Red Sox SP Acquisitions Fail Key Test

There's been a lot of talk this off-season about how the Red Sox have bolstered their starting rotation—and, to a degree, that's true. But if we look at a key metric of starting pitchers (the differential of hits allowed in innings pitched), the new Boston starters are hardly in the "elite" category.

For perspective, let's take a look at this metric for some true elite starters (subtracting hits allowed from innings pitched): 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (+60); Tarik Skubal (+54); Paul Skenes (+51); Garrett Crochet (+40)

Now, let's look at the new Sox starters:

Sonny Gray (-35); Ranger Suarez (+3); Johan Oviedo (+12). 

Obviously none of them are even to close to the elite level. One of the tasks of the off-season was—supposedly—to get a legitimate Number 2 starter to slot in behind Crochet. But, interestingly, using this metric, Brayan Bello (+19) outshines all the new guys. And, it remains to be seen whether Bello has achieved true Number 2 status.

The bottom line is that—beyond Crochet—the Red Sox still do not have an elite Number 2 starter for 2026.

Red Sox 2026 Schedule

 

Are The '26 Red Sox Better, Or Treading Water?

On the eve of the first Red Sox exhibition game of 2026 (against my vaunted Northeastern University Huskies), it's appropriate to ask: are The Carmine Hose any better that the 2025 edition that (after a surprisingly good season) flamed out in the Wild Card round? 

Sox GM Craig Breslow did focus on the twin pillars of hardball success (pitching and defense)—but the offensive void caused by the losses of Rafael Devers (up until the trade) and Alex Bregman, was not really filled by off-season acquisitions. 

So, can an improved pitching rotation and defense win enough close, low-scoring games to be competitive in the even tougher AL East? We say the jury is still way out on that point. Let's take a look at the moves:

Starting Pitching: LHP Ranger Suarez, RHP Sonny Gray and RHP Johan Oviedo will clearly bolster the rotation—lining up behind ace Garret Crochet, Brayan Bello—and possibly kids Connelly Early and Payton Tolle in the wings. VERDICT: Clearly an upgrade over 2025.

Bullpen: A bullpen anchored by Aroldis Chapman at the end and Garrett Whitlock setting-up should perform at the same level as 2025 (which was pretty darned good). Justin Slaten and Greg Weissert should be decent again. And, either Tolle or Early getting thrown in would help. VERDICT: Same production as 2025.

Overall Outfield Defense: Not much to say here. With the cadre of Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu, the Sox probably have the best defensive OF in baseball VERDICT: Even more positive than we saw in 2025.

Overall Infield Defense: 1B Wilson Contreras, 3B/2B Caleb Durbin (2025 ROY finalist) and utility guy Isiah Kiner-Falefa add solid defensive prowess to the infield—which will also have the resurgent Trevor Story and a healthy Marcelo Mayer. And, how about the year Carlos Navarez had behind the plate—offensively and defensively! On another note, God knows where Triston Casas fits in! VERDICT: Clearly an upgrade over 2025.

Overall Offense: Pretty much everyone in Red Sox Nation expected Boston to acquire a right-handed thumper to pepper and/or clear the Monster on a regular basis. Well, except for possibly Contreras, that thumper ain't anywhere to be seen. Will we even have a 30-HR guy (maybe Anthony)? There's still time to make a move, but it's unlikely given John Henry's hesitancy to part with his fortune (except for foreign soccer teams). VERDICT: Likely downgrade from 2025.

The bottom line? Look for the 2026 Red Sox to marginally improve on their 89-win 2025 season, but not migrate to the elite of the AL East. Too little offense will hurt them in the end.

Strike Me Out To The Ballgame

As baseball sage Yogi Berra once said, "It's déjà vu all over again". Your 2025 Boston Red Sox are starting to look an awful lot like your 2024 Boston Red Sox. After their first 16 games, they are 7-9—most recently dropping a series to the abysmal Chicago White Sox—a team most normal squads get healthy on. 

The most troubling comparatives to 2024 are: strikeouts and errors—the two things Alex Cora hates more than watching Triston Casas sun himself on the outfield grass. In just 16 contests, Boston has struck out 158 times—that's an average of 9.875 times per game. 

And that "improved" defense—with Trevor Story and Alex Bregman anchoring down the left-side of the infield? So far, Boston has committed 19 errors—that's an average of 1.1875 errors per game.

If you're a betting person, go for the "over" on both Red Sox strikeouts and errors—you'll get rich.

2025 Red Sox Schedule

 

Red Sox Are Again A .500 Team—With 160 To Go

After two games of the 2025 season, the Red Sox find themselves in a familiar place: .500. It begs the question: Is this team really as good as the hype around it? 

After all, despite wining on Opening Day, they struck out 12 times—reminiscent of the "WhiffFest of 2024". Moreover, starting pitching (the big overhaul of the off-season) has been, well, just OK. In Game Two, Tanner Houck was hardly the "ground-ball" pitcher he's supposed to be—giving up two long balls in the loss. And, Rafael Devers seems lost at the plate, struggling with his new DH role.

However, the bottom line is that this Red Sox team is much better than the 2024 edition, by almost every metric. They're younger, they're better defensively, they at least have a legitimate ace in Garrett Crochet, and the rest of the AL East is just about their equal (that is, mediocre). 

All things considered, though, this is still not a 95-win team. My guess is 86-88 wins, tops. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

FN Refreshed And Renewed For 2024

As we begin a new season with The Olde Towne Team, we felt it was important to re-energize FenwayNation.com—partly by going back to our roots. So, we've re-installed our old masthead logo (designed in 2000 by our co-founder Ric Glaub) and tightened up the overall format.

We hope to return to our daily missives on The Carmine Hose—without fear or favor from the NOG (inappropriately-named "New Ownership Group"). Stay tuned, we hope we will once again keep you informed and entertained covering Red Sox baseball.

-Ernie Paicopolos, Editor-In-Chief, FenwayNation

2024 Red Sox Schedule

 

Devers And Whitlock Gain Top FenwayNation Honors For 2021

FenwayNation announced their 2021 Red Sox Award Winners last night—tapping 3B Rafael Devers as "Player Of The Year" and RP Garrett Whitlock as "Rookie Of The Year".

Capping an All-Star season, the 24-year-old Devers clouted 38 home runs and knocked in 113, while hitting .279. He also collected 37 doubles and tallied 318 total bases. His 62 walks were the highest of his career. Mostly, he transformed himself from an exceptional young player into a superstar.

The 25-year-old Whitlock delivered a stellar 1.96 ERA in 73.1 innings for the 2021 Red Sox. Picked up last December in the Rule 5 Draft from the Yankees, Whitlock became the "go-to" bullpen arm for multiple-inning relief appearances. He faced 298 batters and struck out 81—walking just 17.

Congratulations to Rafael and Garrett!