Red Sox Plummet in Latest Power Rankings

Boston's offseason moves have yet to pay dividends as the team struggles out of the gate.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:38pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric planes in vibrant red, blue, and yellow colors, conceptually representing the Boston Red Sox's poor start to the 2026 MLB season.The Red Sox's struggles to start the season are reflected in a deconstructed, cubist-inspired illustration of the team's players and game action.Today in Pittsburgh

The Boston Red Sox were one of the most active teams in the offseason, making several high-profile acquisitions. However, their slow 2-7 start to the season has them ranked as the worst team in baseball in the latest power rankings, with poor offensive production and a struggling pitching staff contributing to their early woes.

Why it matters

The Red Sox were expected to be a contender in the competitive AL East after their offseason moves, so their dismal start has been a major disappointment for the team and its fanbase. Their early-season struggles could put them in an early hole that will be difficult to climb out of in the tough division.

The details

Key offseason additions like Caleb Durbin, Johan Oviedo, Willson Contreras, and Sonny Gray have yet to make an impact, with Durbin in particular struggling mightily at the plate. The team's overall .226 batting average ranks in the bottom half of MLB, while the pitching staff's 5.19 ERA is 27th in the league.

  • The Red Sox currently stand at 2-7, alone at the bottom of the AL East.
  • Bleacher Report's latest power rankings were recently released, with the Red Sox ranked as the worst team in baseball.

The players

Caleb Durbin

A key offseason acquisition for the Red Sox, Durbin is hitting just .071/.133/.071 with six strikeouts and a -0.2 WAR across eight games so far this season.

Willson Contreras

The Red Sox acquired Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals as part of their offseason overhaul.

Sonny Gray

Another trade acquisition for the Red Sox this offseason, Gray has been part of a pitching staff that has struggled to a 5.19 team ERA.

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What they’re saying

“Wilyer Abreu is off to a fantastic start at the plate for the Red Sox. Unfortunately, no one else is hitting. Meanwhile, the retooled starting rotation ranks 27th in the majors with a 5.19 ERA, as very little has gone right for the Red Sox over their first three weeks.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

The Red Sox will need to turn things around quickly if they hope to avoid digging themselves into an early hole in the competitive AL East. Their next chance to get back on track comes this weekend with a series against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays.

The takeaway

The Red Sox's aggressive offseason moves have yet to pay dividends, as the team has stumbled out of the gate and now finds itself ranked as the worst team in baseball in the latest power rankings. While it's still early, Boston's poor start has already raised concerns about their ability to compete in the tough AL East this season.