Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow remains confident that the team can still mount a significant postseason push, despite trading three-time All-Star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants and enduring a recent string of losses. As of now, the Red Sox hold a 40-42 record amid growing challenges but continue to believe in their competitive prospects.
“There’s obviously a lot of baseball between now and then, but we absolutely went into this season with the expectation that we were going to compete,”
Breslow said during a recent interview on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show.
Impact of Losing Devers on Team Performance and Prospects Received
The decision to trade Devers on June 15 raised questions given the timing and the team‘s trajectory. At the moment of the trade, the Red Sox were riding a five-game winning streak after sweeping the New York Yankees, sitting at 37-36. Since then, without Devers, Boston has gone 3-6.
In return, Boston acquired four players, most notably right-hander Jordan Hicks. Hicks has struggled this season, posting a 6.47 ERA across 13 appearances, including nine starts, and is currently on the injured list due to right toe inflammation. Alongside Hicks, the Red Sox received three minor league prospects: left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, who spent three years in the majors with a 4.48 ERA over 39 games, but is currently with Triple-A Worcester; outfielder James Tibbs III, ranked No. 8 among Boston prospects by soxprospects.com; and right-handed pitcher Jose Bello, ranked No. 45.
While these players represent potential future assets, none have yet improved the Red Sox’s immediate competitiveness.
Plans for Strengthening the Roster Before the Trade Deadline
According to Breslow, the trade was influenced in part by financial flexibility, as it removed Devers’ hefty contract—over $250 million through 2033—and increased farm system depth. This financial relief positions Boston to be active buyers before the July 31 trade deadline.
“And looking to the trade deadline as an opportunity to bolster the team, that’s still where our heads are. We want to add to this team. We want to improve our chances down the stretch, because we still think that this is a team that’s capable of making a deep postseason run, and it’s one that we believe in,”
Breslow emphasized.
He also stated:
“We would be looking to improve our team. We’d be looking to improve our team for 2025, because despite the fact that we haven’t been able to string together the consistent performance that we think we’re capable of, we’re still very much staring down wild card chances, and nobody has really run away with the AL East. And so, as we start to get healthy, and we start to look externally about ways that we can improve the team, we think we’ve got a good chance to make a deep, deep postseason run.”
Current Standings and Upcoming Challenges
The Red Sox remain only one game behind the Seattle Mariners, who currently hold the final American League Wild Card spot with a 41-38 record. Boston’s position is precarious, as no team in the AL East has yet pulled decisively ahead; the division-leading New York Yankees recently lost nine of 12 games, leaving the division competitive.
Still, Boston must improve its recent inconsistency to stay in the playoff conversation and advance beyond it. A key opportunity lies in the upcoming three-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays, who lead the AL East by 3.5 games. That series begins Friday at Fenway Park and could serve as an important turning point for the struggling team.
Additional Team Updates and Trade Rumors
The Red Sox face further challenges, as starting pitcher Kutter Crawford is expected to miss the entire 2025 season following an off-field injury. In addition, veteran starter Walker Buehler is reportedly attracting significant trade interest, especially if Boston decides to refocus its efforts elsewhere this season. Discussions about potential landing spots for Buehler have intensified as the July trade deadline approaches, adding another layer of complexity to the team’s offseason planning.
Looking Ahead: Possibilities and Expectations
The Red Sox’s path forward involves balancing the development of promising young players like Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs III, and Jose Bello with the urgency to add impact players before the trade deadline. Despite the uncertainty and recent setbacks, Boston’s leadership remains hopeful that the financial flexibility gained from the Rafael Devers trade will enable the roster to become more competitive in the short and long term.
With the AL East wide open and their wild card chances still alive, the coming weeks will be crucial for Boston to realign its strategy and push for a deeper run into October baseball.