Red Sox History: Ranking every squad of the 21st century
Ranking every Red Sox squad of the 21st century
From explosive offenses to Cy Young-winning aces to lockdown closers to championship runs, the Boston Red Sox have given us plenty of memories so far this century. Yet which team holds the distinction of being the best Red Sox team of the 2000s?
There were a couple of things I looked at while making this list, the first of which was run differential. Sometimes the win-loss record doesn’t tell the whole story. A team can have an outstanding run differential but under-perform their expected win total by getting unlucky in close games, or over-perform their expected win total by getting fortunate in tight contests. In rankings like these, it’s not just about how many games you win but how dominant you are in winning them.
I also tried to look at the overall talent level. Every Red Sox team this century had a least one or two stars, but which team was truly loaded with talent? Teams that had deep lineups and rotations got added bonuses, while teams that were solely reliant on David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez got penalized.
So let’s get the rankings started, beginning with a recent team that should be thankful their season was only 60 games.
No. 22: 2020 Red Sox (24-36)
Even with three other last-place finishes this century, there is no doubt the 2020 Red Sox were the worst team of the 2000s. Hope was low after trading Mookie Betts a month before the season, and it sunk even lower as a pandemic-shortened season exposed the team’s lack of depth.
It’s a good thing, however, that this season was only 60 games, as this team was downright unwatchable. There were some standout performers, as Xander Bogaerts (128 OPS+), Rafael Devers (11 HR, 43 RBI), and Alex Verdugo (.308 AVG) each put together quality campaigns. Yet the shocking regression of J.D. Martinez (.213/.291/.389) and Andrew Benintendi (25 OPS+ before a season-ending injury) held back the offense.
The pitching, meanwhile, was a mess. With Chris Sale still out with Tommy John surgery and Eduardo Rodriguez missing the entire season with myocarditis, the Red Sox simply didn’t have enough major-league caliber pitchers.
The Red Sox were forced to give starts to the likes of Zack Godley (8.16 ERA), Kyle Hart (15.55 ERA), Colten Brewer (5.61 ERA), and Mike Kickham (7.71 ERA). The result was a ghastly 5.58 team ERA, a 24-36 record, and, somehow, the number four pick in the 2021 MLB draft.
No. 21: 2012 Red Sox (69-93)
The 2012 Red Sox were set up to fail before the season’s first pitch was even thrown. The clubhouse was still fractured after the previous season’s September collapse, and management was in disarray after the resignation of manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein.
Unfortunately, Boston picked the worst person to replace Francona in Bobby Valentine. Valentine butted heads with many of the Red Sox top players, including franchise cornerstones Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, and the team’s under-performance only heightened the tensions.
Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, and Josh Beckett all had career-worst seasons on the mound, and the bullpen was in shambles after the loss of All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Phillies. Meanwhile, injuries to David Ortiz (90 games), Jacoby Ellsbury (74), and breakout rookie Will Middlebrooks (75) suppressed the offense.
The Red Sox were an uninspired 62-67 in late August before they dumped high-priced veterans Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, and Carl Crawford (not to mention Nick Punto) to the Dodgers. The September 2012 Red Sox were as unrecognizable as any team in recent memory, as over-the-hill veterans paired with unproven youngsters who would never amount to anything to go just 7-22 in the month.
No. 20: 2014 Red Sox (71-91)
One similarity between every Red Sox team this century was that they all had elite offenses. The one exception may have been the 2014 Red Sox, which scored a measly 634 runs and hit just 123 home runs, both by far the fewest of any Red Sox team since 2000. Most of that production came from David Ortiz, who hit 35 home runs and drove in 104.
Other than Ortiz, Mike Napoli and Xander Bogaerts were the only players to hit ten home runs. The team had hoped that their young players could step in and replace free agent departures Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but each one struggled mightily.
Jackie Bradley Jr. (.531 OPS) was the league’s worst hitter, while Bogaerts hit just .203 from June 1 on and was terrible defensively in his first full season at shortstop. 2012 standout Will Middlebrooks, meanwhile, was so bad that the Red Sox dumped the 26-year-old to the Padres in the offseason.
Even in a year where the offense was suppressed around the league, the Red Sox didn’t have a chance of competing. Starters Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Jake Peavy were traded at midseason, and the Red Sox entered into a rebuild (at least until Pablo Sandoval was available in free agency).
No. 19: 2015 Red Sox (78-84)
The Red Sox made some big splashes in the offseason, including signing Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez and trading for Rick Porcello. It could not have turned out worse. Sandoval (.658 OPS, -1.2 WAR) and Ramirez (.291 OBP, -1.2 WAR) were two of the worst players in baseball.
Still, the offense wasn’t the problem, as Boston scored more runs than all but three teams in the majors. What really killed the 2015 Red Sox was an atrocious starting pitching staff. Porcello, who was expected to be the team’s ace after posting a 3.43 ERA the year prior in Detroit, was pounded to the tune of a 4.92 ERA.
The rest of the rotation wasn’t much better, as Wade Miley (4.46 ERA), Joe Kelly (4.82 ERA), and Justin Masterson (5.61 ERA) were similarly lit up. The terrible rotation overshadowed breakout seasons from Mookie Betts (.291 average, 18 HR, 21 SB) and Xander Bogaerts (.320 average), and another outstanding performance from David Ortiz (37 HR, 108 RBI).
The Red Sox actually finished strong, as a youth infusion led by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Travis Shaw helped the Red Sox to a 34-26 record over the final two months.
No.18: 2001 Red Sox (82-79)
Hopes were high for the 2001 Red Sox after giving the Yankees a run for their money in 2000 and signing slugger Manny Ramirez from Cleveland Indians.
The first sign, however, that this team wasn’t going to live up to expectations was when Nomar Garciaparra hurt his wrist in spring training, and he ended up playing just 23 games. Even though Ramirez hit 41 home runs and posted an outstanding 162 OPS+, the loss of Garciaparra and up-and-coming catcher Jason Varitek (51 games), along with Carl Everett’s decline (98 OPS+), doomed the offense.
The injury bug also bit the team’s top pitcher, as Pedro Martinez started just 18 games before tearing his rotator cuff. So even while Frank Castillo (4.21 ERA), David Cone (4.31 ERA), Hideo Nomo (4.50 ERA, 220 strikeouts), and Tim Wakefield (3.90 ERA) had solid seasons, the loss of Martinez left their rotation short-handed.
The Red Sox were additionally hampered by a poor season from Derek Lowe, who blew six saves in just 30 opportunities.
The Red Sox actually went 51-36 in the first half before a 31-46 second half cost Jimmy Williams his job and left them 13.5 games of the Yankees.
No. 17: 2000 Red Sox: 85-77
Coming off a season where they won 94 games and won their first postseason series since 1986, Red Sox fans had more hope than they had had in over a decade. Sports Illustrated predicted that the Red Sox would win the World Series, declaring that the Yankees century was over. The Red Sox got their chance in 2000, with the Yankees winning just 87 games and finishing the season 3-15, but they couldn’t hold things together long enough to take the division.
Nomar Garciaparra had the best season of his career, hitting .372 with 21 home runs, and he was supported by the troublesome Carl Everett (300/.373/.587, 34 home runs). However, other than those two, only Trot Nixon had an above-average OPS, and the Red Sox finished just 22nd in the majors in runs.
The pitching was the best in the AL, mainly due to Pedro Martinez’s ridiculous 291 ERA+. Newly interested closer Derek Lowe saved 42 games, but like many pre-championship Red Sox teams, the Red Sox were held back by their lack of starting pitching. Besides Pedro, no other starter had an ERA under 4.78, sinking their chances of overtaking the division from the hated Yankees.
No. 16: 2019 Red Sox (84-78)
After bringing back 23 of 25 members from their World Championship team, expectations were high for the 2019 Red Sox.
The offense did their part as Rafael Devers (.311/.361/.555, 36 HR 105 RBI) emerged to join J.D Martinez (36 HR, 105 RBIs), Mookie Betts (.295/.391/.524), and Xander Bogaerts (.309/.384/.555, 33 HR 117 RBIs) and form a fearsome middle of the order.
Yet as good as the offense was, the team had no chance with its porous pitching. Before succumbing to season-ending injuries, Chris Sale (4.40 ERA) and David Price (4.28) each posted the highest ERA of their career. Nathan Eovaldi missed significant time with injuries and was terrible when he did pitch (5.99 ERA), while Rick Porcello was arguably the worst starter in baseball, allowing a terrible 10.2 H/9 innings.
The bullpen struggled to replace Craig Kimbrel, blowing save after save before Brandon Workman (1.88 ERA) somewhat weathered the storm.
The Red Sox somehow stayed in contention through July, and they were just a half-game out of the wild card as late as July 27. However, the good times were short-lived, as an eight-game losing streak to the Rays and Yankees in early August sealed their fate.
No.15: 2006 Red Sox (86-76)
The 2006 Red Sox were the only Red Sox team in a span of seven years to miss the postseason, as injuries ravaged the offense, and the pitching was derailed by under-performance.
The season got off to a normal enough start, as a historic David Ortiz season (54 home runs) and an All-Star performance from second baseman Mark Loretta (.285 average) powered the offense.
The pitching was headed by a resurgent Curt Schilling (15-7, 3.97 ERA) and superstar rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon (0.92 ERA), leading the Red Sox to first place by early August. Yet the Red Sox were hanging on by a thread, as poor seasons from Josh Beckett (5.01 ERA), Tim Wakefield (7-11, 4.63 ERA), and Matt Clement (6.61 ERA) led to the 25th ranked pitching staff and put an enormous strain on the offense.
Once stars Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek went down with season-ending injuries, it was too much for even an Ortiz-led offense to overcome. A five-game sweep at the hand of the hated Yankees, cleverly referred to as another Boston Massacre, knocked the Red Sox out of first place, and a 23-35 finish to the season kept the Red Sox out of the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
No. 14: 2011 Red Sox (90-72)
Yes, the 2011 Red Sox historic September collapse will make them go down in infamy, but their explosive offense made them an entertaining team to watch from April to August.
Jacoby Ellsbury finished runner-up in the MVP race by batting .321, hitting 32 home runs, and stealing 39 bases, and yet he wasn’t even the best hitter on his own team. Adrian Gonzalez hit .338 and knocked in 117 runs in his only full season with the Red Sox, while Dustin Pedroia hit .307 and hit a career-high 21 home runs. David Ortiz turned back the clock and slashed .309/.398/.553, overcoming poor seasons from fellow veterans Kevin Youkilis and Carl Crawford.
On the pitching side, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester had All-Star seasons, but a disastrous season by John Lackey (6.41 ERA) and an injury to Clay Buchholz that limited him to 14 starts left the Red Sox short-handed come September.
The bullpen also collapsed, with star reliever Daniel Bard (10.64 ERA in September) falling apart in the stretch run and Jonathan Papelbon blowing the final game that knocked the Red Sox out of the playoffs.
The end result was ugly, and it cost manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein their jobs.
No. 13: 2010 Red Sox: (89-70)
This Red Sox team may have been Terry Francona’s finest work, as he was able to piece together an 89 win season despite key injuries to many 2009 standouts. The first blow was when Jacoby Ellsbury collided with third baseman Adrian Beltre and fractured four ribs. Ellsbury would go on to play just twelve more games the rest of the season.
Still, the Red Sox were able to stay competitive through July, as newcomer Beltre (.321/.365/.553) teamed with the resurgent David Ortiz (32 HRs, 102 RBIs) and Victor Martinez (.302 average) to form the second-best offense in baseball.
The pitching was led by Clay Buchholz (2.33 ERA) and Jon Lester (19-9, 3.25 ERA, 225 strikeouts), and Daniel Bard posted a sub-2.00 ERA out of the bullpen to offset a poor Jonathan Papelbon season (3.90 ERA, eight blown saves).
It looked like the Red Sox would be able to overcome the injury to Ellsbury, but then MVP candidate Dustin Pedroia broke his foot in June, and All-Star Kevin Youkilis tore a muscle in his thumb in August. This all culminated in a 40-41 record after July 4 that kept the Red Sox home in October for the first time since 2006.
No. 12: 2017 Red Sox (93-69)
Everything was difficult for the 2017 Red Sox. They were last in the AL with 169 home runs, and no batter had an OPS+ over 108. The offense sorely missed David Ortiz, as Mookie Betts batted just .264 while Xander Bogaerts (.746 OPS) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (.726 OPS) regressed from 2016.
Mid-season reinforcements such as Rafael Devers (10 HR in 38 games) and Eduardo Nunez (8 HR, .321 AVG) helped the Red Sox finish in the top 10 in runs scored, but they couldn’t compete with the firepower of the Astros and the Yankees.
This lack of offense was especially unfortunate because the pitching staff was one of the best in baseball. After coming over from the White Sox in the offseason, Chris Sale was as good as advertised, leading the majors with 308 strikeouts and finishing 2nd in the Cy Young voting. Drew Pomeranz was terrific as well, winning 17 games with a 3.32 ERA, while Eduardo Rodriguez (4.19 ERA) and David Price (3.38) were solid, albeit in injury-shortened seasons. Craig Kimbrel bounced back with 35 saves and a 1.43 ERA, while an elite bullpen helped the Red Sox go 15-3 in extra-inning games.
Despite the pitching staff’s success, the Red Sox were easily dispatched by the eventual champion Astros in the ALDS.
No. 11: 2005 Red Sox (95-67)
The 2005 Red Sox were a mess. On offense, Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, and Mark Bellhorn all regressed from 2004, and free-agent acquisition Edgar Renteria was a disappointment at the plate and in the field.
Still, Manny Ramirez (.292/.388/.594, 45 home runs and 144 RBI), David Ortiz (.300/.397/.604, 47 home runs, 148 RBI) and Johnny Damon (.316 average) had MVP level seasons, and the Red Sox still had the best offense in the league.
The pitching staff wasn’t nearly as fortunate. The story of the season was Curt Schilling, who after returning from his ankle surgery, was forced to the closer role and was so bad that he was moved back to the rotation. The final product was a 5.69 ERA for a pitcher who was one of the best pitchers in baseball the year prior.
The starting rotation sorely needed an ace, as no starting pitcher has an ERA under 4.00. The bullpen was similarly disastrous, as Keith Foulke was nowhere near the pitcher he was in 2004 and got battered to the tune of a 5.91 ERA.
All told, it was a miracle that they won as many games as they did before being swept by a far superior Chicago White Sox team in the ALDS.
No.10: 2002 Red Sox (93-69)
The 2002 Red Sox deserved a better fate. Their offense and pitching were both top 10 in the majors, and their Pythagorean win total showed they should have had seven more wins than they actually had.
The offense was led by Manny Ramirez, who slashed a ridiculous .349/.450/.647 to go along with 33 home runs. Right there with him was Nomar Garciaparra, who bounced back from an injury-shortened 2001 season to post a 127 OPS+ and drive in 120 runs, and new edition Johnny Damon, who batted .286 and stole 31 bases.
On the pitching side, Pedro Martinez had a 2.26 ERA and struck out 239, and he finally got some support in the rotation in the form of Derek Lowe, who won 21 games and had a 2.58 ERA. Closer Ugeth Urbina made the All-Star team while saving 40 games, while swing-man knuckleballer Tim Wakefield had a career-low 2.81 ERA.
Like many Red Sox teams at the beginning of the ’00s, they started quickly and cooled off even quicker, going a perfectly mediocre 53-52 after a 40-17 start. This team was awesome, but with the Yankees winning 103 games and the Angels grabbing the wild card with 99 wins, they just weren’t awesome enough.
No. 9: 2016 Red Sox (93-69)
The story of the 2016 Red Sox was annoyingly familiar: Elite offense, lack of starting pitching depth, and an inconsistent bullpen.
The offense was the best in baseball, led by an unbelievable swan song from David Ortiz (164 OPS+, 38 HR, 127 RBIs) and an MVP-caliber campaign from Mookie Betts (.318 average). They also got bounce-back seasons from veterans Hanley Ramirez (30 HR, 110 RBI) and Dustin Pedroia (.318 AVG), as well a career season from Jackie Bradley Jr. (26 HR, 87 RBI).
Rick Porcello anchored the pitching staff with 22 wins en route to a Cy Young award, and David Price led the league with 35 starts and 230 innings pitched, albeit with a mediocre 3.99 ERA. The rest of the rotation, however, couldn’t pull its weight. All-Star knuckleballer Stephen Wright made just seven terrible starts in the second half, while Clay Buchholz (4.78 ERA), Eduardo Rodriguez (4.71), and mid-season acquisition Drew Pomeranz (4.59) couldn’t pick up the slack. Craig Kimbrel disappointed in his first season in Boston, struggling with his control all year en route to a career-worst 3.40 ERA.
The Red Sox backed into the playoffs with a 1-5 record before getting swept by the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS.
No. 8: 2021 Red Sox (92-70)
There was not a lot of hope for the 2021 Red Sox. After a 24-36 2020 season and an offseason full of bargain shopping, most pundits predicted the Red Sox would finish 4th in the AL East, ahead of only the lowly Orioles. Yet a 9-game win streak in April helped the Red Sox to a 55-36 first-half record, good for first place in the AL East.
As usual, the Red Sox were powered by a great offense. Rafael Devers set a career-high with 38 home runs and 113 RBI, while Xander Bogaerts (126 OPS+), Hunter Renfroe (31 HR, 96 RBI), J.D Martinez (28 HR, 99 RBI), and rookie Bobby Dalbec (25) all had great seasons.
The pitching staff was led by Nathan Eovaldi, who struck out 195 batters en route to an All-Star appearance. However, no other starter had an ERA under 4.50, and closer Matt Barnes had a 6.48 ERA in the second half.
The poor pitching and a COVID outbreak led to a mediocre 36-32 second-half record and cost them the division. However, the midseason acquisition of Kyle Schwarber (154 OPS+) and the emergence of rookie reliever Garrett Whitlock (1.96) helped weather the storm and lead the Red Sox to a Wild Card berth and an ALCS appearance.
No. 7: 2009 Red Sox (95-69)
The big story surrounding the 2009 Red Sox was the struggles of David Ortiz. Through June 5, he was hitting just .188 with one home run, and while he eventually started hitting for power, he hit a career-low .238.
Though Ortiz was in the midst of the worst season of his career, the rest of the offense was spectacular. Jason Bay hit 36 home runs and knocked in 119 runs, Kevin Youkilis finished in the top five of the MVP race, Jacoby Ellsbury hit .301 and stole 70 bases, and mid-season acquisition Victor Martinez hit .336.
The bullpen also excelled, led by another great Jonathan Papelbon season (1.85, 38 SV) and the emergence of Takashi Saito (2.43 ERA) and Ramon Ramirez (2.84 ERA).
However, the fatal flaw for the 2009 Red Sox was the lack of starting rotation depth. Daisuke Matsuzaka (5.76 ERA), Brad Penny (5.61), and John Smoltz (8.33) were downright terrible, and the Red Sox finished eight games behind the high-powered Yankees despite winning their first nine matchups of the season. They also had the misfortune of playing the 97-win Angels in the division series, and they were swiftly disposed of in three games.
No. 6: 2008 Red Sox (95-69)
This team really should have gone back-to-back. Terry Francona said that this was the best Red Sox team he ever managed, and they had all their pieces back from their World Series run.
Dustin Pedroia earned MVP honors, hitting .326 and leading the league in runs and stolen bases, while Kevin Youkilis wasn’t far behind (.312/.390/.569, 29 HR, 115 RBIs). J.D Drew bounced back from a disappointing Red Sox debut to post a .408 OBP, and Jason Bay provided some thump after being acquired mid-season.
The rotation was even better than in 2007, as Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-3, 2.90 ERA) and Jon Lester (3.21 ERA in 210 innings) took significant steps forward. Again, the bullpen was a strength, with Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, and Javier Lopez all posting ERAs under 3.50 and Jonathan Papelbon saving 41 games.
The only blemishes on this Red Sox team were the declines of David Ortiz and Mike Lowell. Ortiz, who dealt with a wrist injury for most of the season, played in just 109 games and saw his OPS drop nearly 200 points from 2007, while Lowell hit 50 points lower than the previous season.
The Red Sox grabbed the Wild Card after finishing two games behind the surprising Tampa Bay Rays and lost to them in a hard-fought, seven-game ALCS.
No. 5: 2003 Red Sox (95-67)
Overshadowed by the disastrous end to the season, the 2003 Red Sox had a case as the best offense of all time. They lead the majors in runs (961), batting average (.289), on-base percentage (.360), and set a major league record in slugging .491.
Bill Mueller won a batting title in the nine-hole, narrowly beating out teammate Manny Ramirez .326 to .325. Seven batters knocked in at least 85 runs, while six hit at least 25 home runs.
Wonderkid GM Theo Epstein built a lineup of on-base machines, as his offseason additions Kevin Millar (.343 OBP), Bill Mueller (.396), and David Ortiz (.369) all exceeded expectations.
The pitching staff, however, couldn’t pull its weight. Pedro was Pedro, but Derek Lowe (4.43) regressed, and the bullpen was a mess all season long. The Red Sox went into the season with a “closer by committee” approach, which proved disastrous as Brandon Lyon, Chad Fox, and Mike Timlin all disappointed when given save opportunities. The bullpen stabilized somewhat by October but never gained manager Grady Little’s trust. This proved costly when Little stuck with a clearly tiring Martinez in Game 7 of the ALCS and watched as the Yankees tied and eventually won the game.
Despite the devastating final chapter, this team was arguably the most entertaining team of the century and set the stage for the team that would finally break the curse.
No. 4: 2013 Red Sox (97-65)
Though their impact on the city was undeniable, it’s hard to know how to evaluate the 2013 Red Sox in a historical baseball context. Sandwiched in between two last-place teams, this oddball group of veterans exceeded all expectations and steamrolled their way to a World Series title.
Sure, this team had their stars, namely David Ortiz, who had a 159 OPS+; Jacoby Ellsbury, who hit .298 and stole 53 bases. Jon Lester won 15 games and struck out 177 batters. Dustin Pedroia hit .301 and won a Gold Glove.
Yet this team was as much about the veteran castoffs. Mike Napoli hit 23 home runs and 92 RBI after signing a one-year deal in the offseason, while Shane Victorino hit .294 with 15 home runs and stole 21 bases after coming over from the Dodgers the previous December.
John Lackey bounced back from Tommy John surgery with a 3.52 ERA, while unheralded relievers Koji Uehara and Craig Breslow both posted sub 2.00 ERAs.
The postseason was a struggle, as it took a few timely home runs from David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes to sneak past the Tigers and Cardinals for the championship. Though not as dominant as the 2018 team, as talented as the 2004 team, or as well-rounded as the 2007 team, the 2013 Red Sox were still great and earned a spot near the top of this list.
No. 3: 2007 Red Sox (96-66)
The only Red Sox team this century to finish in the top five in the majors in runs scored and ERA, the 2007 Red Sox were a well-balanced machine.
The offense was a mix of new and old, with Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia (.317 average), up-and-coming first baseman Kevin Youkilis (.390 OBP), and veteran third baseman Mike Lowell (.324/.378/.501, 21 HR 120 RBI) supporting a typically strong David Ortiz season (.332/.445/.621, 35 HR 117 RBI).
The fielding was elite as well with light-hitting shortstop Julio Lugo, center fielder Coco Crisp, Pedroia, and Youkilis.
On the pitching side, Josh Beckett won 20 games with a solid 3.27 ERA, while Curt Schilling (3.87 ERA) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (15 wins, 4.42 ERA) supported him in the rotation. As good as the offense and the rotation were, though, the team’s strength was in the bullpen. Jonathan Papelbon established himself as one of the best closers in baseball, saving 42 games with a 1.85 ERA. Four other relievers had sub-4 ERAs, led by Japanese rookie Hideki Okajima, who earned an All-Star berth.
Though this Red Sox team had their ups and downs, including nearly blowing an 11.5 game lead to the Yankees and going down 3-1 in the ALCS to the Indians, they were as complete as any Red Sox team this century.
No. 2: 2004 Red Sox (98-64)
The Red Sox returned eight of the nine starters from their record-setting 2003 offense and added ace Curt Schilling and closer Keith Foulke in hopes of finally toppling the mighty Yankees. Yet after a 15-6 start, the Red Sox went just 45-44, as a terrible defense and down seasons from Pedro Martinez (career-high 3.90 ERA), Derek Lowe (5.42 ERA), and Tim Wakefield (4.87 ERA) offset another league-leading offense.
To fix the defensive woes and improve the pitching staff, Theo Epstein traded franchise cornerstone Nomar Garciaparra for shortstop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. The Red Sox went on a 20-2 run, clinching the Wild Card berth.
The offense was just as good as the year before, with Manny Ramirez (43 HR, 130 RBI) and David Ortiz (41 HR, 139 RBI) having MVP level seasons, while Jason Varitek (.390 OBP), Kevin Millar (.383), Bill Mueller (.365), Mark Bellhorn (.373) and Johnny Damon (.380) gave them plenty of runners to drive in.
On the pitching side, Schilling (21 wins, 3.26 ERA, 227 K) and Foulke (2.17 ERA, 32 saves) proved worthy of the offseason investment.
The Red Sox steamrolled the Angels in the ALDS, famously came back from 3-0 against the Yankees in the ALCS and swept the Cardinals for their first title in 86 years.
No. 1: 2018 Red Sox: 108-54
Undoubtedly the best Red Sox team of the 21st century, and the best Red Sox team of any era for that matter, were the 2018 juggernauts.
Mookie Betts (.346/.438/.640, 32 HR, 30 SB) and J.D Martinez (.330/.402/.629, 43 HR, 130 RBI) had two of the greatest offensive seasons of all time, as each finished in the top five in the MVP race. They weren’t alone, however, as Xander Bogaerts (135 OPS+, 23 HR 103 RBI) and Andrew Benintendi (.290 AVG, 16 HR, 21 SB) each supported them in the lineup, while mid-season acquisition Steve Pearce (141 OPS+) provided even more thunder.
The pitching staff was the benefit of all these runs, as Rick Porcello (17 wins) and David Price (16 wins) each were solid behind ace Chris Sale (2.11 ERA, 237 in 158 innings). The bullpen was once again anchored by Craig Kimbrel (2.74 ERA, 42 saves) along with a breakout season from Ryan Brasier (1.60), and mid-season addition Nathan Eovaldi (3.33 ERA) was dominant after coming over from the Rays.
The team was an absolute bulldozer, as they won a franchise record 108 regular season games and lost just three games en route to a World Series title.
Next. Top-5 Red Sox pitching performances of the 2021 season. dark