The Boston Red Sox's front office opened the offseason with the promise of sweeping change to the roster for the second year in a row.
The Red Sox signed Justin Wilson and Aroldis Chapman as bullpen reinforcements. Their blockbuster trade for Garrett Crochet added elite strikeout stuff and high velocity to the rotation and the acquisitions of Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval represent much-needed depth.
Those additions were enough for CBS Sports to give Boston an "A" grade for its work this offseason. But Red Sox Nation would beg to differ.
Post author R.J. Anderson gave the Red Sox their high mark due to their many pitching acquisitions, and he is correct to say the pitching staff is better than last season. Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford earned 30-plus starts of valuable experience after the losses of Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock to injury. Crochet posted a 3.58 ERA with 209 strikeouts over 32 starts last season and is willing to sign an extension.
But 2024 was Crochet's first full season as a starter. He missed plenty of bats, as he's well known to do, but he didn't make a start longer than four innings after the calendar flipped to July. Sandoval is recovering from Tommy John surgery and won't be able to pitch until the second half of the season, at the earliest. Buehler posted a 5.38 ERA and 5.54 FIP with the Dodgers last season, although it was his first campaign back from elbow surgery. Boston's rotation additions are surrounded by "what ifs," but there's plenty of potential there if all goes well.
CBS Sports' offseason grade for the Red Sox is generous given lack of spending in free agency
Conversely, the Red Sox haven't improved their offense at all. Boston lost Tyler O'Neill, its 2024 home run leader, to the division-rival Orioles and has not signed a righty bat to replace his production. The Sox have been tabbed as "interested" in the veteran Alex Bregman, who would be an excellent defensive upgrade at the hot corner and a gritty righty bat for their left-hand dominant offense.
Boston appears to be hung up on Bregman's asking price, which has been reported as six to seven years in the $200 million range. The Red Sox haven't spent that kind of money or committed that much time to a free agent in years, despite their many promises to go above and beyond to build a winning team. With just over a month until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the A's, who'll play the 2025 season in a temporary stadium, have outspent the Red Sox in free agency.
The Sox whiffed on Max Fried. They didn't try for Teoscar Hernández. They still haven't delivered on the division-winning team they promised at the end-of-season presser. But there's still time to really earn the "A" grade that CBS Sports generously gave them.
Boston is still perusing the reliever market for more bullpen depth. Teams can never have enough pitching, but after the 2024 bullpen's disastrous collapse, the Sox, especially, can use all the help they can get. Bregman is still available and Boston is reportedly one of his top destinations. The Red Sox have also chatted with the Cardinals about a potential trade for righty bat and six-time Platinum Glove-winning third baseman Nolan Arenado.
At least one more experienced relief arm and Bregman could lift the Sox's offseason grade to an "A," but as long as O'Neill's right-handed bat goes unreplaced in the lineup, they're not there.