NESN's 2025 roster projection for Red Sox predicts offseason blockbuster trade

Soon after the conclusion of the 2024 season, the Boston Red Sox front office decided, "it's time."

Sam Kennedy, Craig Breslow and Alex Cora attested to the front office's desire to field a team that could contend for the American League East. But after multiple lame offseasons with less-than-impressive additions, Sox fans aren't easily convinced.

NESN's 2025 Red Sox roster projection from Oct. 4 takes the front office at its word. Tim Crowley has predicted that Seattle Mariners ace Logan Gilbert will join the starting rotation via trade.

The Mariners would be an easy trade partner for Boston this winter. Seattle boasted an elite rotation that featured Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller, who pitched to a combined 3.38 ERA to lead MLB. The Mariners missed the playoffs because their 1,625 strikeouts also led MLB.

NESN predicts the Red Sox will add Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert this offseason

Seattle needs MLB-ready offensive talent to bolster its offense, and the Red Sox need elite pitching to support their three young starters — Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford — who each made over 30 starts for the first time this year. The veteran ace Gilbert could be an ideal complement to Boston's preexisting pieces.

Gilbert pitched to a 3.23 ERA over 208.2 innings in his age-27 season. He clocked 220 strikeouts and 37 walks, good for a 95th-percentile walk rate, according to Baseball Savant. Gilbert has posted over 185 innings in the past three seasons and would bring a new level of reliability to Boston's rotation.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto recently shared that Seattle has no plans to trade from its rotation this winter, but it may have to if it hopes to add talented bats without dipping into the free agent pool. Crowley's roster projection does not feature Wilyer Abreu in the outfield, and he may be too good for the Mariners to pass up in a potential trade, along with a few other pieces from the Sox's farm system. He posted Gold Glove-caliber defense in right field for Boston and he'd be a solid lefty addition to the Mariners' lackluster offense.

Gilbert would be a great addition to Boston's pitching staff if it can convince Seattle into a trade. It may take a player like Abreu to get the deal done, but if the front office really wants to contend for the division title, as it said, it'll need to make risky deals.

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