My Red Sox 2025-26 Offseason Wishlist

Matt Hylen
18 hours ago
5 min read

The future of the Boston Red Sox has not looked this bright in some time. Whether it be a budding superstar in Roman Anthony, a Cy Young-caliber ace in Garrett Crochet, or multiple key young offensive and defensive pieces to help the cause, we could see the Sox go from a fringe playoff team to World Series contenders.

It is this sort of potential that makes the urgency to improve the team all the more important as the offseason begins. The American League is still wide open; Boston has a fantastic opportunity to catapult themselves into a position as one of the bigger favorites to come out of the AL.

With that said, none of that is possible with the roster they have currently. The holes within the team are glaring, but can be fixed in the matter of a single offseason. If last season taught us anything, it is that the Red Sox are ready to compete now, but are just a few pieces away.

So, you may be asking, what are those pieces? Let's dive into it.

Trade an Outfielder

This one may sting a bit, but I think Jarren Duran needs to go.

Think about it this way: In all likelihood, if the Sox were to trade an outfielder, it could be between Duran and Wilyer Abreu. If Jarren Duran had not regressed this past season, this would be an entirely different story. However, he unfortunately is the oldest outfielder out of the big four (Duran (29), Ceddanne Rafaela (25), Abreu (26), and Roman Anthony (21)) with the lowest ceiling. Yes, he is extremely fast and has improved defensively, which has its value, but Roman Anthony is going to be a star, while Rafaela and Abreu are reigning Gold Glove winners.

I also think you can get a very decent return for Duran. He is under team control until 2028, which is extremely valuable in today's game, with what he provides offensively and on the base paths being something competitive teams could absolutely use. I would not be shocked if teams like the Dodgers, Tigers, Phillies, Guardians, or the Rangers are among the teams that are interested in adding Duran.

It would be hard to see Duran go, as he is a fan favorite and a huge clubhouse guy, but it may have to happen in order to free up opportunities for Anthony and Abreu that would be taken away if he stayed. They would get a good return for him, which could help the team, while also allowing him to be an everyday outfielder somewhere else.

A Power Bat is CRUCIAL

This may be the biggest wish on my list. The Red Sox are in desperate need of a middle-of-the-lineup power hitter who can hit both sides of the ball. With Alex Bregman opting out, there are no guarantees that he will come back. However, even if Boston is able to re-sign Bregman, the idea of getting another power bat should not waver. I think it comes down to two main names: Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso.

For Schwarber, he has played for the Sox once before, so we know what he can do in a Red Sox uniform. Yet, the crazy part is that he is so much better than he was when we traded for him. Schwarber may be 32, but he is coming off his best season to date, playing all 162 games and hitting 56 homers with 132 RBI. He does not hit for average, but does that really matter when your slugging percentage is at a whopping .563 with a .928 OPS? Schwarber would be such a valuable addition for a Red Sox team desperate for exactly what he provides.

As for Alonso, this is the more realistic option in my opinion. Alonso to the Red Sox has been a consensus prediction and perfect fit among many MLB analysts, and I could not agree more. Alonso not only brings immense power, but also a type of leadership that you cannot put a price on. He has been the heart and soul of the New York Mets for years, and he will bring it wherever he goes. Similar to Bregman, Alonso is a right-handed bat, which bodes extremely well when hitting at Fenway. I think this needs to be the first move and biggest priority the Red Sox set if Bregman goes elsewhere.

Crochet Needs a Right-Hand-Man

Credit to Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest contributors to the Red Sox's downfall last season, especially in the playoffs, was the lack of front-end pitching. Sure, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito (who is a free agent) were fine pitchers last year, but they are, at best, 3rd-5th pitchers in a championship-level rotation. With Crochet locked down long-term, the Red Sox need to prioritize getting him an elite number two.

If I were to guess how the Red Sox will go about doing that, I would say a trade would be the most likely scenario. There are some solid names out there, such as Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, and Ranger Suárez, but none of them really fit what Boston should be looking for.

In my eyes, a no-brainer option would be to call up the Minnesota Twins and resume the talks regarding a trade for Joe Ryan. Ryan was fantastic last season, producing a 3.42 ERA with 194 strikeouts in 171 innings. His fastball is among the most unhittable in baseball, with a nasty splitter that fools most of the hitters he faces. The best part is that I do not think he has hit his prime yet. Joe Ryan could be the perfect number two to Garrett Crochet and instantly propel this rotation to the elite range.

If Boston was as close to getting a deal done at the trade deadline as they say they were, I do not see this being much of a difficult task to accomplish. Boston has more than enough assets to get a deal done; it ultimately will come down to the willingness of Boston to part with either Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. My guess is Tolle would get the deal done. Giving up a young prospect who proved that he can pitch at the big league level hurts, but the blow is softened by the addition of Ryan. This would create a possible rotation of Crochet, Ryan, Bello, Early, and Cutter Crawford/free agent pickup. Not half bad.

Ultimately, the Red Sox have a chance to turn the trajectory of this franchise all the way around this offseason. The years they spent setting the foundation have paid off, meaning now is the time to get the supporting pieces that can take this team over the top. They have the money, meaning all that remains is a simple question: How bought in is the ownership group?