Before the Red Sox put the final major stamp on their offseason with the signing of Alex Bregman, there was reason for measured optimism.
The rotation had improved significantly with a trade for Garrett Crochet and the signing of Walker Buehler. That coupled with continued expectations of growth for the youth movement and top prospects made for a sense that this team should be better than last year’s thoroughly mediocre 81-81 outcome.
Yet from the second the Sox added Bregman, a bonafide All-Star slugger, Gold Glove defender, multi-time World Series champion and proven clubhouse leader, that measured optimism graduated to full-blown hope.
Sox Spring has sprung. pic.twitter.com/FAqIXQ3FK4
— Red Sox (@RedSox) February 12, 2025
Now, these Sox look like they mean business. A team that flirted with the postseason one year ago is now firmly expected to make it. And while a true World Series run is far from a given, the roster assembled is certainly capable of catching fire at the right time and making a run in the American League.
Spring training always begins with a sentiment of hope, from Chicago White Sox camp to Los Angeles Dodgers camp. It’s a time for “what ifs” where everybody is 0-0 and on even ground — at least until Opening Day.
That excitement was already starting to bubble up when pitchers and catchers reported earlier in the week. But now? The late addition of Bregman has certainly revitalized not only Red Sox fans, but players and executives.
We’ve spent far too much time calling out this team’s deficiencies (and rightly so) in the six-plus years since they fielded the greatest team in franchise history in 2018. With those holes mostly filled (save for some bullpen deficiencies), it’s time Boston gets back to doing what it has historically done better than anyone else.
We root for the Red Sox.
Take a position
Maybe Bregman isn’t penciled into second base after all?
Despite previously saying he once viewed Bregman as a possible Gold Glove second baseman during their time together in Houston, Alex Cora is now being a bit vague on the topic of where Bregman will play this season.
“We'll talk about that later on. Right now, there's a lot of stuff going on as far as where we're going to be roster-wise, and we'll make the decision when we have to make it," Cora told MLB.com.
That… is some pretty good word salad there. Bregman is coming off offseason surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow, and maybe that factors in some. Yet the fact that they aren’t ready to commit to Bregman at second is interesting, to say the least.
Personally, I think it’s a motivating factor for all involved. Keeping Rafael Devers motivated to stay in shape as a fielder at third, keeping Vaughn Grissom and Kristian Campbell mentally engaged that there’s still a possibility to win a spot on the roster, all of that…
If everything were equal, you’d ideally have Bregman play the position he just won a Gold Glove at and move Devers to DH — which, even though it could result in a reduced desire to stay in the best condition, is still probably a net plus for limiting the wear and tear.
If this is all mind games by Cora, though, I applaud it. That’s part of what makes a good manager a good manager. Sometimes a little uncertainty is a good thing. It keeps everybody motivated to perform. That’s never a bad thing…
I could get used to this pic.twitter.com/QxneNs98fA
— Nick J (@NickJJ95) February 15, 2025
Kutter & the 6-man
On paper, the Red Sox might have too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to the starting rotation. That, on the whole, is a good thing.
In fact, they have so many potential starters that the buzz about a six-man rotation is sticking around. Craig Breslow confirmed as much in his early spring availability this week, saying “we’re definitely considering it.”
Breslow continued, “I think there are a few factors that will help determine the viability. Obviously, health is one.”
A longer-than-expected recovery for starter Kutter Crawford might factor into that equation. The 28-year-old right-hander is behind other Sox pitchers in his spring prep, according to Cora. Crawford has revealed he pitched most of last year with right knee discomfort.
With Crawford possibly sidelined for the start of the year, that leaves Crochet, Buehler, Brayan Bello and Tanner Houck as healthy candidates. Lucas Giolito is nursing his way back from a partial UCL tear and flexor strain last season, and Patrick Sandoval has been placed on the 60-day injured list as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery.
If Crawford is healthy by Opening Day, he’ll likely take the fifth spot in the rotation. But when everyone returns, it’s a possibility that Crawford is the odd man out who gets bumped to the bullpen. That’s what I would do, as I’d like to see what, if anything, the Sox can get out of Giolito. Sandoval, to me, is a flyer and nothing more.
So, for now, the six-man rotation doesn’t seem like a necessity. Given the tendency for starting pitchers to get hurt, and get hurt a lot, it may not need to be a reality much of this season. That, to me, is a good thing. Starters aren’t a fan of the premise, and for good reason. It takes away from their opportunity to rack up starts and stats. You know, a.k.a. money…
No. 2
When Xander Bogaerts left the Red Sox, the opportunity was there to do what should have been a no-brainer: retire No. 2 in honor of late, great Red Sox player-turned-color-commentator Jerry Remy.
There are few more deserving of having their number hang in right field than Remy, who along with the senselessly fired Don Orsillo served as the voice of Red Sox baseball for an entire generation — myself included.
Of course, that isn’t what happened. The Sox immediately gave back out the No. 2 jersey to one-year rental Justin Turner, who certainly played out to be deserving of wearing Remy’s number as an all-around good guy. Then last year, lowkey fan favorite Dom Smith (no knock against the guy, but can somebody explain to me why so many fans liked him so much?) wore it in his brief stint with the team.
Now, Bregman will wear No. 2. That shouldn’t come as a surprise — it’s the number he wore with the Astros and the only one he’s worn in his professional career. That makes 16 different players to wear Remy’s number since he last wore it in 1984.
He’ll wear number 2 for the Sox.
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) February 15, 2025
Jerry Remy would’ve loved this signing.
This is by no means a knock against Bregman, Smith or any of the other players to wear No. 2 since Remy. It took Remy some time to officially become “the RemDawg” and secure his place in Red Sox lore, after all. They did nothing wrong and have nothing to do with it.
It’s just another instance of the team not taking advantage of an opportunity to do something meaningful to commemorate a man who through his commentary and passion played a significant role in making the Red Sox of the early 2000s into the Red Sox.
Oh, and can we please retire Roger Clemens’ No. 21 already?