A national evaluator sees a near-perfect winter for Boston, even after major departures.
If you asked most of Red Sox Nation to slap a letter grade on this winter, you’d probably get a wide range of answers - and maybe a few choice words mixed in.
But one national voice thinks the Red Sox deserve top marks, and that might surprise some fans who are still processing all the roster churn.
In a new piece this week, ESPN’s David Schoenfield handed the Red Sox an “A” for their offseason, praising the overall body of work from chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and his staff - even after the club lost star infielder Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs.
That endorsement comes after a winter highlighted by trades for Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, plus deals that brought in Caleb Durbin and Johan Oviedo. Boston also added Isiah Kiner-Falefa and signed Ranger Suarez in free agency.
“Not everyone might feel the same, but I absolutely love this offseason from Craig Breslow and his staff,” Schoenfield writes. “Remember, the Red Sox now operate under a budget. Breslow can't light money on fire the way the Red Sox did during the late 2010s under Dave Dombrowski. No, they didn't re-sign Bregman, but the trade for Durbin gives them a player who projects to just one less win in value than Bregman - a younger, faster, high-contact hitter making $30 million in salary. The trades for Gray and Contreras bring in win-now veterans who also won't hemorrhage the long-term payroll. Suarez is a riskier bet on a five-year, $130 million deal, but he has been a consistent performer since 2021 with only his durability a concern.”
Boston did part with some talent - including fan-favorite prospect Jhostnyxon Garcia - and also saw Lucas Giolito depart in free agency.
Dec 9, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow speaks with the media at the Hilton Anatole during the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)Still, Schoenfield believes the organization threaded the needle by improving the roster without sacrificing its foundation.
“Importantly, Breslow kept the young core intact, not only all the outfielders, but two top-100 pitching prospects in Payton Tolle and Connelly Early, who made their major league debuts late in 2025 and should impact the rotation at some point in 2026,” Schoenfield writes. “The Red Sox have improved their flexibility and depth in the infield while also improving their balance against left-handed pitching. If Trevor Story's declining range is a problem, then maybe Marcelo Mayer becomes the regular shortstop with Story sliding over to second. If you're worried about Kristian Campbell being blocked, he can hit his way into DH or outfield at-bats.”
It’s lofty praise - and Schoenfield even floated Boston as a potential pick to win the AL East - but the real verdict will come once the games start.
For now, though, it’s clear at least one national evaluator sees a winter that might look a whole lot better than some fans expected.
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.