Gottie Chavez

In a season defined by dizzying highs and frustrating lows, the Boston Red Sox found some of their most consistent bright spots in the outfield, but not because of the players they expected to lead the way. After a historic second-half turnaround and a playoff appearance, the Red Sox have a promising young outfield that could serve as a foundation as they look to build their case as a true contender in the American League. Red Sox Outfield Recap 2026: High Hopes, Harsh Reality Much of the optimism surrounding the outfield entering 2026 stemmed from Roman Anthony’s impressive rookie season. Anthony hit .292/.396/.463 with a .859 OPS in 2025, seemingly taking the reins of the team. But he struggled in his sophomore season, hitting .229/.354/.321 with just one home run before a torn CMC ligament in his right hand forced him to miss majority of the campaign. While it would be easy to panic and blame his regression on his injury, his underlying metrics painted a more encouraging picture. His 47.4% hard-hit rate, 21.6% chase rate and 92.3 mph average exit velocity suggests his offensive foundation hasn't been completely tainted. He flashed his rookie form during his stint back from injury, batting .262/.361/.476 with four homers and 10 RBIs before reaggravating it in the Wild Card Series. Despite those encouraging signs, there's still a part of his game he needs to work on. Before his injury, Anthony was heavily scrutinized for his defense, particularly for several costly throwing errors. While his offensive potential makes him a key part of Boston’s future, lingering injury concerns and defensive miscues make him far from a finished product. And with Anthony sidelined for much of the season, the Red Sox were forced to rely on former All-Star Jarren Duran, whose future with the team was already clouded by trade speculation. Once touted as a possible face of the franchise, Duran entered 2026 with his place in the team’s long-term plans uncertain. Despite an All-Star campaign in 2024 and a productive 2025 season, his future became blurred by the emergence of Anthony. Suddenly, Boston had a younger prospect whose offensive upside made the veteran outfielder an attractive trade candidate. But the team ultimately retained him, and Anthony’s absence forced the team to rely on him again. And then, Duran experienced a steep offensive decline, hitting .207/.266/.361, numbers reminiscent of his early year struggles. His 34% chase rate and 27.1% strikeout rate suggested that his plate discipline was deteriorating, while his 88.5 mph average exit and 41.7% hard-hit rate indicated that his quality of contact was diminishing. These factors also limited Duran’s true X-factor: his speed. His ability to steal bases, turn simple ground balls into difficult plays and put pressure on outfielders have long made him a constant threat that opposing defense had to account for. But with his speed limited by his offensive struggles, Duran’s fWAR fell from 4.0 to 0.5. With trade speculation already resurfacing, the team has a difficult decision to make: His offensive regression has diminished his trade value, but holding him and hoping he rebounds before the next trade deadline will be difficult with younger contributors making their case for playing time. The Dynamic Defensive Duo: Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela In a season marked by injuries, slumps and regression, Boston found a lifeline with the breakout season of Ceddanne Rafaela, who earned his first All-Star selection while hitting .283/.319/.442. But despite him being pivotal to their mid-season turnaround, questions remain about whether his production is sustainable. Rafaela went hitless in seven postseason at-bats, extending his career playoff struggles to 0-for-17. His underlying numbers also raised concerns, as his batting averages against fastballs (.284), breaking balls (.289) and off-speed pitches (.270) all exceeded their expected marks of .253, .251, and .224. While his overall run value increased from minus-6 to plus-6, much of that improvement came against pitches outside the zone, where his run value climbed from plus-2 to plus-9. Meanwhile, his run value against pitches in the heart of the strike zone decreased from plus-2 last season to minus-1. This, combined with his chase-contact rate improving from 57.1% to 61.6%, suggests some of his success may have come from luck and will be difficult to replicate. His talent is undeniable, but the team will need to focus on improving his plate discipline to really unlock that next gear in his game. Meanwhile, Wilyer Abreu remained a steady contributor with an elite glove in right field. He hit .248/.327/.446 with a .773 OPS, leading the American League with 38 doubles and the team with 81 runs scored. Additionally, he led Boston with 5.9 bWAR, fueled largely by his defense and improved durability. He led the league with 28 defensive runs saved, practically making him a lock for his third straight Gold Glove in right field. Abreu also proved he could remain healthy for a full season, appearing in a career-high 157 games after injuries limited his availability during his first two seasons. Under team control through 2030 and eligible for salary arbitration, Abreu presents a compelling case for a long-term extension. View full article

The current form of Mickey Gasper has created his strongest argument yet for carving out a more permanent role on the Boston Red Sox's roster heading into the playoffs. In a roller-coaster season for Boston, Gasper has taken advantage of his limited opportunities, providing an offensive spark each time he has been called up. Since his late call-up in August, Gasper is hitting .417/.576/1.167 with a 1.742 OPS, 12 RBIs and five home runs after going without one through the first half of the season. While he also offers positional versatility with experience at catcher and first base, his newfound power could be what helps him move up the depth chart. What's Behind Mickey Gasper's Recent Surge Since returning to the majors, Gasper has made slight adjustments to his swing path that have helped him make better contact and produce more power. Against fastballs, he increased his average attack angle from 9 degrees to 11 degrees, allowing him to better capitalize on pitches left higher in the strike zone. His average exit velocity against fastballs has increased from 89.0 mph in June to 97.2 mph in August. Gasper has hit four of his five home runs against fastballs. Against off-speed pitches, Gasper has favored an opposite approach, decreasing his average attack angle from 20 degrees to 17 degrees. The adjustment has helped flatten his swing and allowed his bat to meet the middle of the ball rather than getting underneath it or completely whiffing. Against off-speed pitches in August, Gasper has posted a 25.0% whiff rate, down from 26.7% back in June. If these adjustments remain consistent, his recent power surge could offer the team a game-changing option off the bench. An Opportunity Behind the Plate That offensive production could become particularly valuable behind the plate, where Boston’s depth has been tested throughout the season. At the beginning of the season, the Red Sox expected Carlos Narváez to continue building on his strong rookie season while Connor Wong served as his backup. However, after Narváez experienced a steep regression, Boston moved on and acquired three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman in a trade. Rutschman’s addition to a Red Sox team in the middle of a playoff push appeared to solve the team’s questions behind the plate, but he has yet to find his footing. Since joining the team, he has been batting .146/.255/.244 with a .499 OPS. While there should be little question about Rutschman’s status as the starter, Gasper’s recent form could reopen the conversation about who should serve as the team’s second option. Currently, Gasper sits behind Wong on the depth chart. Wong has been a solid option, batting .246/.327/.374 with a .701 OPS, but has struggled to consistently produce power, hitting only four home runs this season. In nearly 50 fewer at-bats, Gasper has recorded only eight fewer hits than Wong, giving Boston another reason to consider whether his recent offensive surge deserves a larger role. Versatility Could Be the Difference Gasper's production does not necessarily make a case for him to be Boston’s starting catcher. However, his ability to provide offensive production while playing both catcher and first base could make him an appealing option for a postseason roster. At the very least, he's more capable of handling late-game substitution situations than Wong, which could prove to be the tiebreaker as the Red Sox mull over their best 26 players ahead of October. View full article

The Boston Red Sox's second-half resurgence has been a full-team effort, but no turnaround has been more remarkable than the revival of the offense. Before their historic winning streak, they had a bottom-10 offense in the league with a 91 wRC+, but since then, they have improved to a top-five offense with a 115 wRC+. But despite their improvements, the team has yet to find a consistent leadoff man. Before his long stint on the injured list, Roman Anthony was the team’s first option, but his injury caused manager Chad Tracy to turn to a committee of options. The manager's most recent choice was second baseman Nick Sogard, but Tracy shook up the lineup after Sogard went 0-for-13 during a three-game losing streak against the Toronto Blue Jays, which paved the way for Masataka Yoshida to take the reins. Known for his elite plate discipline and strong zone recognition, Yoshida seems like an obvious choice on paper. Primarily batting in the middle of the lineup this season, he has been a consistent contributor for the team, batting .274/.347/.399 with 72 hits, 34 runs and 28 RBIs. Yoshida has spent time in each spot in the batting order, but has spent most of his time batting fifth, where his ability to avoid strikeouts and prolong at-bats has made him valuable. But while no one questions his plate discipline, the knock against Yoshida batting leadoff has been the belief that he isn’t aggressive enough. Statistically, however, that couldn’t be further from the truth. This season, Yoshida has a 9.5% walk rate and 11.2% strikeout rate, the best marks of his MLB career. His selective approach at the plate makes him difficult to attack, as he chases pitches outside the strike zone at just a 28.1% rate but still makes contact on 72.4% of those swings. Combined with his 90.7% contact rate on swings at pitches in the strike zone, he rarely lets hittable pitches go to waste. However, just because he has a patient approach doesn't mean he isn’t aggressive when he gets a pitch he likes. In 0-0 or 0-1 counts this season, Yoshida is batting above .350, collecting 13 and 12 hits, respectively. He's batting only .243 from the leadoff position this season, but has been effective when leading off an inning, batting .306 with a .358 OBP. There shouldn’t be a question of whether Yoshida can be a leadoff hitter, but whether the leadoff spot is the best place to maximize his value. Batting him first does negate some of the value created by his contact; he has been particularly effective with runners on base. While he is batting just .200 with runners in scoring position overall, that number jumps to .286 when he bats fifth. So, really, perhaps the best solution is to keep him flexible. If the lineup is struggling to put traffic on the basepaths, batting Yoshida atop the order should help alleviate those issues. If they team is struggling to bring runners home, then maybe it's best to let him hit in the middle of the lineup. In the Red Sox’s most recent series against the Pirates, Yoshida suffered a left hamstring strain that will put him on the injured list and force Tracy to try other options at leadoff (he's gone back to favoring Sogard). That gives Boston additional time to evaluate its options at the top of the lineup and determine where Yoshida should play once he's healthy again. Editor Update: Yoshida's injury appears to be more significant than first feared. Chris Cotillo of MassLive has suggested that he could be done for the season. View full article

After over two years on the injured list, Patrick Sandoval made his long-awaited return to the major leagues on July 6 when he pitched 4.1 innings against the Chicago White Sox. Signing with the Boston Red Sox in the 2025 offseason, he spent the previous six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, where he showed high upside as a starter, but saw his production limited by injuries and late call-ups. Eventually, his 2022 breakout season was his first full season in the majors, where he posted a 2.91 ERA and 3.09 FIP in 148.2 innings and recorded a career-high 151 strikeouts. Since returning from injury, Sandoval has been a solid addition to the Red Sox's rotation, compiling a 3.30 ERA and striking out 29 batters in 30 innings. He has consistently ramped up his pitch count in each appearance, with Boston winning in five of his six starts. While he has found early success with his signature changeup, with opponents hitting only .148 against it, Sandoval still needs to improve other areas of his arsenal if he hopes to return to his 2022 form. Patrick Sandoval's Slider Is His Missing Ingredient While his changeup has been his most effective pitch throughout his career, Sandoval has favored his slider this season, throwing it 29.6% of the time. To date, the only other season in which the slider was his most-used pitch was his 2022 breakout season, when opponents hit just .201 against it. However, this season, that average has jumped up to .269, with Sandoval's command appearing to be the biggest difference. Looking at what made the pitch so successful in 2022, Sandoval consistently spotted his slider low or out of the strike zone on two-strike counts, generating a 33.6% whiff rate. His consistency with locating the pitch resulted in a career-high 42.0% chase rate and a 26.9% put-away percentage. This season, Sandoval is attempting to recreate that approach, increasing his slider outside-zone rate from 52.0% in 2022 to 57.5%, yet the results haven’t been the same. In 2026, the southpaw has been less consistent with his spotting, often leaving pitches high in the zone or exaggerated out of the zone. As a result, batters have been less fooled and are chasing the pitch at a career-low 27.5% rate, while his whiff rate has dropped to 30.8% and put-away percentage to 19.4%. The ineffectiveness is especially noticeable when comparing it to his changeup. While its 41.3% whiff rate is down slightly from 44.5% in 2022, Sandoval's put-away percentage has surged from 24.4% to 40.0%, a stark contrast to the effectiveness of his slider. In layman's terms, Sandoval’s ability to deceive batters hasn’t just gone away, as his changeup continues to finish at-bats and generate swings and misses at a higher rate than in 2022. He just needs to be more consistent with his location. The lack of command with the slider is especially daunting given Sandoval's history of having a high walk rate. This season, he has walked batters at a 9.2% rate and has posted a rate north of 9% in all but one season of his career. If hitters continue to lay off his slider outside the zone, Sandoval could find himself in deeper, more unfavorable counts and ultimately allow more baserunners. It's in those spots where he falters, and one blow-up outing or two could change the tune around his standing with the Red Sox. For now, he's become an integral piece of the rotation, covering valuable innings in the wake of injuries and trades that have depleted the team's depth. If he can tighten the spread on his favorite pitch, he might even earn a start or two in the playoffs. View full article

The month of July was historic for the Boston Red Sox, who went 21-4 to post the highest monthly winning percentage in franchise history. While the offense saw some improvement, it was the pitching staff that was the driving force behind their success, leading the MLB with a 4.5 WAR while also having a 2.91 ERA and 3.34 FIP, both lowest in the league. Boston also led the league with 21 wins and 13 saves, displaying their effectiveness through their ranks. While veterans like Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez have garnered most of the attention throughout the season, July saw several newer faces establish themselves as key contributors. Here are the three pitchers who deserve the most flowers for the team's brilliant month. Ranking Red Sox's Best Pitchers In July #3: Jake Bennett Just three months into his major league career, the 25-year-old rookie has firmly established himself in the rotation. Consistently improving each month, July saw Bennett take the biggest leap, compiling a 4-1 record, 2.21 ERA and 3.46 FIP over 32.2 innings. His 0.7 WAR led all Red Sox pitchers for the month, and he took advantage of each of his opportunities, throwing five quality starts in five appearances. Bennett’s success was driven by the effectiveness of his changeup. His second-most-used pitch behind his four-seam fastball, opponents hit just .071 against it. Consistently locating it low or below the strike zone, Bennett generated a 35% whiff rate. He also made noticeable improvements to his sinker. After allowing batters a .350 batting average against the pitch in June, they hit just .281 in July while the pitch produced a 37.5% put-away rate. These adjustments led to him having 21 strikeouts for the second consecutive month. #2: Garrett Whitlock During Boston’s difficult first half, Whitlock remained one of their only reliable pieces and July may have been his best month yet. His 0.5 WAR ranked tied for fifth among all MLB relievers as he posted a 0.73 ERA and 1.48 FIP over 12.1 innings. Whitlock also led all relievers with eight holds and even recorded a save, while holding opponents to a team-best .143 batting average. His effectiveness came with the reestablishment of his sinker. After opponents hit .400 against it in June, Whitlock regained confidence in it after increasing its average spin rate from 2141 RPM to 2207 in July. The added movement immediately translates to better results, as opponents batted just .080 against the pitch. Whitlock also relied on it 66.7% of the time in 0-0 counts, allowing him to get ahead of hitters and dictate at-bats throughout the month. #1: Aroldis Chapman After a lingering hamstring injury limited his availability and contributed to an inconsistent June, Chapman shut down any doubts surrounding him with a dominant July. In 12 appearances, he led all closers with 10 saves and a 0.75 ERA and 2.60 FIP. His 10 saves were his most for a single month since 2019 as he continued his late-career resurgence. Chapman also led Boston’s bullpen with 17 strikeouts and a 34.7% strikeout rate, while holding hitters to a .209 batting average. But while the strikeout numbers were flashy, his reliability in high-leverage situations may have been even more valuable. After blowing two saves in June, Chapman did not allow a single inherited baserunner to score all month, quickly reestablishing himself as the backbone of the bullpen. With the future Hall of Famer back to closing games at an elite level, Boston's bullpen has become one of the biggest reasons the club enters the back half of the season with legitimate postseason momentum. View full article

The Boston Red Sox's pitching staff has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season. Led by Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez, the rotation threw an MLB-high 16 quality starts in June, consistently leaving the offense in late advantageous positions. Yet, the lineup regularly failed to capitalize, leaving the bullpen to keep close games competitive, night after night. As a staff, Boston led the MLB with a 4.2 WAR in June while posting a 3.55 ERA, the third-lowest in the league. With the trade deadline approaching, the pitchers have been the lone argument against a full reset and for giving the team one last chance at a second-half comeback. Ranking Red Sox's Best Pitchers in June #3 Ranger Suárez After missing time in May due to hamstring tightness, Suárez returned to true form in June and delivered a stellar month. With a 2-0 record and working at least six innings in four of his five appearances, Suárez was the team's most valuable starter, producing 1.3 WAR, the third-highest among all MLB starters for the month. The biggest improvement came in his command. After posting a 1.48 WHIP in May, Suárez lowered it to 1.07 in June, consistently pitching deep into his outings. The biggest adjustment was to his cutter. After opponents batted .381 against the pitch in May, Suárez turned it into one of his biggest strengths, holding hitters to a .050 batting average in June. All of that led to a season-high 35 strikeouts and 10.50 K/9, as Suárez continues to return positive gains on the investment the team made in him. #2 Tyron Guerrero Tyron Guerrero made his long-awaited return to the majors in June and immediately made an impact. After spending seven years bouncing around Mexico, Japan and several minor-league systems, the 35-year-old joined the Red Sox last month and immediately became one of Chad Tracy's most reliable relievers. Consistently throwing above 100 mph, Guerrero was efficient, leading the team with five holds in 10 appearances and only allowing one run over 9.1 innings. In a month that saw star closer Aroldis Chapman struggle, Guerrero entered and helped stabilize the bullpen, pitching a 0.96 ERA and a 1.73 SIERA, which ranked among the top 25 of all MLB relievers for the month. Holding opposing batters to a .194 batting average, Guerrero's addition to the bullpen is just what the team needed to help ease the load off Chapman as he deals with his lingering hamstring injury. #1 Sonny Gray The conversation around keeping or trading Gray becomes more complicated by the day, in large part due to his performance. Improving his season record to 9-1, Gray was elite in June, finishing with a 3-0 record, 2.14 ERA and delivering five quality starts in five appearances. The highlight of the month came in his final appearance against the New York Yankees, where he carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Gray is in the final year of his contract and has emerged as one of Boston's most talked-about trade candidates as the deadline approaches. However, his consistency throughout the season, combined with a dominant June, makes a compelling case that the Red Sox should see what this rotation can accomplish if the offense finally catches up. View full article

The Boston Red Sox have reached the 50-game mark under interim manager Chad Tracy, and while the team has shown signs of progress, they remain near the bottom of the American League standings. With the trade deadline looming, the organization must decide whether he has done enough to lead the team moving forward. Tracy inherited a difficult situation. Before his promotion, his predecessor, Alex Cora, was released after starting the season with a 10-17 record and sitting at the bottom of the American League East standings. While Cora's roster dealt with some injuries, it was the regression of his offense that was really the nail in the coffin. Expected to build off of last season’s breakout prospects, like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, the lineup instead saw a complete decline, with the team having the second-lowest team wRC+ of 84 during this span. This regression, along with disagreement of philosophies with Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, caused Cora, along with six of his staff, to be fired. Previously managing the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, Tracy's familiarity with several of the struggling young prospects made him a natural choice to take over. This familiarity, along with a more analytical approach to the team’s struggles, helped bring stability to the Red Sox lineup. After just over 50 games, the team is 22-29 under him, but has shown flashes of better times to come. The offense as a whole has seen the most improvement under Tracy. Since taking over, the team ranks in the top 10 in the MLB in batting average in large part due to Tracy’s rebuilt hitting staff, which has helped several struggling players find their footing. No turnaround has been more noticeable than that of third baseman Caleb Durbin. After an underwhelming start to the season, Durbin has flourished under the guidance of Tracy’s staff. The skipper's public support of Durbin fixing his mechanics with a private hitting coach has sparked results for the 26-year-old. Over the past month, Durbin is batting .325/.341/.610 with a .952 OPS while hitting four home runs. Tracy also used his familiarity with the farm system to address some weaknesses on the roster. In May, Tracy called up catcher Mickey Gasper after getting underwhelming production from Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong. Since his call-up, Gasper has carved himself a starting role, batting .255/.319/.324 and slotting into the leadoff spot while Jarren Duran continues to work out his swing. But although the individual improvements have been welcomed, they have yet to translate to wins. The team currently has a record of 32-46 and has the worst record American League. While as a group they have improved their individual batting averages, as a team, they rank in the bottom five of the MLB in runs and home runs under Tracy’s tenure, still not taking advantage of the solid production from their pitching staff. This inconsistency leaves the Red Sox front office with a difficult decision. Is the development of young players enough to justify allowing Tracy and his staff to continue leading the team's growth, or should immediate results be the organization's top priority? With the trade deadline approaching, the next month may determine not only which players stay, but whether Tracy has done enough to remain part of the organization's long-term plans. View full article

The 2026 season has been a nightmare for the Boston Red Sox. They are nine games under .500 and sit four games behind the last American League wild-card spot. They have missed the production of star players Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony, who have both dealt with prolonged stints on the injured list. In addition, they have struggled offensively, ranking in the bottom five of the league for runs scored. With the trade deadline less than two months away, the team needs to decide whether it is going to be sellers or attempt to salvage the season by adding reinforcements. Last season, their second-half turnaround was fueled by the arrival of many top prospects that added life to the lineup. However, with those same prospects already on the big-league roster, the team needs to focus on the trade deadline to bring in some offense. While their lineup has been lackluster, the pitching staff has been a strength. The breakouts of prospects like Payton Tolle and Connelly Early, paired with the free-agent acquisitions of Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez, have given Boston a capable rotation while Crochet has been out. With a blend of youth and experience anchoring the staff and Crochet’s impending return, the team finds itself with depth they could use to rebuild its offense. Given their place in the standings, Boston should focus on targets that offer both positional versatility and long-term value in addition to immediate help. 3 Red Sox Trade Targets Who Can Upgrade Infield #3 Isaac Paredes (Houston Astros) Speculation about a potential trade between the Red Sox and the Houston Astros has been ongoing since the idea of Jarren Duran being available surfaced. The breakout of Roman Anthony last season, combined with the emergence of Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela, has left Boston with a crowded outfield. Despite a slow start, Duran’s combination of power and speed makes him a valuable piece that could garner Boston a significant return. Isaac Paredes would offer the Red Sox a combination of right-handed power and strong plate discipline that could help balance out the lineup. While he has had a slower start to the season, batting .238/.332/.388, he is still an elite pull-hitter and offers positional versatility, also playing second and first. At 27 years old and under team control for two more seasons, Paredes could make an immediate impact while continuing to grow alongside Boston’s young core. #2 Luis Arraez (San Francisco Giants) While Luis Arraez is not the flashiest name on the trade market, he offers something that the Red Sox desperately need: stability. He's never been known for power, but his reliability as an elite contact hitter who hardly strikes out would help an offense that has struggled to generate runs. This season, he is batting .325/.364/.436 and ranks second in MLB in hits. His value also extends beyond the batter’s box with his ability to play first base, offering Boston another versatile player to help build its depth. This season, the team has seen a revolving door of injuries with Trevor Story being the most recent to land on the 60-day IL. Before his injury, the duo of Marcelo Mayer and Story in the middle infield has been lackluster, with both batting below .225. In the first game without Story, Mayer moved back to shortstop, the position he played for most of his career. Getting Arraez would solidify that change, more than likely pushing Story to the bench (or third base) for the remainder of the season. #1 Matt Shaw (Chicago Cubs) A name that has circled around the league since last offseason, Shaw is an ostensible prospect with high upside who could be a plug-and-play option for the Red Sox. After signing Alex Bregman and extending Nico Hoerner, the Cubs have found themselves with a surplus of infield options, but limited spots available. Shaw’s solid bat, along with his ability to play nearly every infield position as well as the corner outfield spots, makes him a valuable but potentially pricey trade target. While Shaw has spent time on the injured list, he is currently working through a rehab assignment and should be available soon. Before his injury, he was batting .242/.291/.400, all improvements from his rookie season, as he continues to develop. The Cubs have been vocal about their search for starting pitching, and Boston’s depth of major-league arms and prospects could open the door for trade discussions. Shaw would not only offer an immediate boost to their lineup, but also offer long-term value as a developing piece alongside the team's core. View full article