Say what you’ll concerning the Purple Sox over the previous 25 years. For higher or worse, they’ve all the time been memorable.
The twenty first century has been a curler coaster for the Purple Sox, whose 4 World Collection championships are greater than anybody else over that stretch. However these hovering peaks have include deep valleys, together with 14 seasons with out a playoff look and 6 last-place finishes.
Whether or not occasions have been good or dangerous, the Purple Sox have all the time featured some unbelievable expertise. Now that we’re 1 / 4 of the best way by way of the twenty first century, it’s time to look again on the membership’s biggest gamers for the reason that flip of the millennium.
For our functions, we’ll be assembling a 26-man roster together with a conventional beginning lineup, a bench that includes a backup infielder, outfielder, catcher and utility man, and a practical pitching workers together with six starters and 7 conventional relievers. Solely seasons from 2000 and onwards have been thought-about.
Beginning lineup
Jason Varitek, C
The captain performed 12 of his 15 seasons with the Purple Sox after the flip of the millennium, throughout which he was a three-time All-Star, gained a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger and helped lead the membership to 2 World Collection championships. Varitek batted .255 with 166 house runs, 648 RBI and a .775 OPS over that stretch, and his 1,315 video games are almost twice as many as some other Purple Sox catcher since 2000.
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
After initially breaking into the massive leagues as a 3rd baseman, Youkilis transitioned to first base full-time following the acquisition of Mike Lowell in 2006 and held down the place for the subsequent six years. Youkilis was a three-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner and completed top-six within the MVP vote in 2008 and 2009. He batted .287 with 133 house runs, 564 RBI and an .875 OPS over his 9 seasons in Boston and was a two-time World Collection champion.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
The most effective second basemen in franchise historical past, Pedroia gained 2007 AL Rookie of the 12 months, adopted that up by successful the 2008 AL MVP and remained one in all baseball’s most dominant gamers for the subsequent decade. Pedroia performed 14 seasons and completed with a .299 profession batting common, 140 house runs, 725 RBI, 138 stolen bases and an .805 OPS. He was a four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, a Silver Slugger recipient and a two-time World Collection champion. His 51.8 Wins Above Alternative ranks second amongst Purple Sox place gamers within the twenty first century, behind solely David Ortiz.
Xander Bogaerts, SS
After breaking into the massive leagues at age 20, Bogaerts helped lead the Purple Sox to the 2013 World Collection as a rookie and went on to determine himself because the membership’s beginning shortstop for almost a decade. Bogaerts performed 10 seasons in Boston and was a four-time All-Star, a five-time Silver Slugger winner and earned MVP consideration 5 occasions. He holds the franchise file for many video games performed at shortstop (1,181) and batted .292 with 156 house runs, 683 RBI, an .814 OPS and 34.6 WAR in his Purple Sox profession.
Rafael Devers, 3B
Although his Purple Sox profession ended prior to anybody might have imagined, Devers was one of the vital productive hitters in current franchise historical past and made his mark on the membership’s file e book. In 9 seasons with the Purple Sox, Devers batted .279 with 215 house runs, 696 RBI and an .859 OPS. He was a three-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger winner and had three seasons with 30 homers and 100 RBI. His arrival in 2017 stabilized what had for years been a revolving door at third base, and Devers performed a key position in main the Purple Sox to the 2018 World Collection title.
Manny Ramirez, LF
One of the crucial memorable personalities in Purple Sox historical past, Ramirez teamed with David Ortiz to kind one in all baseball’s premier middle-of-the-order tandems all through the 2000s. Ramirez was an All-Star in all eight seasons he performed in Boston, successful seven Silver Sluggers whereas ending top-10 within the AL MVP vote 5 occasions. He gained the 2002 batting title, had seven straight seasons with 100 RBI and batted .312 with 274 homers, 868 RBI, a .999 OPS and 33.2 WAR throughout his Purple Sox profession. He was additionally a two-time World Collection champion, incomes World Collection MVP honors in 2004.
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Ellsbury burst onto the scene and helped lead the Purple Sox to the 2007 World Collection championship as a rookie, and all through his seven-year run in Boston he ranked among the many recreation’s most game-breaking abilities. Ellsbury’s finest 12 months by far got here in 2011 when he completed runner-up for AL MVP after batting .321 with 32 house runs, 105 RBI, 39 stolen bases and a .928 OPS whereas additionally successful a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. He additionally had three seasons with 50 or extra stolen bases, together with a single-season franchise file 70 in 2009, and batted .297 with 241 stolen bases in his Purple Sox profession. Ellsbury gained a second World Collection title in 2013, his closing season with the membership.
Mookie Betts, RF
Betts solely performed six seasons in Boston, however throughout that transient time he left an indelible mark on the franchise. Betts was a four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, three-time Silver Slugger recipient and turned in one of many biggest single seasons in franchise historical past in 2018, wining each AL MVP and a World Collection title. That 12 months he batted .346 to win the batting title, hit 32 house runs and stole 30 bases to show within the second 30-30 season in membership historical past, and tallied 10.7 WAR, which is second solely to Carl Yastrzemski’s legendary 1967 season for highest single-season whole by a Purple Sox participant. Betts batted .301 with 139 house runs, 470 RBI, 126 stolen bases, an .893 OPS and 42.5 WAR earlier than he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
David Ortiz, DH
One of many biggest gamers in Purple Sox historical past, Ortiz authored lots of the membership’s most iconic moments whereas main Boston to 3 World Collection championships. Ortiz arrived in Boston in 2003 and over the subsequent 14 seasons was a 10-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger winner and hit 483 house runs, which ranks second in membership historical past behind solely Ted Williams. Ortiz had seven top-10 MVP finishes, together with 5 straight top-five finishes from 2003-08, together with 10 seasons with 30-plus homers and a single-season membership file 54 in 2006. Ortiz’s 52.5 WAR is essentially the most by a Purple Sox place participant within the twenty first century, and in 76 postseason video games Ortiz batted .291 with 17 homers, together with his walk-off house run in Recreation 4 of the 2004 ALCS towards the Yankees and the game-tying grand slam in Recreation 2 of the 2013 ALCS towards the Tigers. Following his retirement Ortiz turned a first-ballot inductee to the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 2022.
Bench
Nomar Garciaparra, INF
Garciaparra’s finest years in Boston got here through the late 90s, however when wholesome he remained one of many recreation’s greatest stars. Garciaparra was a three-time All-Star in Boston after the flip of the millennium, gained his second straight batting title in 2000 (.372) and had three seasons with 6-plus WAR. Garciaparra batted .323 with 82 house runs, 350 RBI and a .913 OPS with the Purple Sox in 5 twenty first century seasons, and his 20.8 WAR is the very best of all Purple Sox place gamers who didn’t make the beginning lineup.
Brock Holt, Util.
Each nice staff wants an ideal utility participant off the bench, and Brock Holt was the most effective jack-of-all-trades we’ve seen in Boston this century. Holt performed seven seasons in Boston, ending eighth within the Rookie of the 12 months vote in 2014 earlier than incomes All-Star honors in 2015 whereas filling it at nearly each place on the diamond in addition to pitcher and catcher. He additionally featured prominently on the 2018 World Collection championship staff, posting an .894 OPS in that season’s playoff run.
Jackie Bradley Jr., OF
Jackie Bradley Jr. was among the best defensive outfielders in Purple Sox historical past and will have been awarded greater than only one Gold Glove over his profession. The 2016 All-Star had a penchant for coming by way of within the clutch, incomes 2018 ALCS MVP honors after tallying 9 RBI in 5 video games, together with a grand slam in Recreation 3 and the go-ahead house run in Recreation 4.
Christian Vazquez, C
Boston’s longest tenured catcher since Varitek, Vazquez performed 698 video games over eight seasons with the Purple Sox. His finest season got here in 2019, when he hit a career-high 23 house runs with a .798 OPS, and he was additionally a member of the 2018 World Collection championship membership.
Beginning pitchers
Pedro Martinez, RHP
Even setting apart his dominant seasons from the mid-to-late 90s, Pedro Martinez was nonetheless a power to be reckoned with within the early days of the twenty first century, and his 2000 season specifically is on the brief listing of the best single seasons by a pitcher in MLB historical past. That 12 months Martinez earned his third Cy Younger Award after going 18-6 with a 1.74 ERA, 284 strikeouts and 11.7 WAR over 217 innings. Martinez posted a 2.53 ERA with 1,119 strikeouts in 936.2 innings in 5 twenty first century seasons with the Purple Sox, ending top-five within the Cy Younger vote 4 occasions whereas incomes two All-Star nods. His 36.8 WAR is essentially the most by a Purple Sox pitcher this century, and he performed an integral position in ending the membership’s 86-year World Collection drought in 2004. Martinez was a first-ballot Corridor of Fame inductee in 2015.
Jon Lester, LHP
One among Boston’s biggest homegrown starters in trendy franchise historical past, Lester pitched 9 seasons with the Purple Sox, incomes three All-Star honors whereas successful two World Collection titles. Lester went 110-63 with a 3.64 ERA and 1,386 strikeouts over 1,519.1 innings, had six consecutive seasons with 190-plus innings pitched for the Purple Sox, and twice completed fourth within the AL Cy Younger vote. Lester’s most interesting moments got here within the 2013 postseason, when he went 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 5 video games en path to the membership’s third World Collection title of the century.
Chris Sale, LHP
Although accidents in the end outlined Sale’s later tenure with the Purple Sox, his first two seasons with the membership have been excellent. Sale went 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA and 308 strikeouts in his first season with the membership, ending second within the 2017 AL Cy Younger vote, and in 2018 he posted a 2.11 ERA with 237 strikeouts, capping off the 12 months by closing out Boston’s 2018 World Collection victory. Sale pitched six seasons in Boston, posting a 3.27 ERA with 945 strikeouts in 115 begins.
Josh Beckett, RHP
Beckett pitched seven seasons with the Purple Sox following his acquisition in 2006, going 89-58 with a 4.17 ERA and 1,108 strikeouts in 194 begins. He was a three-time All-Star in Boston and in 2007 he completed as AL Cy Younger runner-up after going 20-7 with a 3.27 ERA in 200.2 innings. That fall he furthered his repute as one of many recreation’s finest postseason pitchers, going an ideal 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA in 4 begins through the membership’s 2007 World Collection championship run.
Tim Wakefield, RHP
The late Purple Sox legend pitched 12 of his 17 seasons in Boston after the flip of the millennium and helped lead the membership to 2 World Collection championships. Wakefield was 121-113 with a 4.46 ERA in 411 appearances (292 begins) over that stretch, and he earned his solely profession All-Star nod at age 42 in 2009.
Curt Schilling, RHP
Schilling’s arrival in 2004 helped the Purple Sox recover from the hump and eventually finish their 86-year championship drought. The veteran right-hander completed as AL Cy Younger runner-up in his first season, going 21-6 with a 3.26 ERA and 203 strikeouts in 32 begins, and that fall he fought by way of a painful ankle harm to earn the win in Recreation 6 of the ALCS towards the Yankees after which once more in Recreation 2 of the World Collection. Schilling pitched 4 seasons for the Purple Sox and went 53-29 with a 3.95 ERA in 119 video games (98 begins).
Bullpen
Jonathan Papelbon, RHP
Papelbon pitched seven seasons with the Purple Sox, compiling 219 saves to turn out to be the franchise’s all-time chief. He had six consecutive seasons with at the very least 30 saves, earned 4 All-Star nods in Boston and performed a starring position within the membership’s 2007 World Collection championship staff. That season Papelbon posted a 1.85 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 58.1 innings, tallied 37 saves, and didn’t permit a run in seven postseason appearances. He capped off that run by recording the ultimate out of the 2007 World Collection championship.
Keith Foulke, RHP
Foulke solely pitched three seasons in Boston, however his title will eternally be etched in franchise lore after he recorded the ultimate out of the 2004 World Collection to finish the membership’s 86-year championship drought. That season Foulke recorded 32 saves with a 2.17 ERA, and within the postseason he allowed only one run over 11 appearances whereas recording three saves.
Craig Kimbrel, RHP
One of the crucial dominant closers of the twenty first century, Kimbrel pitched three seasons in Boston and recorded 108 saves, placing him third on the franchise’s all-time listing behind solely Papelbon and Bob Stanley. Kimbrel posted a 2.44 ERA with 305 strikeouts in 187 appearances, earned three All-Star nods and in 2017 completed sixth within the AL Cy Younger vote after posting a 1.43 ERA and 126 strikeouts in solely 69 innings.
Koji Uehara, RHP
Initially acquired to supply veteran bullpen depth, Uehara got here out of nowhere to ship one of many biggest seasons by a reliever in Purple Sox historical past. In 2013, Uehara posted a 1.09 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 74.1 innings, and he went on to tally seven saves with a 0.66 ERA in 13 postseason appearances en path to that fall’s World Collection title. Uehara remained Boston’s nearer for an additional three years and posted a 2.19 ERA with 79 saves in 230 appearances with the Purple Sox.
Mike Timlin, RHP
Timlin arrived in Boston as a 37-year-old veteran in 2003 and wound up turning into one of many membership’s most necessary relievers over the subsequent six years. Timlin posted a 3.76 ERA over 394 video games with the Purple Sox, and his finest season with the membership got here in 2005, when he led the AL with 81 appearances whereas posting a 2.24 ERA at age 39.
Hideki Okajima, LHP
Okajima made a direct impression upon his arrival from Japan in 2007, incomes All-Star honors whereas ending sixth within the AL Rookie of the 12 months vote. That 12 months he posted a 2.22 ERA in 69 innings whereas serving to lead the Purple Sox to the 2007 World Collection title, and in 5 seasons with the membership he had a 3.11 ERA in 266 appearances.
Garrett Whitlock, RHP
Accidents derailed Whitlock’s try and transition to the beginning rotation, however as a reliever he’s been among the many finest in baseball ever since his debut in 2021. In 142 profession reduction outings, Whitlock has a 2.51 ERA with 241 strikeouts in 204.2 innings, and this previous 12 months he loved a outstanding comeback season after lacking most of 2024 resulting from elbow surgical procedure, posting a 2.25 ERA with 91 strikeouts as Boston’s main eight-inning set-up man.
