Craig Breslow Outlines Red Sox Offseason Strategy and Priorities

The Boston Red Sox head into the offseason with a strange mix of urgency and possibility. After losing to the Yankees in the playoffs, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow laid out how the front office wants to reshape the roster.

They need to boost a battered pitching rotation, add more power to the lineup, and tighten up their defense. Boston’s winter plans look ambitious, and honestly, they kind of have to be.

Revamping the Rotation: A Top Priority

Breslow made it pretty clear: starting pitching sits at the top of Boston’s offseason priorities. The team has a real ace in Garrett Crochet, who’s probably finishing top two in Cy Young voting.

But the rest of the rotation? Depth and reliability are big question marks.

Injury Setbacks and In-House Options

Behind Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito did most of the heavy lifting. Giolito’s year ended with an elbow injury, so his free-agent outlook is cloudy.

Other arms like Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, and Hunter Dobbins are all coming back from injuries. Relying only on internal rehab feels risky.

There’s a little hope, though. Lefties Connelly Early and Payton Tolle impressed in limited outings, and young Kyle Harrison could be in the mix next spring.

Still, Boston’s front office seems ready to look outside the organization for help.

Potential Pitching Targets

Breslow hinted that the Red Sox will be active in both free agency and trades. A few names keep popping up:

• Framber Valdez – Reliable, postseason-tested lefty from Houston.
• Dylan Cease – Hard-throwing righty with strikeout stuff.
• Tatsuya Imai – Japanese standout who might adapt well to MLB.
• Joe Ryan – Minnesota’s rotation anchor and a previous trade target.

Landing one of these pitchers would give Boston a strong one-two punch at the top of the rotation. That’d take some pressure off the younger or recovering starters.

Balancing Power with Defensive Stability

Pitching leads the list, but Breslow also knows the lineup needs more pop. The Red Sox finished 15th in MLB with 186 home runs.

The defense? Not great. They led the majors with 116 errors, and that’s a stat nobody wants to top.

Slugging Targets and Defensive Trade-offs

Boston’s eyeing a few power bats:

• Kyle Schwarber – Lefty slugger with playoff chops.
• Pete Alonso – One of baseball’s top home run hitters.
• Eugenio Suárez – Veteran third baseman with plenty of pop.
• Munetaka Murakami – Japanese star with big power, but glove questions linger.

The catch? Every one of these hitters comes with defensive issues. Boston has to decide if more home runs are worth possible fielding headaches.

Shuffling the Infield and Elevating Prospects

One big move could be shifting Trevor Story from shortstop to second base, since his range isn’t what it used to be. That’d open up a spot for top prospect Marcelo Mayer, who’s shown real promise on defense and seems ready for more in 2025.

How the infield shapes up also depends on first baseman Triston Casas’s recovery. Breslow isn’t locking in his position just yet, so health and flexibility will matter a lot.

Outfield Strengths and Overall Strategy

At least there’s one area where Boston looks set. The outfield projects as a strength, with young, athletic players like Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Roman Anthony, and Wilyer Abreu.

They bring speed, energy, and legit defensive range—something this team sorely needs right now.

The Bigger Picture

Breslow’s offseason plan really centers on three main ideas:

• Acquire a frontline starting pitcher to stabilize the rotation.
• Boost offensive power without giving up too much on defense.
• Clarify roles for a mix of emerging prospects and injured veterans.

Boston’s approach tries to balance short-term competitiveness with keeping the roster strong for the future.

They’re aiming for 2025, but it’s not all about instant results—there’s a longer game here too.

This offseason feels like a big moment for Boston. It’s a shot to turn last year’s letdown into a real push for October.

Fans are watching every move, hoping the front office finally delivers the pieces that could make Fenway Park feel like home to a winning team again.

 
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