The Boston Red Sox's offseason has always felt one move short of completion, especially when it comes to their offense. But that's okay, because Boston has 21-year-old super-hitter Roman Anthony to make up for it.
Or is it? Erik Kratz of the "Foul Territory" podcast made an interesting point this week about the Red Sox heading into 2026: Boston may be putting too much pressure on Anthony in just his second MLB season.
"They've still swung and missed on that final (offensive) piece that I think would take pressure off of Roman Anthony," Kratz said on Thursday.
Even after failing to bring back Alex Bregman, Boston has had opportunities to add a piece of the caliber described by Kratz, perhaps in the form of Bregman's current Cubs teammate, Nico Hoerner. But nothing's developed on the Hoerner front for Craig Breslow and the rest of Boston's front office, and with each day that passes, it feels less likely that the Red Sox's Opening Day lineup will look markedly different in quality than it does today.
Red Sox need MVP-level production from Roman Anthony in 2026, but that's a big ask
Not that he can't do it, but banking on Roman Anthony to be an MVP-caliber bat this early in his career is a huge ask by the Red Sox, says @ErikKratz31.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 5, 2026
"That is a lot of pressure on him." pic.twitter.com/bwUGuWhwaL
There are multiple consequences of Boston failing to bolster its offense this winter adequately. It's not just about the team's run production; it's also about the development of the franchise's brightest star.
By losing Rafael Devers and Bregman within the last calendar year and not fully replenishing the club's offensive firepower in the wake of these losses, Boston is placing a ton of weight on Anthony's shoulders to be an offensive engine that many people expect him to be during his prime years.
That's the issue — Anthony isn't in his prime, far from it. And while he may be a megastar, he likely isn't exempt from the developmental rule that applies to all prospects: Things take time.
The Red Sox front office should be hyper-aware these days about the dangers of rushing a prospect's development or overburdening a prospect with too much responsibility. Just look at Kristian Campbell's 2025 arc as an example of a franchise mismanaging young talent through over-exertion and/or crushing expectations.
Is Boston about to make a similar mistake with Anthony in 2026, by thrusting the mantle of the franchise on his shoulders a half-decade before it was meant to happen? Time will tell, but if Anthony can transcend all of this and continue to mash, perhaps he's even more special than we all thought.