If I was asked which MLB I had the most fun watching during the 2025 season, most people would think I would say my New York Mets, but that is far from the truth.
The Boston Red Sox were my favorite team to watch by far.
In 2024, Boston finished with a record of 81-81, the mediocre mark. Boston fans were upset because they are used to making the playoffs, but from a spectator standpoint, I saw it as a step in the right direction.
So did Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
Ever since they traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, it seems that Boston is afraid to spend big money on the Free Agent market. Their most notable signing in recent history was when they signed Japanese star Masataka Yoshida to a 5 year 90 million dollar deal. That’s not a lot of money from a baseball standpoint.
If the Red Sox wanted any chance of returning to the playoffs once again, they would need to spend more money in the offseason, and Craig Breslow realized that.
The first notable move by the Red Sox during the 2024 offseason was the trade that sent star pitcher Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox in exchange for top prospects Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman Gonzalez. A heavy package for a pitcher who had only had one great season up to that point. In April of 2025 the Red Sox extended him for 6 years $170 million dollars before even playing a single game. Is it risky? Yes. But can it pay off in the long run? Also yes.
The two other notable moves made by Boston were the signing of future Hall of Fame reliever Aroldis Chapman to a 1 year $13.3 million dollar deal, as well as the signing of star 3rd baseman Alex Bregman to a 3 year $120 million dollar contract.
There were a couple of other moves that helped bolster the lineup and rotation, but the signings of Bregman and Chapman as well as the trade and extension for Crochet helped make this team the powerhouse they were in 2025.
Boston finished 89-73 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Although they got eliminated by the New York Yankees in the second round, this team showed major improvements from the 2024 season.
Crochet was a top 3 starting pitcher in the league this year, amassing a 6.3 WAR(the amount of wins Crochet gave to the team) as well as 255 strikeouts which led the American League. He is a possible candidate for the Cy Young Award this year.
While Bregman was hurt for the majority of the year, when he played he was unstoppable. In 114 games he batted .273 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI, an above average statline coming from a player who had a down year in 2024 with Houston.
Lastly, Aroldis Chapman, who at age 38 had the best season for a reliever I have seen in years. Amassing a 3.5 WAR with a 1.17 ERA and 32 saves. Basically solidifying himself as the AL Reliever of the Year and possibly earned himself a top 5 vote in AL Cy Young Award voting.
The Red Sox took a step in the right direction this year with the help of their rookies, Bregman, Crochet, and Chapman. I am excited to see what moves they make this offseason to solidify themselves as one of the greatest teams in the league.
