3 questions facing the Boston Red Sox this offseason

The Boston Red Sox season appeared to be over by July 1.

The Red Sox had lost 10-2 to the Washington Nationals, pushing their record to 37-48. Manager Alex Cora and a large portion of the coaching staff had been let go earlier in the year. The trade deadline seemed likely to be a question of who would depart rather than what would return.

Instead, the Red Sox reeled off an impressive 15-game winning streak en route to an 87-75 record and a playoff berth. The season ended on a disappointing note as they were annihilated by the Yankees in the Wild Card round, but the fact that they were even in the postseason was a minor miracle. The Red Sox now need to build on that momentum as they look for a deeper run through the postseason.

Three questions facing the Boston Red Sox

1. How do the Red Sox replace pitcher Sonny Gray?

Gray was acquired during the 2025-26 offseason to help shore up the middle of the Red Sox rotation. He stepped up as the Red Sox ace when Garrett Crochet was lost for most of the season, leading the majors with 18 wins while posting a 2.72 ERA and a 1.148 WHiP over his 169 innings, striking out 149 batters with 46 walks. However, Gray was expected to leave Boston in free agency, with an early hook in Game Two of the Wild Card round possibly being the nail in the coffin.

Crochet should be back to full health in 2027. Payton Tolle, Ranger Suarez and Jake Bennett are a solid trio behind him. However, Tolle and Bennett need to prove themselves beyond their solid rookie performances. Losing a dependable veteran arm such as Gray could have a drastic impact on the rotation.

2. Can third baseman Caleb Durbin replicate his stellar performance?

Durbin was another offseason acquisition, brought to Boston once third baseman Alex Bregman left in free agency. His first two months with the Red Sox were a disaster as Durbin posted a .163/.241/.238 batting line with one home run and eight doubles in his first 164 plate appearances. He ended up losing playing time, making just three starts in a nine-game span.

Durbin's season took off from that point. He posted a .283/.368/.435 batting line with 12 homers and 17 doubles while stealing 16 bases over his final 422 plate appearances. If Durbin can replicate that performance, he would be a dynamic piece atop the lineup. 

3. Is this the year the Red Sox trade outfielder Jarren Duran?

Duran has been a frequent topic in trade rumors over the past few years due to the Red Sox glut of outfielders. He had established himself as a solid catalyst atop the Red Sox lineup between 2023 and 2025, being named to the 2024 All-Star team while finishing eighth in the AL MVP balloting. 

Those days seem far in the past. Duran had arguably his worst season in the majors, posting a disappointing .207/.266/.361 batting line in his 608 plate appearances, hitting 20 homers and 15 doubles while stealing 21 bases. His antics on the diamond, both toward fans and teammates, may have punched his ticket out of Boston. The Red Sox would be selling low, but a change of scenery may be best for both sides.