Within the spirit of the vacation season, the Boston Herald’s Crimson Sox reporters, Mac Cerullo and Gabrielle Starr, current their Crimson Sox want lists.
Pleased holidays!
Mac’s wishlist
A breakout season for Anthony
For all of the discuss we’ve heard in regards to the Crimson Sox including bats to enhance their lineup, the most important difference-maker on subsequent yr’s membership might already be on the roster.
As spectacular as Roman Anthony’s rookie season was, he nonetheless hasn’t fairly tapped into his full potential. Anthony solely hit two dwelling runs over his first 50 video games final yr, however over his final 21 video games he actually began hitting his stride, batting .317 with six dwelling runs earlier than struggling what ended up being a season-ending indirect harm.
Anthony was already doing nearly the whole lot else effectively aside from hitting for energy earlier than his sizzling streak, so if he can keep wherever near that degree of manufacturing over a full season, the Crimson Sox might have one thing actually particular on their fingers. Even when not, it’s cheap to count on Anthony needs to be able to at the least topping 20 dwelling runs in 2026, which might go a good distance in direction of giving the Crimson Sox the facility they’ve lacked.
A wholesome season for Mayer
Ever since he was drafted No. 4 general again in 2021, Marcelo Mayer has been among the many most highly-anticipated Crimson Sox prospects in latest reminiscence. Since then he’s persistently proven flashes of greatness, however he’s additionally struggled to remain on the sphere.
This previous yr Mayer’s season ended prematurely for the third straight yr, this time resulting from a sprained wrist. Earlier than that Mayer confirmed off some glorious protection at third base whereas filling in for the injured Alex Bregman, however his bat clearly wants extra work, particularly on the subject of dealing with left-handed pitching.
Mayer might develop right into a star, however that’s by no means going to occur if he can’t keep wholesome.
Time will inform what Mayer’s position on the 2026 Crimson Sox winds up being. Maybe he earns a beginning job at both second or third base. Perhaps he begins the yr in Triple-A and winds up filling in after an harm. Both means, right here’s to hoping Mayer can keep wholesome and get the reps he wants to achieve his full potential.
30 dwelling runs from Abreu
By no means thought of a can’t-miss prospect, Wilyer Abreu has developed into a wonderful all-around ballplayer for the reason that Crimson Sox acquired him from the Houston Astros on the ‘22 commerce deadline. He’s a two-time Gold Glove winner with a .791 profession OPS, and final yr he hit a career-high 22 dwelling runs regardless of enjoying solely 115 video games.
These little accidents which have cropped up now and again are among the many solely black marks on Abreu’s resume to date.
If Abreu can keep wholesome and enhance his efficiency in opposition to left-handed pitching, he might make the leap and turn into a real on a regular basis participant. Ought to that occur Abreu is completely able to hitting 30 dwelling runs in a season, which might give Boston one more influence bat in the midst of the order.
200 strikeouts from Grey
Is Sonny Grey a real No. 2 starter? That was the query on quite a lot of followers’ minds after the veteran right-hander was acquired from the Cardinals final month.
He’s actually pitched like one previously.
Over the past two seasons Grey is considered one of solely 5 pitchers in MLB to file back-to-back 200-strikeout seasons, the others being Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Freddy Peralta and Dylan Stop. The yr earlier than that he completed as 2023 AL Cy Younger runner-up, posting a 2.79 ERA with 183 punch outs.
Grey is on the older aspect at 36 years outdated, however his metrics are nonetheless stable and there’s good motive to imagine he’s nonetheless able to pitching at a excessive degree. Can he make it three straight years with 200 Ks? That would definitely reply the query of whether or not or not he’s an acceptable No. 2.
20 holds from Slaten
Acquired following the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, Justin Slaten has established himself as considered one of Boston’s prime relievers over his first two large league seasons.
The one downside? Every of these years had been marred by accidents that sidelined him for a number of months.
With Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock main the way in which the Crimson Sox ought to have the most effective late-inning combos in MLB. But when Slaten can keep wholesome and lock down the seventh too? Boston’s bullpen might rank among the many sport’s elite.
Gabrielle’s wishlist
Again-to-Again ‘Years of Well being’ for Whitlock
Final winter, Whitlock declared 2025 his “Yr of Well being”
And was it ever.
After lacking massive parts of the earlier three seasons resulting from accidents, the affable right-hander shone in his full-time return to the bullpen. He pitched a career-high 62 video games – 5 greater than the earlier three seasons mixed – and posted a sterling 2.25 ERA over 72 innings. The Crimson Sox had been 47-15 when he pitched.
The Crimson Sox have made the postseason twice within the final 5 years. It’s no coincidence that each of these seasons featured a wholesome Whitlock.
Hit with RISP and reap the rewards
When the ’25 Crimson Sox had two outs and runners in scoring place, they batted .224/.310/.374 with 151 hits, 231 runs, and 192 strikeouts.
But additionally they left 1,125 males on base, eighth-most within the majors and second within the American League. They had been glorious at creating scoring alternatives for themselves, however struggled to finish the equation too many occasions.
Their temporary foray into the postseason amplified the problem, as they left 21 males on base over three video games. They might have swept the Yankees in Sport 2, however as an alternative misplaced 4-3.
Hopefully, Willson Contreras will assist. He slashed .279/.329/.441 in 152 plate appearances with runners in scoring place this yr. With two outs and males on second and third, he had a .286/.444/.714 line.
A powerful second half
The ’25 Crimson Sox barreled into the All-Star break on a 10-game profitable streak, however once more scuffled down the stretch.
But not like the previous couple of years when pitching accidents piled up and so they didn’t have the depth to maintain them, this yr’s late-season struggles had been extra in regards to the lineup’s energy outage.
Dropping Roman Anthony to an indirect pressure in early September was an enormous blow, and proved the offense wasn’t deep sufficient. Bregman and Abreu struggled upon getting back from their respective accidents, too. The lineup’s collective slugging proportion dropped from .433 to .404.
Energy was a difficulty from the beginning, although. The Crimson Sox entered the season with out a lot thump within the lineup, then misplaced Triston Casas to a season-ending knee surgical procedure at the beginning of Could and traded their largest thumper, Rafael Devers, in mid-June.
Cy Younger for Crochet
Garrett Crochet was the whole lot the Crimson Sox hoped for and extra this yr.
All that’s left to beat is the Cy Younger Award (although Crochet will let you know he’d favor to win his first World Collection ring).
A very powerful factor, although, is for Crochet to remain wholesome. To this point, there are many parallels to the Chris Sale commerce: each had been acquired from the White Sox on the MLB Winter Conferences (‘16, ‘24), each are dominant left-handers, and of their first seasons in Boston (‘17, ‘25) had been All-Stars, led the majors in strikeouts, and had profession years. They even completed runner-up to AL Central pitchers for the Cy Younger award. Sale completed ninth in AL MVP voting, Crochet eighth.
Hopefully, the parallels cease quickly, although. Sale was glorious within the first half of ‘18 however missed vital parts of the second half resulting from shoulder irritation, and the subsequent a number of seasons had been all or partially misplaced resulting from accidents and surgical procedures.
Crochet is the ace Boston has been ready for ever since. However after throwing an AL-leading 205.1 innings this yr– 59.1 greater than his earlier career-high the season prior – a very powerful want, and one the Crimson Sox can solely achieve this a lot to grant, is nice well being.
Revenge on the Yankees
Want I say extra?
