#boston-red-sox

#boston-red-sox

We're definitely closer [to our goal] when you think about the season we just had. But we're also not where we want to go yet and adding the wins that take you from 89 to 90 to 91 to 92 are really hard. On the field, we saw some of our key players take a step forward in terms of development and performance.

2025 was a strange year for Nathaniel Lowe. He was coming off 4 straight years averaging 2.8 bWAR per season with a .274/.359./.432 batting line. He was joining a new team - the Washington Nationals - who many believed to be something of a sleeper in the National League with young stars James Wood and CJ Abrams. Lowe was positioned to be a key veteran presence with playoff and World Series experience.

Manny Ramirez last appeared in an MLB game in 2011. But the former Red Sox great and two-time World Series champion is reportedly seeking a return to pro baseball - this time as a coach. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Ramirez "is getting word out to all 30 teams he'd love to serve as an MLB hitting coach."

"I think what I would say is that we need to figure out ways to improve the team and that could take a number of shapes," Breslow said. "Every team gets better if you can bring in a starter or develop a starting pitcher that could pitch at Garrett Crochet's level, right? "There's no running from that and we'll be as aggressive as we can in chasing that down while also ensuring that we're doing everything we can to develop our players internally."

The Red Sox ranked seventh in the majors this season in runs scored. But even with that encouraging ranking, it was evident that Boston's offense approach had some severe shortcomings - plenty of which reared their collective head in October. The return of Roman Anthony at the top of the lineup next spring will undoubtedly help a batting order that hit just .198 with six runs scored and a whopping 30 strikeouts over their three-game series against New York.

Aaron Boone's big-game and postseason ledger is expansive between his game-winning home run in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox in 2003, playing in that ensuring World Series against the Florida Marlins, and then navigating the Yankees through six previous postseason appearances with an American League pennant to show for it last year.

Jose De León was called up from Worcester and I think blew away everyone's expectations. Steven Matz, Zack Kelly and Greg Weissert were the only ones needed out of the bullpen. The Sox even allowed Alex Cora to take out Trevor Story midway through the game, sliding Nick Sogard to short and plopping Nate Eaton at third. It all worked out in the end.

Getting back to the postseason always calls for a champagne-soaked party! And getting there for the first time in four years is especially meaningful. Take a look at what happened last night! First everyone got their brand new October Baseball shirts on, and took a photo with the backdrop of the Monster behind them. Then everybody made their way into the clubhouse and got ready to pop bottles! Alex Cora made a speech and at its conclusion, the party was on:

Oh, that was magical last night! Glorious. We're all riding high but we've still got a job to do and won't lose focus on what's in front of us. What with Abreu back in the lineup (still great to see him after his long absence), a lot of guys getting a rest day, and another start by rookie Connelly Early, it feels like we have a fairly fresh-faced lineup today.