Boston Red Sox

Wasn't this team supposed to be decent? How did it reach this level of futility?

By Trevor Hass

June 25, 2026 | 2:29 PM

4 minutes to read

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COMMENTARY

When asked to assess the frustration level following yet another disheartening loss last Thursday, Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray didn’t hesitate or hold back.

Gray, now 9-1 with a 2.95 ERA, said he can’t speak on behalf of the group but can speak on behalf of himself. 

“It’s very frustrating,” Gray said. “We’re not good. We’re just not a good team right now. That’s just a fact.”

A few months ago, that statement would have been debatable, as the Red Sox responded from a sluggish start and teetered between respectability and futility. Now, as Gray bluntly and accurately stated, it’s a fact. 

The last-place Red Sox (32-46) are 5-11 in their last 16 games and showing no signs of a team capable of regaining momentum. A brutal loss to the lowly Rockies on Monday and another collapse Wednesday encapsulated the season, as the Red Sox found a way to lose in dramatic fashion.

This team keeps doing exactly that. Whether the pitching is on and the hitting is off or vice versa, complete performances are sorely missing. 

So, how did it get this bad, who’s to blame, and what’s the solution?

The offseason

It’s easy to look back now and say the Red Sox should have done this, this, this and this in hindsight. 

Even in the moment, though, it was clear they didn’t do enough to upgrade their lineup. They should have known they needed another power bat or two and tinkered the roster accordingly. 

While certain players have underachieved, and injuries have been a factor, they should have realized it wasn’t going to work from the start. They banked on too many young players taking significant leaps and didn’t construct a well-rounded roster with depth or firepower.

Ownership expected a 1999 Toyota with 150,000 miles to magically run smoothly with faulty brakes and a crack in the windshield. 

The slow start

The first 10 games were not kind to the Red Sox, as they started 2-8 and offered a glimpse into the future. The next few weeks were better, as they responded and inched closer to .500, yet they couldn’t get over the hump.

Then, Alex Cora was fired, which felt like a waving-the-white-flag decision in late April. Interim manager Chad Tracy has largely pushed the right buttons so far, but he was dealt a tough hand and wasn’t put in a position to succeed. 

Injuries galore

While it was unfair to expect Roman Anthony to morph into Ted Williams overnight, it was fair to expect him to build upon last year’s promising campaign. An injury quickly derailed those plans.

Garrett Crochet couldn’t find a rhythm, and before he got a chance to regain his mojo, an injury got in the way.

Trevor Story was slumping and couldn’t dig his way out before he was sidelined as well. Other injuries to contributors have emerged at pivotal junctures and prevented this team from playing as a whole unit.

Injuries happen in sports, but this team wasn’t built to withstand the storm that came its way.

Young players not developing

The Red Sox banked on players such as Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, Nick Sogard, Caleb Durbin (who has been better lately) and Anthony taking the next step. 

Acquiring young talent is great, but they needed more veterans to complement those players. Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Payton Tolle, and Connelly Early have developed nicely, so give them credit, but they’re putting too much faith into the youth movement as a whole.

Close, but no cigar

The Red Sox are 5-12 in one-run games and 7-14 in two-run games. That’s hard to do in general, and especially with Aroldis Chapman on the roster.

Even Chapman has looked human lately. The bullpen could use another arm or two to minimize the anxiety that surfaces when the Red Sox enter the late stages of a tight game.

This team just isn’t clutch. There’s not much more to say on that topic.

So, what’s next?

Well, barring a miraculous turnaround (it’s not happening), this season is a lost cause. It’s time to accept that and adjust accordingly at the trade deadline and in the offseason.

The Red Sox have a solid rotation overall and should move forward with Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Payton Tolle, and Connelly Early. Brayan Bello is a wait-and-see situation, but the talent is still there and they shouldn’t abandon hope entirely just yet.

Next year’s lineup needs two or three more veteran presences – ideally one or two with significant power – to complement Anthony, Abreu, and Rafaela. Trading either Jarren Duran or Masataka Yoshida and Chapman may end up making the most sense, and it would be OK to include Mayer, Connor Wong, Carlos Narváez, or Andruw Monasterio in a deal. 

In the offseason, they should pursue an infielder with pop and swagger to pair with Willson Contreras. The Red Sox have to adopt the mindset of the Celtics and Patriots, who embody a win-now philosophy. Retooling doesn’t have to mean rebuilding entirely.

Player development certainly matters, but they need to make a major splash soon or an already-disgrunted fan base will continue to lose interest as the ship continues to sink.