The Red Sox have made a major move to bolster their starting rotation.

2024 All-Star Ranger Suarez signed a five-year, $130 million contract with the Red Sox. 

Suarez pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2018 to 2025. He started out as a reliever. In 2021, he made 12 starts. In 2022, he was made a full-time starter. Although there were ups and downs at first, by 2024, he was a good starting pitcher, which led to an All-Star appearance. In 2025, he was even better with a 3.20 ERA, but didn’t notch the All-Star nod.

The Red Sox already had Garrett Crochet, who finished second in AL Cy Young award voting. However, they wanted to improve the depth around him. Earlier this offseason, they traded for Johan Oviedo from the Pirates and Sonny Gray from the Cardinals. Gray is a three-time All-Star, most recently with the Twins in 2023.

Suarez is a big loss for the Phillies. They still have a couple of star pitchers in Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez. However, the depth outside of those guys is questionable. Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker have had good seasons in the past, but it’s been years since they pitched at that level. They also have top prospect Andrew Painter. Painter will be 23 years old in the 2026 season, so it’s hard to rely on him as more than a fifth starter.

Although the Red Sox’s pitching has gotten better, the same can’t be said for their hitting. They recently let Alex Bregman walk to the Cubs, which will leave a huge hole at both ends at third base.

Meanwhile, the Phillies already achieved their biggest goal of keeping Kyle Schwarber. Now they will need to focus on finding pitching depth and extending J.T. Realmuto or finding a replacement. 

Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman has decided to opt out of his three-year, $120 million contract with Boston and enter as a free agent this offseason. The move was widely anticipated, though Boston remains a strong candidate to bring him back.

Bregman signed the three-year deal with the Red Sox last February after remaining unsigned until spring training. The contract included opt-outs after both the 2025 and 2026 seasons, giving him flexibility if he wanted to test his value again. At 31, Bregman is once more a free agent, hoping to find a long-term fit after a productive first year in Boston.

His 2025 campaign started hot, with Bregman hitting .299 and driving in 35 runs before a quad injury sidelined him for nearly seven weeks. He finished the season batting .273 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs. Even as the team fell to the Yankees in the Wild Card Series, Bregman’s impact was clear both on and off the field.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow called Bregman, “a tremendous presence” and said, “the team won’t rule out further talks with his agent, Scott Boras.” Breslow went on to highlight how Bregman’s influence extended beyond his stats, praising the veteran’s leadership and grounding presence in the clubhouse.

With Bregman now part of a strong free agent class, he’s expected to draw interest from several contenders, that include the Tigers, Blue Jays and Mariners. Whether he returns to Boston or moves on, his decision marks another key moment in what promises to be an active MLB offseason.

With Game 2 of the AL Wild Card on a knife-edge in the seventh inning, the visiting Boston Red Sox had two runners on base with momentum on their side. The team trailed twice, but after tying the game in the previous inning, the Red Sox looked poised to eliminate fierce rivals the New York Yankees.

Up stepped designated hitter Masataka Yoshida, whose hit looked to be heading into the outfield and potentially giving Boston the go-ahead run.

But second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached the ball on a dive, keeping the Yankees in the game and perhaps keeping their season alive. In the following inning, Chisholm delivered again by scoring from first base on an Austin Wells single.

The run regained the lead for the Yankees, which they held onto and won 4-3, setting up a win-or-go-home Game 3 against the Red Sox on Thursday night.

“Anything to help us win,” Chisholm said after the game. “All that was clear before I came to the field today. After I left the field yesterday, I won the next game. It is win or go home for us. It is all about winning.”

After losing Game 1, the Yankees faced elimination going into Wednesday night. The team made a quick start in the opening inning after first baseman Ben Rice recorded a two-run homer into right field. The Red Sox responded in the third inning when shortstop Trevor Story‘s single allowed center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela and outfielder Jarren Duran to tie the game.

Both teams traded single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, which set the stage for Chisholm’s game-decisive plays.

When asked about his go-ahead run, the second baseman said he always had the mentality to score despite starting from first base.

“Any ball that an outfielder moves to his left or right, I have to score, in my head,” he said. “That’s all I was thinking.”

The victory sets up a winner-takes-all showdown on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. It will be the fourth time the Yankees and Red Sox face each other in a win-or-go-home scenario. The winner faces the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.

Connelly Early made a powerful entrance in the MLB on Tuesday, striking out 11 batters over five scoreless innings in his debut with the Boston Red Sox.

The 23-year-old left-hander was promoted from the Triple-A Worcester, the minor league associated with the Red Sox, earlier that day due to pitcher Dustin May being placed on the injured list. Early arrived in Sacramento and spent his afternoon reviewing scouting reports in preparation for the fast-approaching game.

The preparation paid off as Early made one of the best pitching debuts in Red Sox history, striking out 11 batters in Tuesday’s 6-0 win against the Athletics. The performance tied with Don Aase‘s 1997 record for the most strikeouts in a Red Sox debut.

“He was really good,” manager Alex Cora told reporters. “He was prepared, too, which was eye-opening. He did his own homework, went through it with the coaching staff, and executed… He was outstanding.”

Early relied on a diverse mix of curveballs and fastballs, striking out 52% of all batters he faced. His dominance in the field continued in his strong season with the minor league.

He combined a 10-3 record and a 2.60 ERA for the 2025 minor league season. Early struck out 132 batters in just over 100 innings before Tuesday’s needed debut.

The rookie’s poise and confidence impressed his new teammates immediately.

“He let out some emotion after some big strikeouts,” right fielder Rob Refsnyder said after the game. “I can’t really think of a better way to start your career.”

His debut could not have come at a better time for the Red Sox, who face depth issues while navigating a playoff chase. With May on the sidelines until further notice, Early could earn another turn in the rotation.

The rookie left a strong first impression, giving the Red Sox stability in a moment of need and showcasing the pitcher’s capability of handling higher-level competition.

The Boston Red Sox have a record of 55-49, which is good enough for third place in the AL East and the third wild-card spot.

Boston finished the 2024 season with an 81-81 record and missed out on the postseason. The front office knew they had to make moves to compete in 2025, and Boston did just that.

The Red Sox made a trade for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet in exchange for four prospects. Boston also made big moves in free agency, signing third baseman Alex Bregman, starting pitcher Walker Buehler and closer Aroldis Chapman.

The Bregman signing caused drama with Rafael Devers because they both play the same position. Devers was asked to DH full-time as Bregman is a better defensive player.

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In May, first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Devers was asked to play first, but he declined because he was already asked to switch positions.

The Devers saga ended on June 15, when the Red Sox traded him to the San Francisco Giants for pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison. Boston also got two prospects in return.

Despite all the drama, the Red Sox are putting together a solid 2025 campaign.

The offense has been a bright spot for the Red Sox.

Boston has the second most hits, is in the top five for slugging percentage, and is in the top 10 for on-base percentage and home runs. One area where Boston struggles is striking out, ranking in the bottom three in the league.

Pitching has been up and down for the Red Sox. Boston is in the top 10 for ERA and preventing home runs, but is close to the bottom 10 for batting average allowed and walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP).

Boston will be interesting to monitor as the trade deadline approaches. Given Devers has already been traded, Boston could look to trade more of its veterans, but buying could also be an option, considering they hold the last wild-card spot.

Boston Red Sox Schedule & Tickets

• August 15: vs. Miami Marlins
• August 16: vs. Miami Marlins
• August 17: vs. Miami Marlins
• August 18: vs. Baltimore Orioles
• August 19: vs. Baltimore Orioles
• August 21: at New York Yankees
• August 22: at New York Yankees
• August 23: at New York Yankees
• August 24: at New York Yankees
• August 25: at Baltimore Orioles
• August 26: at Baltimore Orioles
• August 27: at Baltimore Orioles
• August 28: at Baltimore Orioles
• August 29: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• August 30: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• August 31: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• September 1: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 2: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 3: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 5: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 6: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 7: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 8: at Athletics
• September 9: at Athletics
• September 10: at Athletics
• September 12: vs. New York Yankees
• September 13: vs. New York Yankees
• September 14: vs. New York Yankees
• September 16: vs. Athletics
• September 17: vs. Athletics
• September 18: vs. Athletics
• September 19: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 20: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 21: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 23: at Toronto Blue Jays
• September 24: at Toronto Blue Jays
• September 25: at Toronto Blue Jays
• September 26: vs. Detroit Tigers
• September 27: vs. Detroit Tigers
• September 28: vs. Detroit Tigers

Boston Red Sox Odds

The Red Sox have great odds to make the postseason at +115. Its odds to win the American League are +1500, and its odds to win the World Series are +4000.

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When the Boston Red Sox signed Alex Bregman in free agency, Rafael Devers was adamant that he would not play first base for the Red Sox.

On his new team, the San Francisco Giants, it appears Devers doesn’t have the same reservations.

“I’m here to give my 100%. … They are the men in charge,” Devers said. “I am here to play wherever they want me to play.”

Devers played the first 73 games of the season as a DH, unwilling to field for the Red Sox after Bregman took his spot at third base. The Giants have Matt Chapman at third base, but the three-time All-Star is seemingly willing to move to first.

Devers was openly critical about the decision to have Bregman take his spot at third base, a disagreement that likely played a role in the team’s decision to trade him.

Being on a new team has changed Devers’ perspective, leaving Chapman, a five-time Golden Glove third baseman, on the hot corner.

“Like I said before, I am here to play wherever they want me to do and to give my best,” Devers reiterated.

The deal between the two teams, made on Sunday, sent Devers to the Giants in exchange for Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs III and Jose Bello.

Devers had spent the entirety of his career with the Red Sox.

The Boston Red Sox had an eventful weekend with some good and bad involved.

The Red Sox swept the rival New York Yankees, which gave the fans of the Red Sox a lot of joy, but after Sunday’s matinee game, that joy was ripped apart when it was shockingly announced that the Red Sox traded star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.

The Red Sox fans were not prepared for this weekend to involve a rollercoaster of emotions, and they criticized the franchise for being cheap.

Baseball Is Dead podcast host Jared Carrabis took to X to air his feelings out. “How the f— do you trade Rafael Devers? For A: That return and B: the moment in which you did it.”

Ringer founder Bill Simmons presented a theory on X about a possible reason for the trade.

The owner of the Red Sox, John Henry, also owns the Premier League-winning soccer team Liverpool.

Simmons hinted on X that the possible motive behind the trade was to help finance the newest transfer to Liverpool, Florian Wirtz. Liverpool reportedly paid his former club $100 million for the midfielder.

Devers is in the third season of a 10-year, $313 million contract and had been at odds with the team during spring training, after he was moved from third base to DH for the newly signed Alex Bregman.

It is not the first time the Red Sox have traded one of their star players, much to the frustration of the fan base – Mookie Betts was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season for three players who did not pan out for the Red Sox.

Betts was in the final year of his contract and would sign a 12-year, $365 million deal with the Dodgers – and he has since helped the franchise win two World Series.

“I woke up still mad [about] the Devers trade,” Barstool founder Dave Portnoy wrote on X. “If you are trying to win, you just don’t trade your best hitter for nothing in the middle of the season. John Henry and [minority owner] LeBron [James] have turned the Red Sox into the Oakland A’s with fancy hubcaps.”

It’s the second time the Boston Red Sox have asked three-time All-Star Rafael Devers to switch positions in the past year. And Devers has every reason to be hesitant.

Following a big swing this past offseason to sign Gold Glove-winning third baseman Alex Bregman away from the Houston Astros, the Red Sox asked Devers to vacate his traditional spot at third base. He agreed to become a designated hitter. Then, under two months into the 2025 season, first baseman Triston Casas ruptured a patellar tendon. The Sox once again asked Devers to step up – but this time, they wanted him to play a position he had never played: first base.

The move makes sense mechanically. With Devers in place at first, the Red Sox would be free to select designated hitters from the rest of their offensive talent, likely bringing in Masataka Yoshida. But Devers rejected the idea, and can you blame him?

After getting off to a slow start, Devers is batting .285, with 31 RBI and a .901 OPS, all solid numbers. He’s been vital to Boston’s offensive game, and a position swap has the potential to endanger that offense and risk injury. First base isn’t a position that can be learned in a couple hours. It takes time and engagement – difficult, during the season – and carries substantial risk.

Devers expressed his frustration last week in a chat with Christopher Smith of MassLive.

“I just feel like it’s not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position,” he said. “It was the GM [Craig Breslow] that I spoke with. I’m not sure what he has with me. He played ball, and I would like to think he knows that changing positions like that isn’t easy.”

The tension got so dire that Red Sox owner John Henry flew to Kansas City to personally speak to Devers. Breslow called the discussion “an honest conversation about what we value as an organization and what we believe is important to the Boston Red Sox.”

Devers is continuing to hold strong in his refusal, and in the meantime, the story has ballooned. While he’s in just the second year of his 10-year, $315 million contract, analysts have speculated that Devers may be traded for his response, and plenty of fans have called him out for being selfish or disloyal to the team.

The more likely option is for Devers to acquiesce and move to first base. And then what?

Devers publicly criticized Boston’s management for not upgrading the roster last offseason. They did the same this offseason, ignoring their lack of first-base depth, and it’s costing them now. If Devers moves and he’s fine, that’s great. But if he gives in, becomes the ardent ‘team player,’ and plays bad defense at first base, what can the Red Sox do?

That’s the risk both sides are considering: that the switch won’t happen or that it won’t work out. And the Red Sox have already had to confront the risk of alienating their star player. It’s become a reality.

The Boston Red Sox have lost their third game in a row, losing 6-5 to the Detroit Tigers in a walk-off fashion.

After being swept, Boston is now on the wrong side of .500 for the first time in a month and is four games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East.

“Obviously, we got swept here, it sucks, but I’m not even thinking about that. I thought the last few days we competed the right way,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.

In addition to a 5-8 record in May, the Red Sox have endured several injuries. Tristan Casas, Tanner Houck and a number of other players have gone down for the Red Sox.

One of the big questions surrounding the Red Sox is when the debut of prospect Roman Anthony will occur. Anthony is batting 306/.428/.478 with five home runs in 37 Triple-A games.

While there is an obvious hole at first base, the Red Sox and Cora have been adamant about keeping Anthony in the outfield.

The Red Sox have Thursday off, but play at home on Friday in a series against the Atlanta Braves. After a slow start to the season, the Braves sit just one game below .500.

The Slumping Sox are looking to change their fortunes.

During the Red Sox’s 13-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians, outfielder Jarren Duran revealed that a fan said “something inappropriate” to him, leading to the fan being thrown out of the game.

Durran has found plenty of support after revealing in a Netflix documentary that he attempted suicide three years ago. The fans’ comment was likely targeting Duran’s mental health.

Red Sox coaches and teammates kept Duran away from the area where the fan was as security personnel gathered to handle the situation. The fan, despite running, was caught by security and escorted out of the game.

“I have a good support staff around me,” Duran said. “Teammates, coaches. There were fans supporting me, so that was awesome.”

Boston manager Alex Cora was proud of Duran’s restraint. Last season, Duran was suspended for two games after responding to a heckling fan by using an anti-gay slur.

“We made a mistake last year, and we learned from it,” Cora said.

Despite the incident with the fan, Duran played both a great game and series. He finished on Sunday with four hits in six at-bats. He has seven hits over the past two games.

Duran also had Boston’s first straight home plate steal in 16 years.

“I’m trying to stay with my process, and it just happened to work good for me this series,” Duran said.

It’s always been part of sports fandom to try and get as close as possible. Nowadays, with the release of TV shows and documentaries, from the NFL’s Quarterback to the NHL’s Quest for the Stanley Cup, fans can get more personal with current players than ever before. But in those documentaries also comes an acknowledgement of fan impact on the players – a topic especially poignant in The Clubhouse: A year with the Red Sox, which was released this week.

The fourth episode of the documentary, which follows a turbulent 2024 season for the Boston Red Sox, features a blunt conversation with star outfielder Jarren Duran about his mental health. The episode, titled, “Still Alive,” after the message Duran keeps on his right wrist during games.

Duran, who was drafted by the Red Sox in 2018, was named MVP of the 2024 All-Star Game, finishing up the season with a .285 batting average, 24 home runs and 75 RBIs. He came eighth in American League MVP voting. But his professional career didn’t begin with immediate success.

Duran made his MLB debut in the 2021 season and spent 33 and 58 games in the major leagues in 2021 and 2022, respectively. He struggled at the plate, batting .215 and .221, and infamously appeared to give up on a play that would become an inside-the-park grand slam for Toronto Blue Jay Raimel Tapia. The Red Sox would go on to lose the game 28-5. Two weeks later, Duran made another defensive blunder and got into a shouting match with a fan.

“I couldn’t deal with telling myself how much I sucked every day,” Duran said, of the time. “I was already hearing it from fans. And what they said to me, [it’s not like] I haven’t told myself 10 times worse in the mirror. That was a really tough time for me. I didn’t even want to be here anymore.”

He went on to describe a suicide attempt that likely occurred during that 2022 season – I pulled the trigger and the gun clicked, but nothing happened,” Duran said. “So, to this day, I think God just didn’t let me take my own life because I seriously don’t know why it didn’t go off.”

That miracle drove Duran to reflect on his life and take steps to improve his outlook, including journaling, and, yes, writing affirmations on athletic tape around his wrists. “My inner demons don’t let me love myself or want to be proud of myself, that’s something I’m still working on,” he said.

As Duran has gotten his mind in the right place, his game has followed. But, as some will point out, that doesn’t always extend to his interactions with fans – even today. Duran may have hit 48 doubles and 14 triples last year, but his peak of media coverage was an incident in August where he was suspended two games for calling a heckler a homophobic slur.

“I feel like people see us as zoo animals sometimes, in this big ole cage, throw popcorn at you, get a picture with you, get your attention, scream your name,” Duran said.

“Sometimes some fans take it too seriously,” he added. “I feel like they cross the line when they talk about my mental health and make fun of me for that, calling me weak. It triggers me when you start talking about my mental health. Part of it is that loneliness, some people deal with it better than others.”

Duran’s story has been met with an outpouring of support.

“By opening up, he’s showing others who may be struggling that they’re not alone and that asking for help isn’t just OK, it’s essential,” said team president Sam Kennedy. “Every member of this organization continues to stand with him. He has our deepest admiration, he’s always had our full support, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team.”

Professional sports are a high-pressure environment, and passionate fans only amp up that mental pressure. Duran isn’t the first player to suffer as a result of those expectations, and he won’t be the last.

With Rafael Devers publicly stating that he does not intend to move from third base in 2025, newly signed Boston Red Sox star Alex Bregman is taking a more malleable approach. The longtime Astros third baseman is willing to move to another position, likely second, in order to help his new team.

“I think everybody here believes in their abilities,” Bregman told MLB.com this week. “I think all of us believe that if we all put together a good effort this season, we have a really good chance of being a winning baseball team. For me, I can only talk for myself, I’ll play wherever it helps the team win.”

Signing Bregman to a short-term deal is a low-risk value acquisition for Boston, but the team did not pick him up to address a need. Devers is one of the top sluggers in baseball and has played third for the Red Sox since 2017. 

On paper, Bregman is generally considered a better defender than Devers, which technically makes him more qualified to keep his position. On the other hand, it also makes him more likely to successfully transition to second base. In any case, Devers isn’t budging for now and Bregman is willing to play nice on his new team, and that’s the determining factor. The Red Sox’s infield is crowded, and perhaps tense, but it could also be one of the best in the American League.

Despite leaving the Astros, Bregman could still have a few years of elite production left. At age 30, he is coming off a season in which he hit .260 with 26 home runs, playing an integral role in the Astros’ turbulent run to the postseason. Houston’s dynasty has been on fumes as of late, but even after the season ended in the Wild Card, many players seemed intent on keeping Bregman for the next step. The two sides could not agree on terms, however, forcing the veteran to consider other offers.

The Red Sox have been largely disappointing since winning the World Series in 2018, but acquiring Bregman is a strong sign that the team is looking to compete in 2025. Devers may not be happy with the perceived competition, but Bregman can help this team thrive in a crowded A.L. East division.

The Boston Red Sox signed third baseman Alex Bregman in a three-year, $120 million deal Wednesday. With slugger Rafael Devers already at third for Boston, Bregman will likely move to second base.

Debuting in 2016, Bregman has won two World Series with the Houston Astros, where he has spent his entire career. When the off-season kicked off in November, many speculated that Houston would work hard to re-sign Bregman. Longtime teammate Jose Altuve was publicly adamant about the idea, propagating the theory. 

“We’re not going to be the same organization without him,” Altuve said at the end of the 2024 season. “In my mind, there’s not a chance this is the last one.”

As the months wore on, however, it became more and more apparent that Bregman and his former team landed in different places in negotiations. The two-time All-Star became the subject of increased speculation, with other teams reportedly entering the fray. Boston won out this week.

Based on the way that the Red Sox’s roster is developing, signing Bregman was clearly a matter of capitalizing on value. It wasn’t to fill a roster need, as Devers seems locked in at third while prospect Kristian Campbell is currently ranked the best second baseman in the minor leagues. Bregman’s contract includes deferred payments, which will soften the impact of what would otherwise be a $40 million annual salary.

Last year, the Red Sox missed the playoffs with an 81-81 record. Since winning the World Series in 2018, they have only earned one postseason berth. Sending away players like Mookie Betts and Chris Sale proved to be brutal errors and the team has wallowed in the AL East trying to regather momentum. At age 30, Bregman remains a strong hitter and capable infielder, and could provide a short-term boost to Boston’s lineup over the next few seasons.

Two-time All-Star right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler has agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Buehler, 30, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2015 MLB Draft and has played for them since 2017. He has struggled in recent seasons following his second Tommy John surgery – but has continued to uphold his big-game reputation.

Despite allowing a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts in the 2024 season, with a career-low 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings, Buehler returned to vintage form in the playoffs. He played an instrumental part in the NLCS and recorded the save that carried the Dodgers to their Game 5 World Series win. Over his ten playoff innings, he gave up just five hits and struck out 13.

The Red Sox, who scored the ninth-most runs in MLB last season, hope Buehler can follow up his playoff success with a return to pre-2022 form. He joins a still-forming lineup that includes Garrett Crochet, who the team acquired from the White Sox this offseason, and Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello.

Buehler had his first Tommy John surgery in 2015 before he went on a run as one of baseball’s top starting pitchers from 2018 to 2021. After sitting out the entirety of the 2023 season while recovering from his second, he’s looking to recreate that magic.

Buehler’s willingness to sign a one-year deal speaks volumes. If he performs up to his expectations, pitching should become a strength for Boston as they look to return to the playoffs.

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly firmly in the running for 26-year-old free agent Juan Soto, leaning heavily on their history and the city of Boston to lure the slugger away from larger markets. If the pitch gains traction, it would be a massive blow to the Yankees, who would have to play against him as a rival after failing to re-sign him. 

The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that the Red Sox have elected to lead their pitch with a focus on the team’s historical success, specifically with Dominican-born players. Soto would have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Red Sox legends like Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz. 

As an organization, Boston has plenty to boast about in recent years. It won’t take much to convince Soto that the team is a serious contender looking to build a new core around him. Boston is also a large city, one that would allowed Soto to receive nationwide attention for the rest of his career.

For all the trophies and history going into Boston’s pitch for the generational star, however, there will always be an inescapable bottom line to negotiations. Represented by agent Scott Boras and coming off a spectacular season with the Yankees, Soto is almost certain to demand the second-largest contract in the history of baseball, right behind the record-breaking $700 million contract Shohei Ohtani signed last season.

Though the Red Sox have been one of the league’s heaviest spenders in the past, the team has taken a step back in recent years. Boston’s front office infamously declined to extend Mookie Betts, allowing the All-Star outfielder to sign with the Dodgers in 2020. It will be a minor surprise if that same team is the one who goes on to sign Soto to a deal that could exceed $600 million.

While Boston does its best to make Soto feel at home, suitors remain lined up around the block. The Yankees are still looking to re-sign their right fielder, while the Mets and Dodgers both figure as interested buyers that will spare no expense. It will almost certainly take several rounds of negotiations before the picture begins to clear.

Danny Jansen made baseball history in the quickest way possible.

The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays made up a rainout game from earlier in the season. At the time of the delay, Jansen was up to bat as a member of the Blue Jays. But, when the game restarted a few months later, Jansen wore a different uniform. The Red Sox traded for the backstop at the trade deadline, and he caught the rest of the contest against his former team. Daulton Varsho pinch hit in place of his former teammate, announced by the Red Sox PA announcer. Red Sox manager Alex Cora added his opinion of the history after the game.

“It was a very cool moment, just to be part of it. I don’t know if it’s going to happen again. It has to be kind of like the perfect storm for that to happen — starting with the storm. And I’m glad that everybody enjoyed it.”

That was about the only cool moment for the Red Sox, as the team recorded just four hits and lost 4-1. A few hours later, Boston dropped their fifth straight and committed four errors as the Blue Jays won 7-3. The Red Sox are now 67-64 and are quickly falling out of playoff contention. They are a disastrous 14-23 since the All-Star Break and 29-38 at home after being in the third wild card spot during the mid-summer classic.

While the Blue Jays decided to sell at the MLB trade deadline, they are beginning to play their best baseball thanks to the resurgent play of outfielder George Springer. The Connecticut native hit a long bomb in each game during the doubleheader, and his team is 7-3 in their last ten and riding a five-game win streak. Springer spoke to the media postgame and did not sound like a player ready to quit.

“I’m just happy to help us there. It was a big situation. … Our team is still in there fighting. We’ve got guys (in the clubhouse) fighting.”

The Blue Jays are last in the AL East, with a 65-68 record.

Current Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández turned down an extension from the Red Sox last winter to take his talents to sunny Los Angeles. Hernández signed with the Dodgers in January for one year, worth $23.7 million.

“Obviously, I was not going to spend my free agency trying to get a bad deal,” the outfielder remarked on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast. “I love the Red Sox. It was one of my favorite teams but at the end of the day, I have to decide what is best for me, my career and my family.”

Hernández noted that the Red Sox were willing to bump the offer up to three years after maneuvering on their end.

The Dominican Republic native began his professional career with the Astros in 2016 before being traded to Toronto at the 2017 trade deadline. Hernández became an All-Star in 2021, hitting .296 while racking up 163 hits, 32 home runs and 116 RBIs. The outfielder started to regress while playing for the Mariners last season as he struck out 211 times, third most in the MLB. Kyle Schwarber finished with 215 strikeouts, the most in the majors in 2023.

Hernández’s decision to put on Dodger blue proved to be a good one as he’s playing alongside Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts – the 2021 All-Star is currently hitting .261 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs, in addition to taking a spot in the outfield as Betts was moved to second base. The Dodgers also brought in Tyler Glasnow to bolster the squad. Hernández became the first Dodgers player to win the Home Run Derby after outlasting Bobby Witt Jr. 14-13 in the final round.

The ex-Red Sox didn’t want to miss the action in LA and wanted to be a part of a talented group of players. “I just want to go to a team that’s looking for everybody who wants to win and not afraid to spend to go after good players so they can make their team better,” Hernández said. “I don’t care about anything else. I want to win.”

When the Red Sox decided to build around Rafael Devers, they expected this.

After years of trading away young talent, cycling through aging veterans, and revamping the farm system, the Red Sox front office decided to pay one man: Devers. Entering the first season of a 10-year $313,350,000 deal, Boston needed its young slugger to carry the lineup.

Six home runs in six games should do the trick.

The 3B broke a franchise record Monday as he went opposite field for a 382-foot two-run bomb in the fourth inning en route to a 5-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, hitting six home runs in six consecutive games. Devers started his streak last Thursday against the same team he broke it against before homering three straight times over the weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dominican infielder did not break this record with fluky hits or windy days; four of his six long balls traveled over 400 feet as the ball looked like a grapefruit.

Devers finds himself in this position partly from his new approach to the plate. He struggled to lay off high fastballs when he first broke into the league and swung at too many pitches. However, he matured his at-bats, is second on the team in walks with 21 on the year, and leads the team in on-base percentage amongst the starters.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, the home runs were the only thing going right. The Red Sox dropped two of three against the Rays last week before losing the first two games of their series against the Cardinals and falling below .500 for the first time since the season’s first week. The Red Sox won their last two games and sit at 25-24, a half-game back of the third wild card spot with over a quarter of the season played.

Devers’ home run total doubled during his scorching run at the plate, as he smashed ten long bombs on the year so far, one behind Tyler O’Neil on the roster along with 23 RBIs.

Kenley Jansen, a relieving pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, recently stated that he is upset with the poor quality of baseballs in the MLB this season.

After a 5-4 win over Los Angeles Angeles, the 14-year veteran pitcher commented on the slickness of the baseballs.

“I got to get better, but also if you’re playing in the cold weather, windy, and you get pearls balls out there that’s not rubbed well, I don’t know where the ball’s going,” Jansen said.

The 36-year-old came into the game with a two-run lead, instantly hit a batter, and then gave up a single and a walk before securing back-to-back strikeouts on Luis Rengifo and Mike Trout to clinch his fourth save in four chances this season.

Jansen even noted that the bullpen balls were better rubbed than the game balls.

“I don’t hit guys, I don’t walk people this much. And I start to get frustrated,” Jansen said. “Any balls that came, I just throw it back till when I find a good ball. And it’s just brutal.”

“It’s embarrassing. It’s been a while I’ve been playing in this league and, from the beginning of my career until now, it’s getting worse,” he said.

“It’s been an issue the whole year,” the former Los Angeles Dodger noted. “I’ve been talking to a lot of my teammates, and they feel the same way. First pitch, get out of my hand, I don’t know where it’s going. Second pitch, the same thing. Then, I tried to throw a ball down the middle, just keep going down. It’s tough trying to make an adjustment and also you have the clock ticking.”

Jansen said he got lucky when he faced Trout that he threw a few balls out “and got some that are rubbed-up balls.”

Since Jansen’s comments about poor baseball quality, another lackluster sign of equipment quality has come up in the news. Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith was recently seen with a ripped-up uniform after a traditional slide into second base in a game against the New York Mets.

With about 20 games done in the MLB this season, the media will continue to keep an eye on the quality of baseballs, uniforms and other equipment used on a daily basis in America’s game.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill was injured and required stitches after colliding with teammate Rafael Devers in the top of the seventh inning of a Monday game against the Cleveland Guardians. Both attempted to field a fly ball.

Both tracked the ball as it made its way to shallow left field, with Devers making the catch but not shortly after colliding with O’Neill. Both went to the ground, Devers laying motionless for a few moments and O’Neill holding his head showing the bleeding. Devers stayed on the field for the remainder of the game, but O’Neill was taken out and eventually given eight stitches above his left eye. He also went through concussion protocols and is expected to be re-evaluated next week.

“He has a big gash here,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said while pointing at his forehead, talking about O’Neill. “He got eight stitches. He’s going through the concussion protocol; hopefully, everything’s fine.”

Before the injury, O’Neill went one for two with a walk. But as a whole, he has been one of the most productive hitters for the Red Sox this season with averages of .301/.448/.761 along with hitting seven home runs in only 15 games played. In the majors since 2018, O’Neill’s 2024 marks have been the highest of his career, and the injury sidelines him after having four hits in the past five games. 

The Red Sox lost the Monday game to the Guardians 6-0 and fell again to them 10-7 on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Boston is even at 9-9 and last in the AL East. They’ve lost seven of their last 10 games, and with O’Neill now out for at least the next week, their immediate future also doesn’t look great.

Boston has two more games against the 12-5 first-place Guardians before traveling to Pittsburgh to play the 11-7 Pirates. That will be followed by another series against Cleveland, who they have yet to beat this year. Boston’s next 11 games are all against teams with a record above .500, and without O’Neill, they will be looking in every corner of the dugout to find some hits and offensive output.

Though his injury required stitches, all signs point to O’Neill passing the concussion protocol and rejoining the team sometime next week. After spending his first six in St. Louis, this is his first season with the Red Sox, and he is set to be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season.