10 Boston Red Sox Players Nominated for All-MLB Honors

After a disappointing series sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox will look to retool the roster ahead of the 2027 season and build the World Series contender that they entered the season thinking they were. 

Before the book is fully closed on the 2026 season, the Red Sox have several key contributors who will likely be among the award finalists. First are the All-MLB teams, which, along with the Roberto Clemente Award, are determined in part by fan votes. The Red Sox have 10 players nominated for the All-MLB teams: Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin, Adley Rutschman, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle, Garrett Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman.

The 34-year-old Contreras posted a career year in his first season in a Red Sox uniform, posting a slash line of .275/.386/.516/.901 with career highs in home runs (27), RBI (81), on-base percentage, and OPS en route to the third All-Star appearance of his career. For much of the season, the Boston offense went as Contreras went. After finishing the season top three in baseball in both OPS (3rd) and weighted runs created plus (151, T-3rd), trailing only the likely winners of both MVP awards, Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Contreras should find himself as a top five finisher in American League MVP voting. 

Contreras is one of 14 first basemen nominated for All-MLB honors. 

After a brutal start to his second season in the big leagues and first as a member of the Red Sox, Durbin turned his season around after consulting an outside hitting instructor. Overall, the 26-year-old finished the regular season hitting .248/.332/.378/.710 with 13 home runs and 64 RBI in 153 games. In addition to a respectable season at the plate, Durbin continued to establish himself as one of the best defensive third basemen in the sport, ranking in the top 5 in defensive runs saved (13, 2nd), outs above average (7, 3rd), and fielding run value (6, 3rd). Durbin should be in line for his first career Gold Glove. 

He is one of 11 third basemen nominated for All-MLB honors. 

The Red Sox unloaded the farm system to acquire the services of the 28-year-old catcher who was named to his third career All-Star team in 2026. It was an underwhelming start to his Red Sox career as he hit just .184/.253/.356/.609 in his first 24 games in Boston. However, he ended the regular season hitting .333/.355/.567/.922 in the final seven games. 

Overall, Rutschman hit .242/.315/.426/.740 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI while injuries limited him to just 99 games. 

He is one of 10 catchers nominated to make an All-MLB team. 

The 26-year-old Gold Glove center fielder had a career year in 2026. Rafaela hit .283/.319/.442/.761, tying a career high with 16 home runs and driving in a career-high 70 runs en route to his first career All-Star nod. 

In addition to his breakout season at the plate, Rafaela continued to cement himself as one of the best defenders in baseball, ranking in the top 10 among all fielders in defensive runs saved (21, T-3rd), fielding run value (16, T-5th), and outs above average (16, T-6th). 

Speaking of breakout seasons for Red Sox outfielders, the 27-year-old outfielder hit .248/.327/.446/.773 with an American League-leading 38 doubles, and career highs in both home runs (24) and RBI 76. 

After back-to-back Gold Gloves in right field, Abreu continued to provide incredible defense for Boston. Abreu led all fielders in defensive runs saved, with 28, which should have him in line for a third straight Gold Glove. 

Abreu and Rafaela are two of 24 outfielders nominated. 

Not many teams could have withstood a regular-season-ending injury to an arm of Garrett Crochet’s caliber and still have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, as the Red Sox did. They did so in part because the 36-year-old Gray stepped up and filled the void left by the 2025 American League Cy Young runner-up. 

Gray wrapped up his first and potentially only season in Boston with a league-leading 18 wins to just five losses and an ERA of 2.72 that ranked eighth-lowest among 46 starters and fifth-lowest among qualified American League starters. 

After signing a five-year, $130-million free-agent deal in Boston, the 30-year-old left-hander had a strong debut season. For much of the first half, Suarez was the best starter in the Boston rotation, posting a 2.60 ERA in his 15 starts from April 11 to July 5 en route to his second career All-Star selection. 

Overall, Suarez posted a 3.22 ERA in 28 starts, going 8-5. 

The 23-year-old left-hander had an incredible rookie campaign in 2026, cementing himself as one of the best young starters in baseball. Overall, he posted a 3.03 ERA in 26 starts, ranking in the top five among all rookie starters in ERA (4th), strikeouts per nine innings (10.35, 2nd), walks per nine (2.42, 7th), FIP (3.04, 1st), and fWAR (4.1, 2nd). He will likely join Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle and Cleveland Guardians starter Parker Messick as the three finalists for American League Rookie of the Year. 

Gray, Suarez, and Tolle are three of 29 starters up for the awards. 

It was a career year for the 30-year-old setup man in 2026. Whitlock made 54 regular-season appearances setting things up for Chapman, posting a 1.72 ERA, the sixth-lowest mark among 143 qualified relievers. In addition to the impressive ERA, Whitlock ranked 12th among all relievers in win probability added with 2.73.  

The seemingly ageless All-Star closer rounds out the Red Sox 10 nominees for All-MLB honors. At 38 years old, Chapman continued his return to dominance as the Red Sox closer, posting a 1.92 ERA in 53 appearances, locking down 35 of his 37 save opportunities. 

It was also a record-setting season for Chapman, who became the all-time reliever strikeout king, passing Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm with 1,402 punchouts and counting. He also rose to No. 9 on the all-time saves leaderboard with 402. 

Chapman and Whitlock are two of 20 relievers nominated. 

Red Sox fans can submit their votes for the All-MLB teams at the following link.