Red Sox predicted to have a ‘safe’ offseason, according to ESPN analyst

“If anyone is the odd man out, it’s probably him, so he’s the one most likely to get traded."

Alex Bregman could be hitting the open market later this winter. Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe

October 14, 2025

2 minutes to read

Craig Breslow and the Red Sox have plenty of work to do this winter if they want to build off a brief playoff appearance in 2025.

Beyond Boston’s need to acquire another established starting pitcher and add more pop to their lineup, the Red Sox also have to make several calls when it comes to retaining established talent on the roster.

There stands a chance that two of the Red Sox’s top sluggers in Trevor Story and Alex Bregman will opt out of their current deals in hit free agency — with Bregman in particular looking like a viable flight risk as he searches for a long-term deal.

But, for all of the uncertainty looming over the Red Sox in terms of how they carry over momentum after this season’s strides, ESPN’s David Schoenfield isn’t expecting a major exodus of talent from Boston’s roster in the coming months.

“I think the Red Sox will play it safe and bring back a similar roster, starting with re-signing Bregman. They could then slide (Marcelo) Mayer to second base,” Schoenfield wrote. “That still would leave four outfielders plus (Kristian) Campbell, who started the season with a lot of helium after making the Opening Day roster, but his defense at second wasn’t good, and he didn’t rip up Triple-A after getting sent down.

“If anyone is the odd man out, it’s probably him, so he’s the one most likely to get traded. Bringing back (Lucas) Giolito — assuming he’s healthy after missing the postseason with an elbow injury —also makes sense, as he wouldn’t break the bank but would fill a need. If he’s deemed too risky, a veteran such as Merrill Kelly or, if the Red Sox want to spend bigger, Framber Valdez or Shane Bieber, makes sense.”

Giolito’s return would further bolster Boston’s rotation, as the starter now has a $19 million mutual option for the 2025 that could decline if he wanted to test his fortunes in free agency.

The 31-year-old righty went 10-4 this season with a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts, although he did miss Boston’s postseason after dealing with an elbow injury.

Waiting on Bregman’s free-agency decision and deciding whether or not to retain the 31-year-old third baseman likely stands as the first order of business for the Red Sox.

Speaking on NESN’s “310 To Left” podcast last week, Alex Cora remained positive about Bregman’s odds of sticking with Boston beyond 2025.

“He chose us last year for the right reasons,” Cora said. “He wanted to be on a playoff team. He wanted to play in Fenway Park. He wanted to be part of this organization. Since Day 1, he’s given 100 percent to us.

“Talking to the kids, talking to the veteran players, the way he handled the media, the way he impacted the community — adding all that stuff together, I got to stay positive about it. The kid is a really good player. He’s a great person. He’s a great teammate.”