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2025 Boston Red Sox Season Preview: Is This the Year the Turnaround Begins?

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By
Colin Lynch
Author photo
Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published28 Feb 2025

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2025 Boston Red Sox Season Preview: Is This the Year the Turnaround Begins?

For a franchise built on high expectations and championship aspirations, 81-81 is not enough. The Boston Red Sox avoided a third consecutive losing season in 2024, but in a division as competitive as the AL East, mediocrity might as well be a losing record.

It has now been six straight seasons since the Red Sox won the division—a stark reminder of how much the competitive landscape has shifted since their 2018 World Series title. With only one postseason appearance in that span, Boston’s front office made it clear this offseason: change was necessary.

A new approach led by Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow and aggressive offseason moves have infused hope and urgency into this year’s team. But the question remains: Is this the roster that will return the Red Sox to October baseball?

Revamping the Roster: The Big Moves

The Red Sox made their two biggest offseason splashes with:

  1. Signing Alex Bregman (3 years, $120M) – One of the most consistent bats in the league, Bregman brings postseason experience, power, and plate discipline to a lineup that struggled with strikeouts.
  2. Acquiring Garrett Crochet via trade with the White Sox – The young left-hander emerged as a top-tier starter in 2024, finishing with a 3.58 ERA and 2.69 FIP in 146 innings.

They also took a chance on Walker Buehler, hoping the former Cy Young contender can return to form after Tommy John surgery. But for all the additions, the biggest storyline remains unresolved—what to do with Rafael Devers.

The Devers-Bregman Dilemma

The acquisition of Bregman raised an immediate issue: who plays third base?

Devers, a cornerstone player on a 10-year, $313.5M contract, has made it clear he does not want to move off third base. However, his defensive struggles are well-documented. Bregman, a superior defender, would be the logical choice at third while shifting Devers to designated hitter.

For now, Boston appears willing to let things play out, but tensions in the clubhouse could create an ongoing distraction if this situation lingers into the season.

Boston Red Sox Preview: Offense

Despite finishing eighth in wOBA (.322) and 11th in wRC+ (104), the 2024 Red Sox lineup had issues with consistency.

  • Fenway Park was supposed to boost offense, but it didn’t. The Red Sox actually scored more runs on the road than at home, something that hadn’t happened since 2002.
  • Strikeouts were a major issue. Boston’s 26% strikeout rate at home was second-worst in baseball.
  • Plate discipline needs to improve. The Red Sox ranked 16th in walk rate, meaning their high-strikeout approach wasn’t offset by enough free passes.

Who Needs to Step Up?

  1. Masataka Yoshida – After a hot July and August, he cooled off significantly. Boston needs more consistency from its high-contact hitter. People are sleeping on Yoshi and I think he’s due for an excellent 2025, if he’s not traded to make room for the younger guys coming up.
  2. Triston Casas – Limited to 63 games due to injury but flashed elite potential with a 119 wRC+. A full season of Casas could be a game-changer.
  3. Jarren Duran – His breakout 2024 campaign (6.7 fWAR, 129 wRC+) needs to be replicated. And he will do that.
  4. Bregman’s impact – His elite bat-to-ball skills and ability to work counts should help stabilize the lineup.

The wild card? Boston’s top prospects. Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kristian Campbell—all top-100 prospects—could force their way onto the roster by midseason. If they hit the ground running, this lineup gets even more dangerous.

2025 Projected Boston Red Sox Lineup

1. Jarren Duran, LF
2. Rafael Devers, 3B
3. Alex Bregman, 2B
4. Triston Casas, 1B
5. Trevor Story, SS
6. Masataka Yoshida, DH
7. Connor Wong, C
8. Wilyer Abreu, RF
9. Ceddanne Rafaela, CF

Boston Red Sox Preview: Pitching

Pitching has been Boston’s Achilles’ heel for years. In 2024, the Red Sox had one of the worst second-half collapses in baseball:

  • First-half ERA: 3.64 (5th in MLB)
  • Second-half ERA: 4.65 (bottom five in MLB)

The injuries piled up, and pitchers wore down. The additions of Crochet and Buehler aim to change that.

Projected Rotation:

  1. Garrett Crochet – Boston’s biggest X-factor. Can he maintain his dominance over a full season?
  2. Tanner Houck – A brilliant first half (2.54 ERA, 112 K in 117 IP) fell apart post-All-Star break. He needs sustained success.
  3. Brayan Bello – The opposite of Houck—his strong finish (4.19 FIP) suggests he could take a step forward.
  4. Walker Buehler – Massive upside if healthy, but how much can he give the team?
  5. Lucas Giolito – Coming off a missed season. Another gamble, but if he rebounds, it’s a steal.

The bullpen remains a concern. Boston had the worst bullpen ERA (5.45) in MLB last season, and while they added Liam Hendriks and Aroldis Chapman, there’s little margin for error.

2025 Boston Red Sox Projected Rotation

1. Garrett Crochet, LHP
2. Tanner Houck, RHP
3. Walker Buehler, RHP
4. Lucas Giolito, RHP
5. Brayan Bello, RH

Final Outlook: Can Boston Contend?

This Red Sox roster is undeniably talented, but the season will hinge on:

– How well Bregman fits in and if the Devers situation resolves itself.
– If Crochet can anchor the rotation and Buehler regains his form.
– If young stars like Casas, Duran, and Anthony can take the next step.

In an AL East that features a stacked Yankees team, a loaded Orioles squad, and a dangerous Blue Jays lineup, the Red Sox have little room for error. They have the pieces to contend, but if the pitching falters again, it could be another frustrating finish in Boston. But I think they can compete for the AL East and could be a 95+ win team.

This team has promise. Now, they need to prove it.