Alex Cora signals next step for Garrett Crochet to influence Red Sox

Losing Alex Bregman didn't just deprive the Boston Red Sox of a star third baseman right-handed power hitter — it also robbed the team of perhaps it's most obvious leadership figure.

When asked about who he expects to step up as a clubhouse leader in the wake of Alex Bregman's departure, Alex Cora didn't hesitate to respond.

"Garrett Crochet and Trevor Story," the Red Sox's manager said on the "Foul Territory" podcast. "Having Crochet every five days, that's a leader right there. Like Randy Johnson back in the day, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez... every five days, you know you're gonna have that guy who either extends the winning streak or stops the losing streak."

Story was an obvious selection. The shortstop finally remained healthy last year, producing a 25-25 season while playing next to Bregman. The 33-year-old is the elder statesman among the position player group and is revered for his work ethic, making him a perfect figurehead for the team.

Crochet is a little more of a reach, if only because he's still just 26 years old and has just about five years of service time at the major-league level. Still, Cora's words about his performance and demeanor ring truer than ever heading into the 2026 regular season, and another step forward from the southpaw would put the Sox in a position to compete for more than just an AL East title.

Garrett Crochet can become even more valuable to Red Sox by accepting a team leader role

When someone earns the nickname "War Pig" because of how dominant and filthy they are on the mound, you know their production isn't in question. There's even hope that Crochet will take another step forward in 2026, as he's added a splitter to his arsenal in an attempt to generate even weaker contact when he can't manage to rack up strikeouts.

Cora seemed to imply that he wants Crochet to lead by example with his performance, which certainly won't be an issue. The team went 23-9 in his starts last year, which doesn't include his absurd Game 1 outing in the Wild Card Series that ended in a 3-1 victory.

But there's more he can offer this team, particularly in the clubhouse. His youth may have been an issue on veteran-laden squads, but he's actually older than a majority of the Red Sox's starting lineup. People will listen to him because he's the best player on the roster, but it takes more than just top-three Cy Young finishes to be a leader of men.

Hopefully, whether by default or on purpose, Crochet will slip into Bregman's vacated role as a mentor and vocal presence of this ballclub. Such an evolution would only further cement his place as the face of the franchise.