Seems way too soon to start listing what I would want in a 2026 Red Sox roster. The press conference today didn’t really do much in terms of laying out where the Red Sox are going to focus. The fact of the matter is that between Story, Giolito, and Bregman, the Red Sox might be freeing up A LOT of money. This is on top of the “savings” they have from the Devers contract. I will be speaking more in depth about what I would want the team to do with that money soon. For now, I broke down some of the talking points from the press conference today.
Check it out below.
Season Overview
2025 Progress: Team president Sam Kennedy lauded the 2025 season as “a great step forward” for the franchise, noting that a busy offseason (which included adding players like Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman) translated into more wins and a return to the postseason. Boston clinched their first postseason birth since 2021, but was knocked out in the Wild Card round by the Yankees.
Short of Ultimate Goal: Despite the progress, the Red Sox openly acknowledged disappointment in not advancing further. “We’re sitting here in the first week of October, which means we didn’t accomplish what we set out to accomplish,” Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow admitted, alluding to the team’s early playoff exit. To me, this season was still a success as the team making the playoffs in the first place was not necessarily a guarantee.
“Window of Contention”: Breslow emphasized that the Red Sox believe they are entering a competitive window. “We’ve talked a lot about how this window of contention is upon us,” he said, underscoring the club’s mindset that it can contend for championships in the near term. He also credited ownership’s support, noting that “when there is a chance to build a winner… resources aren’t a problem”. Let’s see if that holds true this offseason, where there are plenty of top free agents that the team can go after.
Leadership Stability and Urgency: Kennedy expressed confidence in the current leadership trio of himself, Breslow, and manager Alex Cora, praising Breslow and Cora for acting “with urgency, certainty, and aggression” throughout 2025. That aggressive approach will continue into 2026, Kennedy assured, indicating the organization will maintain its forward momentum under the same leadership. (Cora’s presence at the press conference and Kennedy’s comments signaled that Cora is expected to remain as manager, with no changes announced to the managerial or coaching staff.) It seems like the plans of hiring a GM are now on the back burner.
Offseason Plans & Roster Strategy
Improvement in All Areas: The front office made it clear that roster upgrades are on the agenda. In their 40-minute Q&A session, club decision-makers admitted the team needs to get better in “pitching, hitting, and fielding” (So… everything). Breslow said “everything has to be on the table” to improve the team for 2026, indicating a willingness to explore all avenues (trades, free agency, player development) to strengthen the roster. When pressed about defense, Cora pushed back, saying they were one of the better defensive teams in the league. I will add that they were much improved from 2024, but far from one of the best in baseball.
Pitching a Top Priority: Upgrading the starting rotation emerged as a central theme. Breslow stressed the desire to acquire another frontline starter to pair with young ace Garrett Crochet. “Every team gets better if you can bring in a starter…who can pitch at Garrett Crochet’s level,” he noted, acknowledging the club could use an additional workhorse arm. Breslow vowed to be “as aggressive as we can” in pursuing top-tier pitching talent this offseason.
Trade Candidates (Outfield Depth): The Red Sox hinted at possible trades from positions of depth. Notably, the team carried four young outfielders – Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, and Wilyer Abreu – on the roster through the season and even past the trade deadline. Breslow acknowledged that “that may change by spring training,” implying the club could deal one of these outfielders to address other needs. They felt like the four-outfielder model worked for 2025, but might not go forward.
Flexible on Roles and Lineup: When discussing the 2026 lineup, Breslow was noncommittal about locking in players to specific roles. He avoided naming any guaranteed starters at spots like designated hitter or first base, indicating it “doesn’t make a ton of sense on Oct. 6 to say someone is or isn’t our first baseman” going forward. This means incumbents such as Triston Casas at 1B or Masataka Yoshida as primary DH are not assured their roles. This is as smart as in previous years, Boston was locking in players like Casas as cornerstone pieces. I think they, and most fans, now realize that Casas and Yoshida are more platoon-like players than everyday starters.
Key Contract/Roster Decisions
Alex Bregman’s Opt-Out: A major offseason question is the future of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, who holds an opt-out clause in his contract. Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million deal last winter that allows him to become a free agent after 2025 (and again after 2026). Breslow declined to divulge whether the Red Sox have begun extension talks with Bregman’s agent (Scott Boras), saying he’d prefer those discussions remain internal. However, Breslow lavished praise on Bregman’s impact, calling him “a great player, a proven winner” and highlighting how every conversation with Bregman taught him something and “rubbed off on his teammates.” I think the opt-out of the current contract is inevitable. Seems like a no-brainer for Bregman to do it, but I don’t think the Red Sox should feel any major pressure to sign him. He was mediocre after his injury and will be 32 years old next season. That money could be spent on younger players (Bichette or Tucker).
Trevor Story’s Player Option: Shortstop Trevor Story also faces a contract decision. Story’s six-year, $140 million deal (signed in 2022) includes a player opt-out after 2025, which could make him a free agent. If Story chooses to opt out, the Red Sox hold a club option to void that opt-out by adding an extra year (bringing the contract to seven years, $160 million). Essentially, the team can retain Story through 2027 if they exercise that clause. Story was mum on the topic when asked after Game 3 last week. Frankly, it is more of a gamble for Story to opt out because the Red Sox might see an opportunity to walk away from Story’s contract. While he put up great counting numbers, all analytics point to him regressing. His defense was also WELL below average in 2025. For me, Story opting out would mean the end of his tenure in Boston.
Lucas Giolito’s Mutual Option: On the pitching side, veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito has a mutual option with the Red Sox for the 2026 season. Giolito went 10–4 with a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts in 2025, providing a solid presence in the rotation when healthy. However, he was notably left off the postseason roster after experiencing late-season elbow discomfort. The 31-year-old and the club will have to mutually agree whether to continue the partnership; if either side declines the option, Giolito would become a free agent. I think the Red Sox walk away and save that $19 million. Giolito having another elbow issue is a huge red flag, and that money could go towards free agents.
Injury News and Updates
Carlos Narváez – Knee Surgery: The Red Sox revealed that rookie catcher Carlos Narváez will undergo a minor knee procedure in the coming days. Breslow said Narváez is set for a meniscus “clean-up” surgery on his knee sometime this week. The knee issue had flared up multiple times during the season – Narváez even missed a few games in early August with what was then an undisclosed knee injury, though he was never placed on the IL for it. Impressively, the 26-year-old Narváez played through the discomfort for much of 2025 and still delivered a breakout rookie campaign (showing promise both offensively and defensively). The team expects him to make a full recovery; the procedure is relatively routine, and Narváez is expected to be ready by spring training 2026.
Other Injury Notes (Youth Movement): In discussing the season, the club also noted that two of its top prospects, outfielder Roman Anthony and infielder Marcelo Mayer, had their seasons cut short by injuries. Both rookies debuted in 2025 and showed flashes of potential before getting hurt, and their absences late in the year were felt. Both are expected to be fully healthy come Spring Training.
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