BOSTON — After reaching the postseason for the first time since 2021, the Boston Red Sox are shifting their focus from rebuilding to truly contending. But according to both team officials and outside analysts, the next step is clear: stop gambling on reclamation projects and start investing in proven major league pitching.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acknowledged that Boston’s early playoff exit exposed several key flaws — from inconsistent power hitting and poor situational hitting to an overworked, injury-ridden pitching staff.
“Injuries to Hunter Dobbins, Richard Fitts, Dustin May, and Lucas Giolito really strained our depth,” Breslow said. “We asked a lot from young pitchers in big moments.”
Still, critics note that the team’s roster construction played a role. Many of Boston’s pitching woes stemmed from a pattern of signing rehabbing starters — a strategy that has repeatedly backfired.
A Costly Trend of “Reclamation Projects”
The Red Sox signed Walker Buehler and Lucas Giolito hoping both could bounce back from elbow surgeries. Instead, Giolito missed most of 2024 and struggled through a 6.42 ERA in his first seven starts back, while Buehler posted a 5.40 ERA across 22 outings before being demoted and released.
Other similar bets failed too. Patrick Sandoval — recovering from Tommy John surgery — was non-tendered by the Angels and has yet to pitch for Boston, while Liam Hendriks, also returning from UCL surgery, managed only 13.2 innings before additional injuries sidelined him.
“The front office should use the money saved in the Rafael Devers trade — roughly $270 million — to bring in impact free agents instead of more rehab projects,” wrote Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. “Ownership has to prove this isn’t just a salary dump.”
Proven Arms, Clear Priorities
Team president Sam Kennedy has publicly denied that the Devers deal was financially motivated, emphasizing that the organization plans to reinvest those funds.
Analysts suggest potential targets could include Framber Valdez, Michael King, or even Pete Alonso to bolster the offense. Meanwhile, locking down core pieces like Alex Bregman, Garrett Crochet, and Roman Anthony signals a renewed willingness to spend.
To stay competitive in the postseason, Boston must now apply that same standard to its pitching staff.
As Abraham put it, “The Red Sox have too much talent in their lineup to rely on rehabbing pitchers. If they want to win a World Series, they have to spend like a team that expects to.”
