Red Sox Named Among Three Teams ‘Actively Trying’ To Win AL East

MLB senior writer Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently called the Boston Red Sox one of the “most improved” teams of the offseason.

That was before they agreed to a five-year, $130 million deal with 2024 All-Star starting pitcher Ranger Suarez.

Following the Suarez news, ESPN senior writer David Schoenfield argued that the Red Sox’s roster “looks like one that can win the division.”

The Athletic’s Chad Jennings broke down the 30 MLB teams into “offseason tiers” on Tuesday and argued that Boston is one of just three squads that is “actively trying to win the AL East.”

The Red Sox and MLB writer placed Boston in the same group as the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays, who have also been busy this winter.

“Starter Ranger Suárez is their only Major League free-agent signing, but the Red Sox have completed a whopping 10 trades this winter — seriously, 10! — most notably adding first baseman Willson Contreras and starter Sonny Gray in different deals with the Cardinals,” Jennings wrote. “They’ve transformed their rotation behind lefty ace Garrett Crochet but could still use an infield replacement for third baseman Alex Bregman.”

President of baseball operations Craig Breslow’s biggest moves aside from the Suarez deal came via trade when Boston acquired both first baseman Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals in separate transactions.

Jennings put the other two divisional rivals in different tiers.

Amid a slow offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays were placed in the “definitely doing … something” tier.

Still without a major free agency signing, the New York Yankees were put in the “technically still the Yankees” category.