Ten Takeaways From Consequential 2024 Red Sox Season

The Boston Red Sox went 81-81 in the 2024 season and finished in third place in the American League East.

The ballclub missed the postseason for the third straight season, a trend that does not fit the build of a historic franchise in a big-market setting. Nonetheless, that's the situation the Red Sox find themselves in.

Positives still popped up this season thanks to a dynamic playstyle, growth in youthful starting pitching and a lineup that scored runs with the best teams in baseball. Now, Boston needs to learn from its 2024 shortcomings and make the necessary changes to return to the postseason.

Here are 10 Red Sox takeaways with the 2024 season in the books.

1. The youth development continued with starting pitching.
Jarren Duran and Triston Casas showed the first wave of an exciting young core in 2023. There's more of that among position players on the way in 2025. In 2024, that development came in the starting rotation.

Pitchers had to step up this season after the Red Sox traded Chris Sale and watched Lucas Giolito's season come to an end with an injury in spring training. That left arms like Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford with opportunities to reach new potential in their young careers and give Boston a chance to win by eating innings.

They did just that.

Houck threw a memorable "Maddux" and represented the Red Sox in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. Crawford posted a 1.35 ERA through the season's first month and Bello found more comfort in his pitch mix. All three starters made 30 starts for the first time in their careers, marking a rare occurrence for a homegrown Red Sox trio to do so.

Boston still needs a true No. 1 starter to lead that group. But the aforementioned trio can stabilize what could be an exciting rotation in 2025.

2. Duran is the ultimate sparkplug.
Duran showed that 2023 was not a fluke and that he indeed can be one of baseball's most dynamic players.

The Red Sox outfielder took over the sport in 2024, slashing .285/.342/.492 with 21 home runs, 48 doubles, 14 triples, 75 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. Duran also improved defensively, saving 23 total defensive runs between left and center field in 2024. He stayed healthy and posted for all but two games this season, setting the tone for a physical style of play that Alex Cora continuously raves about.

Duran is in line to be the Red Sox's leadoff hitter for years to come.

3. Defense absolutely must improve.
The Red Sox led the AL in errors for the second consecutive season, which directly tied to several losses with an epidemic of unearned runs in waves. Losing Trevor Story for most of the season and moving Ceddanne Rafaela around certainly tied into that disappointing trend.

Infield defense, in particular, sparked concern and included another season of a revolving door at second base where instability sunk the Red Sox.

To play postseason baseball, out conversion and cutting down errors are among the ultimate priorities for the Red Sox.

4. Coaching staff saw improvements.
Cora made a number of moves on the coaching staff after the 2023 season and challenged the staff to be better with greater instruction and player development at the MLB level.

Andrew Bailey took over as pitching coach as arguably Boston's best addition last winter. His impact spanned throughout the starting rotation and kept bullpen production going before a second-half falloff. Kyle Hudson also played a major role in the continued rise of Duran as one of several upticks in big-league development around the Red Sox.

5. Cora deserves more credit.
The easy hit against Cora is four playoff absences in his six seasons. The reality is that Cora's ability to mix and match in-game makes him one of the better managers in baseball and he elevated a roster that lacked depth early in the season.

His player communication skills and the clubhouse culture he's created also are widely regarded.

The Red Sox made the right decision by signing Cora to a three-year extension. When the Red Sox return to the postseason, Cora's value will be back at the forefront where it belongs.

6. Story still matters.
The aforementioned defensive struggles without Story spread throughout the Red Sox for the majority of the season. For a team that featured few veterans, Story is a rising voice that adds incredible value for the Red Sox.

Should Story be fully healthy in 2025, his leadership, average bat and elite defense are paramount for the Red Sox.

7. Bullpen needs stable depth.
Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin locked down the back end of the bullpen for the last two seasons. That will change with both veterans heading to free agency this winter.

Justin Slaten has legitimate stuff and a former All-Star closer in Liam Hendriks should be ready to roll out of the gate for the Red Sox next spring.

Outside of that, a rotation stretch of Triple-A relievers cycled as depth that eventually fell apart in the second half. Craig Breslow must find durable, consistent arms to fill out the rest of that group.

Can Josh Winckowski find the consistency he showcased in 2023? Does Garrett Whitlock return to the bullpen where he sports a 2.65 ERA in 80 career appearances?

Options should be on the table.

8. Prospects will be ready in 2025.
The "Big Three" prospects of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel are heralded as the saving grace of the Red Sox's future. They found company in the massive rise of Kristian Campbell to potentially hold a starting role on Opening Day in 2025.

The trio found momentum and reached Triple-A in August, though Mayer got shut down with an injury and will have to wait to debut at the last step before the big leagues. Those players are ready to make an MLB impact at some point in 2025.

9. Speed still plays.
Cora wants dynamic players who pressure the opposition.

Duran led that group and sparked a trend across the team as the Red Sox stole 144 bases in 2024, good for fourth-most in the AL.

Boston's young core must continue that identity in 2025.

10. The Red Sox are not that far away.
A string of three postseason absences is not very inspiring. With that said, the right moves this offseason will have the Red Sox ready to push their way to the top of the AL playoff race in 2025.

There's starting pitching to stabilize the rotation. There are exciting offensive players in Boston. There are star prospects ready to make an impact and begin their MLB journeys.

That should offer an intriguing season for the Red Sox in 2025.