Willson Contreras didn’t dance around the obvious when asked what the Red Sox still need this offseason.
“I think we need some more offense,” he said. “That’s for [Craig] Breslow to figure out.”
That answer fits the way Boston’s roster already looks on paper. The Red Sox may not have made a deep postseason push in 2026, but the pieces are there to matter again next year.
The infield has Contreras, Caleb Durbin and a mix that could include Curtis Mead, Trevor Story and maybe even Franklin Arias. The outfield remains loaded with Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran.
Behind the plate, Boston has a top-five catcher in Adley Rutschman.
There’s plenty to like on the mound, too. The rotation includes Garrett Croochet, Payton Tolle, Ranger Suarez, Jake Bennett and Brayan Bello, while the bullpen is described as one of the game’s most elite.
Still, the lineup needs another gear.
That has become the central offseason question: how does Boston add more punch? One path is to open up the designated hitter spot, and the simplest way to do that would be trading Duran. If the Red Sox go that route, they could basically slot in any bat they want at DH.
Another option would be a bigger swing, even if it means adding to a position that already looks crowded. Shortstop has been floated as one possibility, and that kind of move would likely come via trade. Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds has already been mentioned, and Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels was also cited as a target this past summer.
However Boston handles it, the message is clear: power matters. If the Red Sox don’t land a 30-plus homer bat, they’ll need to build a different offensive identity and commit to speed and getting on base. What they can’t do is sit in the middle of the pack across the board, which is essentially where they landed in 2026.
Add the offense, and Boston has a chance to be in the mix again in 2027. The most intriguing route might be an elite shortstop. The more likely one, though, is a big bat at DH, with a trade of Duran helping clear the path.
In Other News...
Red Sox Have A Real Chance To Silence Doubts In 2027
After ending their playoff drought in 2025 and getting back to October in consecutive seasons, the Red Sox enter 2027 with something they have not always had in recent years: a roster that looks stable enough to be judged on results rather than promises. Even after the Wild Card sweep by the Yankees, early power rankings from ESPN and The Athletic still placed Boston fifth, a sign that the league sees a team built around pitching, defense and a deeper base of young talent.
The offseason additions of Adley Rutschman and Curtis Mead only added to the sense that this group has room to grow, not just tread water. Analysts have pointed to the teams youth and the possibility of improvement after some underperformance last season, which leaves Boston in an interesting spot. The talent is there, the expectations are real, and 2027 feels like the kind of year when the Red Sox can either validate the optimism or give their doubters plenty more to say. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Offseason Shakeup Starts With Two Familiar Arms Returning
The roster churn has already started for Boston, and it comes with a familiar winter theme: clearing space while keeping a few organizational arms in the fold. The Red Sox traded Nate Eaton to the Athletics and Tsung-Che Cheng to the Tigers, moves that thin out the margins of the system but also reflect the kind of housekeeping that often comes early in the offseason.
At the same time, Boston brought back minor league pitchers Angel Bastardo, Michael Sansone and Patrick Halligan on minor league contracts, a sign the club still sees value in keeping depth close by. The Red Sox also released catcher Juan Montero, another small but notable shift as the front office continues sorting through the back end of the roster and the minor league pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Have A Tougher Jarren Duran Decision Than Expected
Jarren Durans name looked like an obvious one to circle for a possible move not long ago, but the picture around him has changed fast. After a poor 2026 season, his trade value has slipped, and the Red Sox are also dealing with an outfield crowd that already includes Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony, leaving the club with more bodies than clear-cut spots.
Even so, Boston may decide the best move is to keep Duran around a little longer. He still offers defensive value and a presence in the clubhouse, and he gives the Red Sox some insurance if injuries hit Anthony or someone else in the group. The harder part is that the chance to turn Duran into a meaningful return may already be gone, which leaves Boston weighing depth against whatever market is left. [Read more 🡒]