Red Sox Receive Lukewarm Offseason Grades Despite Busy Winter

FanGraphs projects only a one-win improvement for Boston despite major roster moves.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Boston Red Sox made a flurry of offseason moves, acquiring players like Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and others. However, their offseason has received mixed reviews, with The Ringer's Anthony Dabbundo giving them a B- grade. While the Red Sox improved their pitching and defense, their lineup still lacks power, and their projected win total is only one higher than last season.

Why it matters

The Red Sox's offseason moves were intended to help the team become a championship contender, but the lukewarm reviews and modest projected improvement suggest they may have fallen short of that goal. This raises questions about the team's long-term direction and whether they have the right pieces in place to compete for a World Series title.

The details

The Red Sox made a number of notable acquisitions this offseason, including Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Johan Oviedo, and Caleb Durbin. However, they also lost key players like Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, and Jhostynxon Garcia. While the pitching and defense have improved, the lineup still lacks power, and the team's projected win total is only one higher than last season's.

  • The Red Sox's 2025 season ended in late October.

The players

Ranger Suarez

A starting pitcher acquired by the Red Sox this offseason.

Sonny Gray

A starting pitcher acquired by the Red Sox this offseason.

Willson Contreras

A catcher acquired by the Red Sox this offseason, projected to be a significant upgrade over Triston Casas at first base.

Alex Bregman

A player the Red Sox lost this offseason.

Lucas Giolito

A player the Red Sox lost this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“The Red Sox were extremely busy this offseason, but there's no evidence they have actually improved the roster as a whole. Their preseason projected win total last season (86.5) is one win less than this season (87.5).”

— Anthony Dabbundo, Writer (The Ringer)

“It's not a great sign for the Red Sox's pitching development that they had to trade for Sonny Gray and sign Ranger Suarez to a five-year deal in the same offseason. Both are perfectly solid mid-rotation starters, but Boston surely would have preferred to have just kept Alex Bregman or landed Bo Bichette with those same resources.”

— Anthony Dabbundo, Writer (The Ringer)

The takeaway

The Red Sox's offseason moves have not translated to significant projected improvement, raising questions about whether they have the right pieces in place to become a true championship contender. While they made some solid additions, their failure to bolster the lineup with a middle-of-the-order bat may limit their ability to compete at the highest level this season.