A disappointing season ended on October 2, but now the Boston Red Sox’s full 2026 plan has been revealed. While the fan base is still divided after the Wild Card defeat, the team is facing a crucial transition period: instead of maintaining the entire old force, General Manager of Baseball Craig Breslow may trade a favorite name to bring in a blockbuster from Pittsburgh Pirates – superstar pitcher Paul Skenes.
Skenes was an unstoppable whirlwind last year in MLB: 1.97 ERA, 216 “strikes” in ~187 innings and a WHIP of just 0.95. Thanks to him, Boston’s top 5 pitching ranks did not fall out of the top 5, opening up new hope for the team. But Craig Breslow knows that Garrett Crochet alone isn’t enough to ensure a long journey ahead. “Our goal is to get at least one more pitcher who can be as impactful as Crochet,” Breslow admitted.
In exchange for Skenes, the “unsellable star” could be Jarren Duran, who has been the soul of the outfield. Duran has only averaged a few figures (.274/.323/.423, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 15 stolen bases), but his explosive style and positivity have made him a fan favorite. Even at the last trade deadline, the crowd chanted for the management to keep him. This time, a trade could happen.
What’s even more surprising is Breslow’s assertion at a pre-trade press conference: “Anything is possible as we build our roster for next year.” That means no one is untouchable – a clear message that the roster will be heavily altered.
In addition to Skenes, Breslow also has names like Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Connelly Early in his sights, choosing a long-term development path by combining internal development and market additions. You can read this as a clear confirmation: “We are no longer rebuilding, we are competing.”
More than just a trade, Breslow is laying the foundation for a complete rebuild. The pitching corps, which has been both a strength and a weakness at times, needs more depth – and the team is looking to turn that into an advantage. Previously, two-thirds of the core force, Crochet and Bello, have shown consistent ability. Giolito is injured and could leave, while young talents like Early and Payton Tolle are waiting to explode.
This winter is also an opportunity for Boston to address its defensive woes, add to its last weak spot, and expand its roster. “We’re not just fixing things, we’re building on the foundation we’ve built,” Breslow said. The ambition is to build a team strong enough to not only make the playoffs, but also be a championship contender.
By expanding the roster, Breslow is sending a message: “Boston has grown up.” No longer a team that lives off its legacy and reputation, it now wants to assert itself as a force for the future—at the cost of the love fans have for a player like Duran. The question looms: turn away from the fans or get the team back in the race? And whatever the choice, the new round will be called in the spring of 2026.
The “biggest trade since Devers” is coming, and everyone is eyeing the arrival of Skenes – a man who could change the entire Boston Red Sox landscape for the next decade.
Leave a Reply