The Boston Red Sox are back in the postseason following three years of frustration and bad baseball. Just like everything for the Red Sox, this didn’t come easy, as it took them until the final series of the season to punch their ticket to the postseason. Let’s reflect on the rollercoaster that was the 2025 Red Sox season.
On Sept. 29, 2024, the Red Sox won their final game of the season, securing a record of 81-81. However, for the third year in a row, they would head to their couches to watch October baseball from the comforts of their homes. Although the team fell a few games short of making the playoffs, it was still a relatively successful season. They had zero expectations going into the 2024 season, having done nothing in the offseason. Despite all that, the team rallied and won 81 games, a decent record that placed them third in the American League East. Unfortunately for owner John Henry, though, Boston fans don’t expect anything less than championships, so while he may have looked at the season as a success, fans certainly didn’t.
Fans’ frustration only grew further when the team failed to land a contract with star pitcher Max Fried, who went on to sign a seven-year contract with the fiercest rival of the Red Sox: the New York Yankees. However, that frustration did not last long as just days later, the team traded for pitcher Garrett Crochet. Crochet was quickly known as the “Pig” (because he’s nasty or in other words a great pitcher) in Red Sox nation, earning the title from New England Sports Network (NESN) broadcaster Lou Merloni on ‘The Section 10 Podcast.’ In addition to adding the Pig to the Red Sox roster, they also added 37-year-old flame thrower Aroldis Chapman to be their closer and two-time World Series champion Alex Bregman. Hopes were now high across Red Sox nation.
The Red Sox could not have scripted a crazier start to the 2025 season. After winning their first game, they lost four straight and were chasing from there. Just when the club was starting to get in their groove with top prospects Roman Anthony and Marcello Mayer being called up and just sweeping their arch rivals, the New York Yankees, the team did something no one saw coming.
On Father’s Day, Boston traded their best player, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, and outfield prospect James Tibbs. Fans were in disbelief, calling ownership cheap and begging for general manager Craig Breslow to be fired. Little did they know, however, that this trade was exactly what the Red Sox needed. They finally started winning, going on a ten-game win streak ahead of the All-Star Break, and maintained a playoff spot from there forward.
Just for good measure, the Red Sox management decided to let down fans once again when they virtually did nothing at the trade deadline, only adding reliever Steven Matz and trading the main piece of the Devers trade (James Tibbs) for starting pitcher Dustin May, who has struggled since 2021. The real part that hurt was that the club reportedly had a deal in place for Twins Ace Joe Ryan, before backing out of the deal because they thought the price was too expensive. This only further illustrates another down in the team’s rollercoaster season.
The team once again battled back from adversity, continuing their winning ways, but when September rolled around, the Red Sox struggled, and their playoff aspirations were in question. Just when you thought they were out of it, they rallied back, winning four out of their last six and securing a playoff spot, following a wild Friday night walk-off win.
Even though the Red Sox were eliminated, they still have hope, with their young core of talent, led by Roman Anthony, who was largely considered their best player this season, at the forefront.
