Craig Breslow believes the Red Sox are in a better position to secure "right players" this offseason. Despite their 2025 playoff appearance, which marked the team's first postseason run in four years, Breslow doesn't seem content to simply rest on their laurels.
"The direction we're trending is good, but we're not where we want to be yet," Breslow said during an interview with MassLive. The Red Sox chief baseball officer acknowledged that while they made significant strides in player development and performance this season, there's still work to be done.
To achieve their goal of becoming a World Series contender, the Red Sox will need to address key roster needs through external acquisitions. Breslow emphasized the importance of focusing on winning major league games from an operational standpoint.
However, he also stressed that the right answers won't magically fall into place. "This isn't the time to pat ourselves on the back," Breslow added. "We have work to do."
From a statistical standpoint, the Red Sox are significantly better off than they were last season. The team's recent offseason moves, including landing Garrett Crochet, Alex Bregman, and Aroldis Chapman, helped propel them into the playoffs.
However, despite their improved roster construction, the Red Sox will be entering the offseason with some pressing roster concerns. Bregman's reported opt-out raises questions about potential holes at third base, while Lucas Giolito and Trevor Story have options that may force the team to address top-of-the-rotation issues or shortstop vacancies.
On the other hand, the Red Sox possess one of baseball's most impressive farm systems, boasting four prospects ranked in MLB Pipeline's top 100 list. Additionally, the team has a surplus of outfield talent, with some speculation suggesting that one standout player may get traded this offseason.
The emergence of Crochet and Roman Anthony as franchise cornerstones in 2025 is arguably the biggest reason why the Red Sox are entering the offseason with more confidence than they did last year. However, Breslow's acknowledgement that the team still has work to do underscores the complexity of their task.
In short, while the Red Sox have made significant strides in recent seasons, there's still much work to be done to elevate them from a playoff contender to a World Series championship contender.
"The direction we're trending is good, but we're not where we want to be yet," Breslow said during an interview with MassLive. The Red Sox chief baseball officer acknowledged that while they made significant strides in player development and performance this season, there's still work to be done.
To achieve their goal of becoming a World Series contender, the Red Sox will need to address key roster needs through external acquisitions. Breslow emphasized the importance of focusing on winning major league games from an operational standpoint.
However, he also stressed that the right answers won't magically fall into place. "This isn't the time to pat ourselves on the back," Breslow added. "We have work to do."
From a statistical standpoint, the Red Sox are significantly better off than they were last season. The team's recent offseason moves, including landing Garrett Crochet, Alex Bregman, and Aroldis Chapman, helped propel them into the playoffs.
However, despite their improved roster construction, the Red Sox will be entering the offseason with some pressing roster concerns. Bregman's reported opt-out raises questions about potential holes at third base, while Lucas Giolito and Trevor Story have options that may force the team to address top-of-the-rotation issues or shortstop vacancies.
On the other hand, the Red Sox possess one of baseball's most impressive farm systems, boasting four prospects ranked in MLB Pipeline's top 100 list. Additionally, the team has a surplus of outfield talent, with some speculation suggesting that one standout player may get traded this offseason.
The emergence of Crochet and Roman Anthony as franchise cornerstones in 2025 is arguably the biggest reason why the Red Sox are entering the offseason with more confidence than they did last year. However, Breslow's acknowledgement that the team still has work to do underscores the complexity of their task.
In short, while the Red Sox have made significant strides in recent seasons, there's still much work to be done to elevate them from a playoff contender to a World Series championship contender.