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‘They’re in a great spot’: Former MLB GM explained why he has an optimistic view of the Red Sox in 2026
"I love where the Red Sox are positioned right now."
Steve Phillips weighed in on the Red Sox: After ending the 2025 season on a relative high note — a playoff appearance for the first time since 2021 — the Red Sox appear to be a trendy pick to do even better in 2026.
“If I’m buying stock, I’m buying Red Sox stock right now,” said former Mets general manager Steve Phillips during a Wednesday interview on MLB Network.
Phillips cited Boston’s strong roster and payroll versatility.
“They’ve got financial flexibility after moving Rafael Devers and with [Alex] Bregman coming off the books,” he explained. “Sure they’ve got a hole there now, but they could [re-sign] Bregman, and sign Pete Alonso and still be within the money of what they had in their budget this year for Bregman and Devers.
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“They’re in a great spot,” Phillips continued. “They’ve got money to spend, they’ve got major league depth and a surplus in the outfield that if they want to trade [them], people covet their outfielders.”
Speculation over which Boston outfielder(s) could be dealt in the offseason has ramped up in recent weeks. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan offered a bullish take on the potential of a Red Sox offseason deal involving either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu.
“The Red Sox almost surely will deal one of them,” Passan wrote. “There aren’t enough at-bats in the lineup for both, especially if they add another bat in free agency.”
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Beyond that component, Phillips likes additional parts of Boston’s sytem.
“They’ve got a terrific farm system as well,” he said. “Any deal that’s out there — free agent, they could sign the guy — they could be the highest bidder. Trade deal? They’ve got major league players if that’s what you want. You want prospects? They’ve got that too. They can be [in] on everybody.”
“I love where the Red Sox are positioned right now. They were a playoff team in 2025 and I think they can be really good in ’26.”
Trivia: What former Red Sox MVP winner did Steve Phillips acquire for the Mets in a Dec. 2001 trade from the Angels?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He won A.L. MVP in 1995.
Scores and schedules:
The Bruins lost to the Ducks on Wednesday 4-3. Boston will face the Kings in Los Angeles on Friday night at 10:30 p.m.
The Celtics face the Nets on Friday at TD Garden, with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. in the group stage matchup of the NBA Cup.
The Patriots travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Also on Sunday, the Boston Fleet begin the 2025-26 season at the Tsongas Center against the Montreal Victoire at 1 p.m.
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On this day: In 1928, the Boston Garden hosted its first game shortly after opening, though the Bruins lost to the Canadiens 1-0.
Daily highlight: Enjoy this emphatic windmill dunk from Bryant’s Quincy Allen, though Virginia Tech ended up winning it 78-61 in the end.
Trivia answer: Mo Vaughn
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