Red Sox's pledge for 2025: 'It’s time to get back to where we belong'

BOSTON -- On Monday, the final day of September, the Red Sox were once again having a postmortem press conference rather than a postseason preview.

The weather at Fenway Park was perfect, but the ballpark will be empty for the third straight October.

The three men who held court in the interview room (president/CEO Sam Kennedy, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora) expressed a collective commitment to not be in this position again a year from now.

The Red Sox realize that it is time to be the Red Sox again. This, after an 81-81 season that left them 13 games back in the American League East and five games from a third AL Wild Card spot that was in their sights for much of the season, but slipped away during a 27-38 finish after the All-Star break.

“It’s time to get back to where we belong,” Kennedy said. “We thought we had a good shot at getting there [with the Wild Card], but it’s time to get back and go for that division title, play baseball in the postseason. That’s literally why the three of us are here. There’s nothing like October baseball and that’s our responsibility, and our obligation, to the best fans in baseball.”

“We fell short of that this year. We’re going to work tirelessly to get us back where we belong in the American League East. That’s our commitment to do everything we can and talk is cheap right now. Words are hollow. But that’s what we’re going to work on this offseason.”

While Kennedy declined to discuss payroll, he said that ownership will support the front office’s quest to end the club’s first three-year postseason drought since 2010-12.

“I don’t know where the payroll is going to land. I know we’re going to be focused on win totals and getting into that postseason,” Kennedy said. “You can’t mess around at 83, 84 or 85 wins. That's not where you want to be. You want to win the division. Get in.

“Be in a position where you're sitting in a bye position and lining up who's going to be starting Game 1 of the next series. That's where we want to be.”

What will have to happen for the recent trend to change?

A more aggressive offseason

In the past few years, the Red Sox haven’t been able to close on marquee acquisitions. They’ve prioritized building the farm system and the young core at the Major League level.

That has positioned the team well for the long term, perhaps sacrificing some short-term goals. Breslow was open about that last offseason. On Monday, he said the foundation is in place to change that mindset.

“I do,” Breslow said. “We asked our fans to sacrifice a lot to be patient as we build the foundation that would enable us to meet those goals. I think we’re here. I think we’re ready to deliver.”

Balancing out the lineup -- which leans too heavily to the left -- and improving the bullpen are two top priorities for Breslow, who also could be looking to add a top-of-the-rotation starter.

Getting stronger

While depending on three rookie position players (Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and David Hamilton), plus three regular rotation members in their mid-to-late 20s who reached career-highs in starts and innings and some youth in the bullpen, the Red Sox seemed to wear down late in the season.

Cora and the training staff are trying to build a club that is built to last in 2025.

“We've been talking to the players. We've been talking about physicality,” Cora said. “This is a good time for us to address that. It just felt like September has been a challenge to us the last few years. Is it physical? Mental?

“We'll take a look at it. But the message is loud and clear.”

Defense needs to get better

The Red Sox have been sloppy on defense the past two seasons, finishing with the second highest error total in the game in both seasons, thus putting too much pressure on the pitching staff.

One thing would help immensely -- a healthy Trevor Story. The shortstop played in 43 games in 2023 and 26 in ‘24.

But the improvement of the defense can’t be based solely on Story.

“We need to improve our defense,” Breslow said. “We can point to a defense that was kind of bottom of the league, especially our infield defense.

Could moving Rafael Devers off third base help in keeping star slugger healthy while also improving Boston’s defense?

“We have not had those conversations,” Breslow said. “Those conversations, if they were to occur, would definitely happen internally before I discuss them here.

“Where our heads are right now, we're focused on the offseason and every possible opportunity to improve.”