It’s been just over a week since the Boston Red Sox were swept out of the Wild Card round by the New York Yankees. With the page now turned to 2027, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow and the front office will look to build a team capable of competing for a World Series. 

With three weeks to go until the offseason officially begins, here’s a way too early look at the pieces already in place for 2027: 

Veteran utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa is the only position player who is set to hit the free-agent market shortly after the World Series ends. This sets up a crowded infield situation heading into the offseason. 

First base is very straightforward. 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 will return in 2027, aiming for back-to-back All-Star appearances at first base. 

With just over a week until the trade deadline, Breslow got ahead of the market, landing Mead in a deal with the Washington Nationals in exchange for starter Connelly Early. However, in a stroke of bad luck, Mead was hit in the wrist by a pitch in his second plate appearance in a Red Sox uniform, breaking it and ending his season. 

The 25-year-old was in the midst of a breakout season in Washington, hitting .254/.352/.500/.852 with 17 home runs and 48 RBI in 87 games. Manager Chad Tracy told reporters at Monday’s end-of-season press conference that the current plan is for Mead to start at second in 2027, but things could change as the offseason progresses. 

It was an up-and-down first season in a Red Sox uniform for Durbin. After being one of baseball's worst hitters for the first two months, the 26-year-old sought help from an outside hitting instructor, turning his season around. However, down the stretch, his performance wavered as he battled through a recurring injury in his left pinky after dislocating it during the summer. 

Still, Durbin has established himself as one of the premier defenders at third base and is poised to win his first Gold Glove. Based on how Breslow and Tracy spoke about him at Monday’s press conference, Durbin is a major piece of the puzzle moving forward. 

Here’s where things get interesting. Story enters 2027 in the final year of the six-year, $140-million deal he signed with Boston ahead of the 2021 season. The 33-year-old veteran had a disappointing season, missing three months after undergoing sports hernia surgery. In 64 games, Story hit .235/.271/.351/.621 with only five home runs. 

With Boston’s top prospect, shortstop Franklin Arias, appearing all but ready for the big leagues, Story will enter the final year of his deal with an immediate need to perform or risk losing both his job and place on the active roster. 

Breslow also spent much of trade deadline season looking for a “long-term solution” at the position, checking in on names like Bobby Witt Jr., Elly De La Cruz, Jeremy Pena, and Zach Neto. It wouldn’t be a shock for Breslow to check in again on those players' availability as the offseason progresses. 

Regardless, in an infield that seems mostly set in stone, shortstop is the one position where the Red Sox could upgrade. 

Aside from Gonzalez, who wasn't fully healthy in 2026, every one of Boston’s seemingly endless supply of utility men played a major role for the team. That said, there’s likely only room for one or two of them on the Opening Day roster. 

Sogard figures to be in the driver's seat given his ability to play all four infield positions and his strong play at second base down the stretch in 2026. From there, Gonzalez has proven to be one of the best hitters in the sport against left-handed pitching, giving him a strong shot at a bench spot, health permitting. However, Gasper was Boston’s hottest hitter before a torn bicep ended his season prematurely. 

After a slow finish to the season, Monasterio and Seigler figure to have the most to prove heading into 2027, with the former being a non-tender candidate. 

Not much should change in the Red Sox catching room. After the team emptied the farm system to acquire him ahead of the trade deadline, Rutschman will enter his final year under team control as the starter behind the plate. Wong posted a solid bounce-back season after a disappointing 2025 and is set to back up the three-time All-Star. Gasper could force the issue with a strong return from the bicep injury. However, his defense behind the plate leaves much to be desired. 

Ready for another offseason full of outfield logjam discussion? Well, that’s what we’re in for, as Breslow failed to clear up the logjam for the third consecutive season. Will 2026 finally be the year that the team moves an outfielder? Only time will tell. Until then, the outfield remains a very crowded picture. 

Duran had a wildly disappointing season, finishing as one of the worst-qualified hitters in baseball. That said, he became only the third player in franchise history to post multiple seasons with 20+ home runs and 20+ steals. As it stands, he’ll split time between left field and designated hitter with Anthony. 

As for the 22-year-old phenom, Anthony, he’ll enter 2027 with more questions than answers after spending most of 2026 on the injured list dealing with a torn ligament in his right ring finger. Despite the ongoing discussion about his ability to stay healthy, Anthony showed plenty of flashes of being the player that everyone expected him to be. Health permitting, he figures to take a massive step forward in 2027. 

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). 

Rafaela will look to take another step forward at the plate in 2027, while continuing to provide elite defense in center. 

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 home runs (24), RBI (76), and games played (153). 

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. 

Still, Abreu proved himself one of baseball's streakiest hitters, at times showing he could carry the offense. Those flashes are enough to say that there is certainly another level for him to reach heading into 2027. 

After being acquired ahead of the trade deadline in a deal with the Atlanta Braves, the 31-year-old White provided Tracy with a fantastic defensive option in any of the three outfield positions, until a torn ligament in his right foot led to season-ending surgery. Unfortunately, he could be a non-tender candidate based on the recovery timeline, paired with an impending 40-man roster crunch when the 60-day injured list expires at the end of the postseason. 

After the Detroit Tigers designated him for assignment ahead of the All-Star break, Jones landed in Boston and reestablished himself as an elite bench option against left-handed pitching. However, with Gonzalez set to return to full health in 2027 and Jones’ defensive limitations, the 29-year-old could also be a non-tender candidate. 

After White's injury, Eaton made the postseason roster for the Wild Card loss in New York. With 95th-percentile speed and the ability to play both infield and outfield, Eaton was a valuable piece for the 2025 Red Sox. However, he struggled at the plate in 2026, hitting just .160/.300/.260/.560 in 24 games. However, a decision will need to be made on the 29-year-old ahead of Opening Day, as he’s out of minor league options. 

The Red Sox also have former top prospect Kristian Campbell, who transitioned to being a full-time outfielder in 2026, waiting in the wings. After a rocky start, Campbell hit .320/.440/.524/.963 with six home runs, 12 doubles, and 29 RBI in 45 games from July 1 until a foot injury ended his season on Sept. 8. 

Finally, there’s Yoshida, who will enter the final season of the five-year, $90-million deal ahead of the 2021 season. Adding an established designated hitter who provides the power the Boston lineup desperately needs should be Breslow's No. 1 priority.

After back-to-back seasons of trying to trade Yoshida without success, could this offseason finally be the one the team moves on? With just one year and $18 million remaining, could a team take on the deal in a trade? Or could the Red Sox simply designate him for assignment and eat the money? If Yoshida isn’t going to take on a major role in the starting lineup, it wouldn’t make much sense to keep him on the bench given his defensive limitations. 

With so much of the underwhelming 2026 offense still under contract for 2027, Breslow is going to have to get creative in improving the roster for 2027.