Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are set to host another edition of Fenway Fest this weekend, which looks to be heavily focused on players, autograph sessions, and stories of the 1986 team. It doesn't appear there will be any sessions with ownership or the front office, which is unfortunate because those have provided some of the most interesting moments in recent offseasons when they got booed to the high heavens.

Over the holidays, my father told me he was going to send me a Tim Wakefield bobblehead that he found in a junk pile at his house. I didn't have high hopes for this, given that description of its provenance, but it arrived last week, and it's beautiful. Truly awesome. Opening it, I felt moved-by remembering Wake's accomplishments and the man he was, and by memories of seeing him pitch. I'm also appreciating the high-class packaging, the two baseball cards inside, and the first-class craftsmanship.

By the numbers: The monthly median price for a coworking membership in the Boston area is $235, about $10 more than the national median, according to CoworkingCafe's Q3 industry report. Higher-tiered plans and small offices within coworking spaces could cost two or three times that amount. Boston's median day pass price ($45) also exceeds the national median ($30), per the report.

The additional news that Winckowski underwent internal brace surgery this month sheds more light on his potential timeline. The procedure typically allows pitchers to return sooner than they would if they had Tommy John surgery. Winckowski will be building back up as a starter, adds Adams. With several months of recovery still ahead of him, it makes sense that the Blue Jays inked him to a two-year deal.

However, Giolito also was realistic about the slim chances of that happening in the wake of Boston's acquisition of (and Johan Oviedo). Asked if the trades for Gray and Oviedo were a signal that the team plans to move on, Giolito replied, "That's what I think," adding that the "writing is on the wall" with regard to the fact that a reunion is unlikely.

"St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, who already has traded right-hander Sonny Gray and first baseman Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox, might not be done dealing with his former club," Rosenthal and Sammon wrote. "The Cardinals and Red Sox also have discussed a trade that would send infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan to Boston, according to people briefed on the conversations. Donovan likely would play second base for the Red Sox, who have also been linked to the Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte.

I've been vocal about my love for Triston Casas, and my hopes for his emergence as a key part of the Red Sox roster for years to come. These hopes and dreams once seemed quite reasonable, based on early returns, but they've been dashed by significant injuries and questions about whether he can ever meet the physical demands of playing every day at an elite level.

ESPN's David Schoenfield gave Boston a positive grade for addressing an area of need at first base - especially at a lower cost than what it would take to sign a free agent like Pete Alonso. While Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles earlier this month, Contreras is under contract for the next two seasons at $36.5 million - with Boston also holding a $17.5 million club option for the 2028 campaign.

In 2025, the Boston condo market has shifted toward a more balanced state, with an overall increase in Days on Market (DOM) that provides buyers with more leverage than in previous years. Increased Buyer Leverage: The median DOM for Boston condos has climbed to approximately 28-32 days, a significant increase from roughly 20 days in 2023. Negotiation Power: Homes sitting on the market for 14+ days are increasingly seeing price drops and seller concessions, with roughly 30% of listings seeing price reductions

It's hard to ever really know what the Rays are planning. Are they thinking two steps ahead, and this is all lining up for them to move three prospects to bring in an even better, more cost-controlled major leaguer than the ones they sent out? Did they look around the division and see the entire AL East* loading up, realize that they have absolutely no chance of competing in 2026, and therefore punt to 2027?

After the 2024 season Rob Refsnyder considered retiring. But he didn't, explaining: "Really it was just the conversation, last year was my last guaranteed deal with here," Refsnyder said. "...I didn't really know the future. If no one has interest then yeah, I'd go on and do the next thing. I'm happy I'm here and this is my last year here that I guaranteed so we'll see what happens."

He's Luis Arraez. He's the first player in MLB history to win three consecutive batting titles playing for three different teams (2022-2024). Most recently, he was with the Padres on a one-year deal to avoid arbitration after playing in San Diego for most of 2024 . Before that, he was in Miami, where he recorded a seemingly unreal .354 batting average. The utility infielder, who turns 29 shortly after Opening Day 2026, spent the first portion of his career with Minnesota.

Phillips joined the Dodgers organization in August 2021, when he was claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays, and since then, he became one of the top relievers in baseball. Since the start of the 2022 season, Phillips has posted a 2.14 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 184.2 innings for the Dodgers, striking out 10.33 hitters per nine innings while walking just 2.29 per nine.

Framber Valdez is a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher who signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He's spent his career with the Houston Astros, though he declined their qualifying offer to enter free agency.