Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the Boston Red Sox have lost to Cam Schlittler. Of course, much of the New York Yankees’ ace’s dominance over his hometown Red Sox has come on the field, where he has the lowest ERA of any pitcher against any opponent. However, on Wednesday, that dominance continued off the field, when the Walpole, Mass., native was named the American League Most Outstanding Pitcher at the MLB Players’ Association’s Players’ Choice Awards. Schlittler was nominated alongside Red Sox starter Sonny Gray and Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease. 

It was a fantastic first and potentially only season in Boston for the 36-year-old Gray. In 29 starts for Boston, Gray posted a 2.72 ERA, the fifth-lowest among qualified American League starters and the eighth-lowest among qualified starters in baseball. In addition to posting the second-lowest ERA of his career, Gray finished the season tied for the league lead in wins with 18. Gray’s career renaissance was especially important in 2026, as the Red Sox lost 2025 American League Cy Young Award runner-up Garrett Crochet to a left shoulder injury on April 26, which ended his regular season. While losing a pitcher of Crochet’s caliber would be a death knell for most pitching staffs, the Red Sox posted the third-lowest staff ERA in baseball thanks to Gray, rookie lefty Payton Tolle, and All-Star Ranger Suarez. 

For Schlittler, the Players’ Choice Award is just the first in what’s expected to be a busy award season. After being selected in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft, the Northeastern University product made a name for himself in the 2025 Wild Card round, dominating the Red Sox in a win-or-go-home Game 3. In his first full season in the big leagues, Schlittler established himself as one of the best, if not the best, pitchers in baseball. In 33 starts for New York, the right-hander posted a 1.95 ERA, the lowest among all qualified American League starters and second-lowest among all qualified starters in the sport.

The Players’ Choice AL Most Outstanding Pitcher results could be repeated in just a few weeks, as MLB announces the Cy Young Award finalists and winners, which Schlittler seems likely to win. 

Both the Red Sox and Gray will decide in the coming days on the 36-year-old’s $30 million mutual option for the 2027 season. If either side declines its option, as expected, Gray will receive a $10 million buyout. Teams must decide on options five days after the World Series ends. 

As free agency approaches, MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo reports that soon-to-be free agent outfielder Seiya Suzuki “has fans within the [Red Sox] organization.” Suzuki has spent the last five years with the Chicago Cubs after coming to Major League Baseball from Japan’s NPB. 

Former Red Sox hitting coach Peter Fatse, who was fired alongside former manager Alex Cora and five other staff members in April, has landed his next job. On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Phillies named Fatse hitting coach.