Why Jonathan Papelbon Believes Red Sox Can Make World Series Run

The Boston Red Sox made enough offseason moves to get back into the American League contender conversation.

They’ll still have to meet the challenge within the American League East against the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles, though both of those teams have noticeable deficiencies in their starting rotations.

There’s real steam for Boston to win its first division title since 2018, which would be the harder task at hand. If the Red Sox return to the postseason for the first time since 2021, they can make something special happen in what feels like a wide-open American League.

NESN analyst and former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon believes that can happen, as long as the team stays healthy and steadies some preseason drama.

“They’ll go a long way, possibly to the World Series,” Papelbon told NESN.com. “A lot’s going to have to happen in order for that to happen. Like I said, there’s going to have to be guys who step up who you’ve never heard of or didn’t expect to. Perennial All-Stars have to do what they do.”

The Red Sox begin their path Thursday afternoon against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. You can catch the game on NESN.