Red Sox Announce Roman Anthony News on Monday

Heading into next season, the biggest storyline for Anthony is his health. He suffered an oblique strain that ended his season in early September, and his absence was felt in the AL Wild Card round against the New York Yankees as Boston’s offense struggled without him.

As Anthony prepares for 2026, many of the game’s brightest stars are joining their respective countries to play in the World Baseball Classic.

However, Anthony will not participate, nor will left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet, who finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting, according to Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.

“Some WBC news: Craig Breslow doesn’t expect Garrett Crochet or Roman Anthony to participate,” reported Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com on Monday.

Anthony is still expected to be ready for Spring Training in March. Anthony’s rise has been years in the making. Selected by Boston in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft, he quickly developed into one of the organization’s most promising prospects before making his big-league debut in June. His breakout rookie season in 2025 solidified his place in the lineup, but it also created a ripple effect in the outfield.

With Anthony locked into a regular role, Boston now faces the challenge of balancing playing time among Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran. Both have proven they can contribute, yet the depth chart is crowded, and one of them could be moved to address other roster needs. That possibility has already surfaced in offseason speculation, with the Red Sox weighing whether to leverage their surplus of outfield talent.

Ultimately, the decisions Boston makes in the outfield will revolve around Anthony’s emergence, as the franchise has clearly positioned him as the focal point of its long-term plans.