first baseman in 2026. This led Casas to make a very cryptic post on Instagram. Marcelo Mayer's "been making great progress to the point that he was pushing to get back in time if we had continued deeper into the postseason", said Breslow. Mayer had wrist surgery in August. He also provided updates on pitchers Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins. Fitts is throwing and is going into the offseason with no limitations", according to Breslow. Dobbins has begun a full throwing program after ACL surgery in August. He is expected to be ready by Spring Training. Update: Christopher Smith of MassLive shared the following quote from Breslow Tuesday evening - "Red Sox catchers Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong, who both had surgery after the season: 'They're doing well. We don't anticipate any issues, and I think very shortly those guys will be having full, healthy offseasons.'" Mostly good news on the injury front for the Red Sox, but what do you think will happen with Casas? Do the Red Sox need a contingency plan in case he's not ready or is traded? Let us know in the comments! Note: this information was readily available across X, though most information was taken from Christopher Smith's article on MassLive. View full rumor

In the last couple of days, it's been reported that the Boston Red Sox could be looking to upgrade from outfielder Jarren Duran and will prioritize a frontline starter behind ace Garrett Crochet. Jon Morosi of MLB Network is reporting that sources have indicated that the Kansas City Royals are seeking outfield reinforcements and that the Boston Red Sox are potential trade partners. The Red Sox have been rumored to be looking for an upgrade over outfielder Duran, while MLBTR also identifies Wilyer Abreu as a trade candidate. Duran, who has an $8 million club option, carried an OPS of .774 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 696 plate appearances in 2025. Abreu, controllable through 2029, played in only 115 games, yet the 26-year-old still mashed 22 home runs to go along with six stolen bases. The Red Sox are looking to upgrade their pitching rotation, which makes a deal between the two even more sense. The Royals have solid options as rotation upgrades in Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic. Ragans appeared in 13 games in the 2025 season, pitching 61 2/3 innings for the Royals. He posted a 4.67 ERA (3.00 FIP) with a strong K-BB rate of 29.7%. Bubic was an All-Star in 2025, throwing 116 1/3 innings with a 2.89 FIP and a 16.2% K-BB rate. Do you think the Red Sox should trade for Ragans or Bubic? Let us know in the comments! View full rumor

Major League Baseball's GM Meetings are underway in Las Vegas this week. Though it's rare for any moves to come to fruition during the week, it undoubtedly provides teams with an opportunity to start conversations around potential targets. Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow wasted no time stoking the hot stove. As has been speculated by baseball beat writers and reporters early in the offseason, Breslow identified a number two start and middle-of-the-order power bat as the team's top two priorities this offseason. On the pitching front, rumors have continued on Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan, whom the Red Sox made a last-ditch attempt on at the 2025 trade deadline. Though he's obviously better than a number two, they could swing bigger if the Detroit Tigers do, in fact, put Tarik Skubal on the block. Additionally, rumors have been swirling regarding Milwaukee Brewers starter Freddy Peralta, though Bob Nightengale recently refuted that he would be made available. On the free agent market, they could target players like Dylan Cease, Michael King, Framber Valdez, Tatsuya Imai, Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen, Brandon Woodruff, Shota Imanaga, and Chris Bassitt, among others. It's worth noting that King, Valdez, Suarez, Gallen, Woodruff, and Imanaga were tendered qualifying offers. On the offensive side of the ball, Kyle Tucker (who might be the "upgrade" the team is looking for over Jarren Duran), Kyle Schwarber, and Pete Alonso all represent potential options. Of course, they also look to bring back Alex Bregman and have been linked to Bo Bichette. There are many potential options to address the needs identified by Breslow. Who do you think the Red Sox should add? Let us know in the comments! View full rumor

The Boston Red Sox are looking to be aggressive this offseason, and the stove is already getting hot for the team. While MLBTR previously listed Jarren Duran (and Wilyer Abreu) as one of the top 40 trade candidates this offseason, Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggests that it is a focus of the team this offseason. Yesterday, Nightengale reported that the Boston Red Sox "believe they need an upgrade over Jarren Duran and that he needs a fresh start." He took it even further by stating that "it would be a massive surprise if he's in Fort Myers come spring training. Duran, who is controllable through 2028, has been a polarizing figure throughout his career. From multiple controversial comments to up-and-down performances, the 29-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors in the past, and those rumors may continue this offseason. In 2025, he carried an OPS of .774 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 696 plate appearances. Do you think the Red Sox should move Duran before Opening Day 2025? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

Lucas Giolito put together a strong season for the Boston Red Sox in 2025 - a year removed from UCL surgery. Given his productivity, he declined his side of a mutual option, and days later, he learned that the Red Sox would not tender him a qualifying offer, effectively making him a free agent. However, Giolito is very open to coming back. On Rob Bradford's 'Baseball Isn't Boring' podcast, Giolito stated, "I made it clear to everybody. I would love to come back here and continue to play for the Red Sox." Giolito pitched 145 innings during the regular season across 26 starts. He had an impressive 3.41 ERA, though his FIP was 4.17 and could indicate some negative regression. Additionally, his K-BB% settled at a lowly 10.6% due to an elevated walk rate of 9.1%. Giolito was sidelined late in the year due to an elbow injury, keeping him off the Red Sox postseason roster. Of the injury, Giolito said, "There’s no injury, or whatever injury there was is gone. It was a weird, freak thing that popped up at the worst possible time..." MLBTR projects him to make $32 million over two years on the open market. Do you think the Red Sox should look to bring him back? View full rumor

One way or another, the Boston Red Sox will be looking to spend a lot of money (again) this offseason. Who they spend the money on remains to be seen. Just a week into the 2025-2026 offseason, and they have been linked to top free agents Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Pete Alonso, and Kyle Schwarber. In fact, Ian Browne of MLB.com recently provided insight into the team's preferences. In an AMA thread on Reddit, Browne said the Boston Red Sox prefer Pete Alonso to Kyle Schwarber. Browne cited the fact that Schwarber was tendered a qualifying offer, meaning the Red Sox will lose a draft pick if they sign him. Additionally, they prefer Alonso's right-handed bat in Fenway Park. Alonso appeared in all 162 games for the New York Mets, recording 38 home runs and scoring 87 runs. He raised his OPS nearly 90 points from 2024 to 2025, finishing with a mark of .871 this season. Overall, he posted a wOBA of .368 and a wRC+ of 142. Defensively, Alonso recorded a -9 Outs Above Average (OAA) and a -9 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) over the course of the season. MLBTR projects him to get a four-year, $110 million deal. Schwarber recorded 56 home runs, scored 111 runs, and added 10 stolen bases. His performance resulted in a .928 OPS, .391 wOBA, and a wRC+ of 153. He was primarily used as a designated hitter, appearing in left field for only eight games throughout the season. MLBTR projects him to get $135 million over five years. Do you think the Red Sox should target Alonso or Schwarber? View full rumor

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is sure to be one of the most discussed players this offseason as beat writers, reporters, and contributors stoke the hot stove. Despite avoiding arbitration and agreeing to a one-year deal yesterday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network speculated that Boston Duran could be traded to the Detroit Tigers this offseason. On an episode of Hot Stove, Morosi predicted Duran "would be a great fit with the Detroit Tigers … Do not be surprised if Jarren Duran is wearing the old English D by opening day." It's important to re-emphasize that this is just speculation and not anything supported by sources from within either organization. Duran, who is controllable through 2028, has been a polarizing figure throughout his career. From multiple controversial comments to up-and-down performances, the 29-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors in the past, and those rumors may continue this offseason. In 2025, he carried an OPS of .774 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 696 plate appearances. Do you think the Red Sox should move Duran before Opening Day 2025? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

After a season where the Boston Red Sox fell short of expectations, they've had a very busy start to the offseason with option decisions. These decisions have started to paint the picture of what the 2025-2026 offseason may hold and what needs to be done to the roster to meet their goals for next season. One of the bigger questions they're tasked with is figuring out the plans at first base. After a devastating knee injury to Triston Casas, first base was a bit of a merry-go-round with Nathaniel Lowe and Romy Gonzalez getting a bulk of the reps in the second half of the season. While both players are controllable in 2026, Casas is hoping to be healthy by the time Spring Training rolls around. However, at the end of the season, in an interview with Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow was non-committal to Casas's future, stating, "I don’t think it makes a ton of sense on October 6 to say someone is or isn’t our first baseman. We’ll see how things play out..." Ultimately, it's those comments that may have prompted the cryptic message from Casas: Casas, who was struggling at the plate prior to his injury, is projected for a very team-friendly $1.7 million salary in his first year of arbitration. What do you think he means in his Instagram post? Should the Red Sox move on from him? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

The Boston Red Sox will lose one coach looking to climb the MLB ranks, and rumors are swirling that a second might soon follow. Rob Bradford of WEEI is reporting that Chris Hess, the Double-A Portland hitting coach, has been hired as the assistant hitting coach for the Miami Marlins at the big league level. This comes days after it was being speculated that Justin Willard is expected to be hired as the next pitching coach for the New York Yankees Mets. Willard has served as the Red Sox director of pitching for each of the last two seasons. While that isn't ideal, Bradford has a glass half full perspective, stating "You hire. You develop. You lose good people who get better titles. The Red Sox should take it as a compliment." Hess has been with the organization since 2021, most recently working with top prospects Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell. How do you think this will impact hitting prospects with the Portland Seadogs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! View full rumor

It's only the third day of the 2025-2026 Major League Baseball offseason, and the Boston Red Sox have already been busy making a variety of roster moves. Yesterday, decisions were made regarding the future of Lucas Giolito and Alex Bregman with the club, and today, two more dominoes are falling into place. Christopher Smith of MassLive is reporting that the team and Jarren Duran have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a 1-year, $7.7 million deal. Additionally, Trevor Story is expected to opt in after the Red Sox exercised their half of a mutual option. Duran, who is controllable through 2028, has been a polarizing figure throughout his career. From multiple controversial comments to up-and-down performances, the 29-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors in the past, and those rumors may continue this offseason. In 2025, he carried an OPS of .774 with 16 home runs and 24 stolen bases across 696 plate appearances. Story enjoyed a bounce-back season after a devastating injury in 2024. Missing only five games all season, he produced a .741 OPS with 25 home runs and 31 stolen bases. In all, he finished with a .320 wOBA and a 101 wRC+. What are your thoughts on these deals? Do you think Duran could still get traded? Let us know in the comments! View full rumor

As the 2025-2026 MLB offseason gets underway, the Boston Red Sox suddenly have a lot of money available to them following the option decisions of Alex Bregman and Lucas Giolito. They also have decisions looming on Jarren Duran and Liam Hendriks, as well as on whether to submit a qualifying offer on Giolito. On Tuesday, Rob Bradford of WEEI named Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt, and Bo Bichette as potential offseason targets for the Red Sox to fill the team's newly identified needs. Regarding Bieber and Bassitt, Bradford says, "Boston was the only place Bieber visited during last offseason when looking for a new team...and the 30-year-old certainly continued to help his stock with his postseason performance. Another potentially cheaper option might be another Toronto [Blue Jays] starter, Chris Bassitt, who manager Alex Cora has long been a fan of." While Bieber ended up signing with the Cleveland Guardians, he eventually became teammates with Bassitt in Toronto after a deadline deal. Both pitchers were key contributors down the stretch and throughout the playoffs. Though the Red Sox are expected to pursue Bregman, and it's been rumored they're interested in Pete Alonso, Bradford identifies Beckett as another "go-hard-or-go-home" target. Due to injury, Bichette was limited to seven postseason games with a .923 OPS, including a massive three-run home run off of Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series. Across 139 regular-season games, he hit 18 home runs and had a 134 wRC+, cementing himself as one of the game's best shortstops. Do you think the Red Sox should pursue any of these names? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! View full rumor

While the Boston Red Sox as a team didn't bring home any hardware, two of their players may need to make room on their mantles for individual awards. The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWA) announced its award finalists on Monday, including Garrett Crochet as a Cy Young award finalist and Roman Anthony as a Rookie of the Year award finalist. Detroit Tigers Starting Pitcher Tarik Skubal is the favorite to win his second Cy Young in as many seasons, and Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is the favorite for Rookie of the Year. Crochet, in his first season with the Red Sox, started 32 games, throwing a career high 205 1/3 innings. He posted a 2.59 ERA (2.89 FIP) and a 25.6% K-BB rate. Relying more heavily on his sinker than in years past, it proved to be the perfect pitch to counteract one of the best sweepers in the league. Opponents batted .226 and .126 against the sinker and sweeper, respectively. The 21-year-old Anthony made his big league debut on June 9th against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. After collecting just two hits in his first nine games (.064 batting average), he turned things around, finishing the season with an .859 OPS, eight home runs, and four stolen bases. Though he had an elevated strikeout rate of 27.7%, he also sported an elite 13.2% walk rate. This all accumulated to a 140 wRC+ in 303 plate appearances. On the defensive side of the ball, he accumulated 6 Outs Above Average (OAA) in just 55 games, which would rank him 12th in baseball amongst other outfielders had he had the innings to qualify. Do you think either player will take home their respective awards? Let us know in the comments! View full rumor