The Red Sox’s playoff exit left plenty of frustration behind, but the first wave of 2027 projections is giving fans something better to hold onto.
Boston finished the 2025 season by snapping its playoff drought, then followed that up with another postseason berth. The problem was what came next: a rough two-game Wild Card sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees that made the whole thing sting a lot more. It was the kind of ending that can cloud everything that came before it.
Still, two major outlets offered an early reminder that the sky isn’t falling in Boston. ESPN and The Athletic both released their way-too-early 2027 power rankings after the World Series, and each had the Red Sox at No. 5.
ESPN’s Dave Schoenfield pointed to the roster foundation Craig Breslow has already built, describing Boston as having "a stable roster built around starting pitching and defense" - the same formula that got the club into the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. He also highlighted top prospect Franklin Arias as a possible boost to the offense in 2027.
The Athletic’s ranking also landed Boston in the top five, with writers Stephen J. Nesbitt, Chad Jennings and Tim Britton emphasizing Breslow’s deadline work and noting how little the team got from Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony this season (subscription required).
They also pointed to the additions of Adley Rutschman and Curtis Mead, two Opening Day starter-caliber players acquired at the deadline, as pieces that should matter more over a full, healthy season. Their writeup also stressed the team’s youth as a reason to believe the ceiling is still high.
That matters because the reaction to the playoff loss had already turned into a lot of hand-wringing. Some fans wanted major changes.
Others weren’t even sure what, exactly, needed fixing. But the bigger picture is a lot less dramatic than the final week made it feel: one hot stretch helped push Boston into October, while the rest of the season was more ordinary.
That’s why these rankings should calm things down a bit. The Red Sox clearly need offseason moves to fine-tune the roster, but the early read from around the league is that this is not a team that needs to be torn apart.
In Other News...
Red Sox Offseason Shakeup Starts With Two Familiar Arms Returning
The Red Sox opened their offseason roster churn by trimming a little from the margins and bringing back a few familiar names. Boston sent Nate Eaton to the Athletics and Tsung-Che Cheng to the Tigers, then re-signed minor league pitchers Angel Bastardo, Michael Sansone and Patrick Halligan to minor league deals while also parting with catcher Juan Montero.
For a club that is always balancing depth, development and flexibility, these are the kinds of moves that can quietly shape the next few months. The trades clear room elsewhere in the system, the minor league signings keep some pitching depth in place, and the release of Montero leaves one more opening as the Red Sox continue sorting through the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Have A Familiar Rotation Question To Answer
Nick Pivetta is back on the market after the Padres declined his $14 million contract option, putting the right-hander in free agency and reopening a question the Red Sox know well. Pivetta spent 2020 through 2024 in Boston before moving on to San Diego, and his availability arrives at a time when the Red Sox are trying to sort out an offseason rotation picture that leans heavily to the left side.
For Boston, the appeal is obvious. A familiar arm with recent history in the organization suddenly fits a need, and the Red Sox could view Pivetta as a right-handed answer depending on how they choose to build the staff. Whether they actually pursue a reunion will come down to the broader plan, but the fit is there in a way that should at least keep his name in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Just Locked In A Bullpen Arm With One Big Caveat
Garrett Whitlock is staying in Boston a little longer, with the Red Sox exercising their $8.25 million club option to keep the right-hander under team control through the 2027 season. It is a straightforward move on the surface, but an important one for a bullpen that has leaned on Whitlocks ability to miss bats and handle high-leverage work when healthy.
The caveat, of course, is the health history that has followed him through the last two seasons. Whitlock still turned in a strong 2026 campaign with a 1.72 ERA in 52 1/3 innings, even while pitching through a fractured tibia late in the year, and the expectation is that he will be fully healthy by Spring Training. For Boston, the bet is less about what he has already shown than whether he can keep giving them that kind of impact without the injuries becoming the story again. [Read more 🡒]