The Boston Red Sox are one of many teams under pressure as the Major League Baseball season winds down. Alex Cora got real with Red Sox fans about their team as it fights to get into the playoffs. Players like Dustin May, Rob Refsnyder, and Jarren Duran have a chance to play spoilers if they make it into the American League postseason. However, they may not stick around.
Looking back on the season, Boston's year can be defined by its young talent. Players like Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet have played well for Cora throughout the season, but the prospects stole the show. Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell got their chance to play at the major league level and for the most part, they delivered on the hype surrounding them.
Having so much young talent on a team that could make it into the postseason is a great sign. All five teams in the AL East have the pieces to be dominant squads for years to come. The only question is how each contender molds its roster to accommodate the youth while still having enough veterans to consistently win games. Boston is the most volatile of any of those teams.
On one hand, Cora could lean heavily into the youth on his team. If he does, there is a chance that the Red Sox struggle as the young players gain experience. On the other, dedicating at-bats and pitching starts to older players gives Boston a better chance to win now. However, the team's long-term future takes a tough blow when it comes to prospects getting big league experience.
Cora has spoken highly of Anthony and other ascending stars on his team. Here are three players the Red Sox could choose to part ways with in the offseason.
Outfielder Rob Refsnyder
Refsnyder was able to survive the 2024 offseason with the Red Sox. The outfielder is a versatile piece that Cora has put all over the field this season. However, most of his value was tied to the fact that Boston did not have another player to fill the holes in its roster. With the emergence of Cedanne Rafaela this season, Refsnyder has become an expendable part of the roster.
Refsnyder has played in 59 games this season. He is on pace to play the second-fewest games in a single season of his time with the Red Sox. With how Boston's roster has evolved, that number could easily go down again next year if he remains on the team.
Because of that, he could choose to try his luck on the free agency market when his contract expires at the end of the season. It may not be the end of the world for Cora.
The outfield went from a weakness to a strength for Boston in a year. Anthony, Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu have what it takes to be the trio that brings the Red Sox into a new era. Based on their production at the plate and the field, the group is reminiscent of past teams. If they can match Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Andrew Benintendi, Boston doesn't need Refsnyder.
Starting pitcher Dustin May
The Red Sox traded for May at the July 31 deadline. However, it became evident that the former Los Angeles Dodgers starter was not comfortable in his new home. The product has been far less than Cora would have expected from a pitcher meant to fill the gaping hole in his rotation. Based on what he has done in Boston, he is not worth negotiating a new deal with this winter.
While the young bats stole the show for the Red Sox this season, young pitchers made their statements as well. Hunter Dobbins quickly won the hearts of Boston fans right after his MLB debut. He and Payton Tolle are the pitchers who could anchor the back of Cora's rotation next year. That gives the front office the opportunity to get picky when it comes to the rest of the pitching staff.
The Red Sox's pitching has become a bigger strength than the offense. Crochet might be one of Boston's best additions in recent memory. If Cora can find enough players to support him in the rotation, the Red Sox have the balance necessary to compete among the best teams in the entire league. As it stands now, May has not place in the team's long-term development plans.
Outfielder Jarren Duran
Duran was the subject of many rumors at the trade deadline. The Kansas City Royals were one of many teams interested in adding him to their roster. However, the outfielder survived the deadline and has held on to his spot in Cora's outfield for now. However, there is no telling when the team will pull the plug and fully cede his spot to a young player like Abreu or Rafaela.
Looking back, the Red Sox might regret not trading Duran when they could have. Now, the team could lose a former All-Star this winter and get nothing in return. It is a risk worth taking for a dark horse championship contender. However, it could easily backfire if Boston fails to make a deep run or make the playoffs at all. Regardless, seeing Duran walk away would be tough.
Duran and Rafael Devers were meant to be key pieces of the Red Sox's long term plans. After sending Devers to the San Francisco Giants, the Red Sox could lose both in the span of a season. However, the team's future is just as bright without him as it is with him. Boston has some tough decisions to make with its roster, starting with who to keep and who to let walk away.
