Craig Breslow Reveals Red Sox’s Outlook On Free Agency, Trade Markets

The Boston Red Sox have roughly two months to explore the offseason markets — trade and free agency — to improve their roster after the organization endured a third consecutive postseason swing-and-miss last season.

Boston took a handful of injured-list punches, engaged in the trade market by making several last-minute acquisitions that didn’t pan out and fell flat by going 11-15 in September to finish the year an even 81-81. That leaves everything on the front office and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow moving forward as the franchise strives to turn the page and re-establish its place as a legitimate postseason contender.

Step 1: engage in the offseason market.

“We’ll be open to both,” Breslow said, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. “We do have a bunch of position players that we feel really good about, and we’ve got to figure out how we maximize their value, whether that’s in Boston or elsewhere. But at the same time, I’ve talked for a while about how the recipe for success here has been homegrown talent supplemented via free agency, and I don’t see that changing. We’ll be open to both.”

Last offseason, the Red Sox dug into the free agency list and signed right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito to a two-year, $38.5 million contract. Giolito, however, underwent season-ending surgery on his right elbow to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament during spring training. The 30-year-old opted into his $19 million contract option for 2025, and a spot in Boston’s rotation will be waiting for him once the team convenes back in Fort Myers, Florida to commence spring training.

But it’ll take more than Giolito’s long-awaited, belated Red Sox debut.

Relief pitchers Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin, and outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who led the Red Sox in home runs (31) in 2024, are the team’s biggest losses to the open market. Boston extended a qualifying offer worth $21.05 million to pitcher Nick Pivetta, who was also an impending free agent entering the offseason, leaving plenty of work left to do to fill whatever voids open — on top of the already existing areas to improve on.

Boston led the American League in errors (115), which continued a trend that dragged the franchise’s optimistic run throughout 2023. The bullpen and offense collapsed in September too, turning a sliver-of-hope shot at October baseball into a quick U-turn right back to non-contention territory in the bottom end of the division.

Breslow, on several instances, has already vocalized commitment on the organization’s behalf to do whatever is necessary to prevent a déjà vu finish to 2025.