The last 48 or so hours have been a turbulent one for the Boston Red Sox. Following the news of Alex Bregman signing a five-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, people are still in shock about what has transpired. Between losing out on Bregman, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and whether they are legitimately in for Bo Bichette or any other top-end free agent talent, people don’t know what to make of this franchise.
People are wondering what the plan is, if there is a concrete one, for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, CEO Sam Kennedy, and owner John Henry moving forward. Somehow, despite all of the questions, the fallout, the shock of it all, ESPN still believes that the Red Sox are still in the Top 10 in the latest MLB Stock Watch. How can that be, especially after Bregman is on his way to Chicago?
Red Sox Keeping Stock in the Top 10
As we draw closer to the start of Spring Training next month, Bradford Doolittle of ESPN did a recent midwinter progress report on all 30 MLB teams. Moreover, it was where each team’s stock was at this point, with the hot stove turning up the heat.
Regarding the Red Sox, Doolittle still had them within the top 10, even with Bregman taking his services to the Cubs. More specifically, he has the team ranked ninth out of the 30 MLB teams, one ahead of the Detroit Tigers. He broke it down to win average, in the playoffs, and champions for each team. Per the last stock watch, the Red Sox were ninth with a win average of 86.9. According to the new piece from Doolittle, Boston was still ninth with the same win average.
When it came to in the playoffs, he previously had the Red Sox at 56.2%; now they’re at 56.6%. In terms of being the champions, Doolittle had them at 5.1%; now they’re sitting at 4.3%. It makes it interesting that when looking at the numbers, the Red Sox are still viewed as a playoff team, and a group to win almost 87 games in 2026. All of that after losing out on multiple big bats and Bregman, who was their Plan A option. Now, what is Plan B? But it seems Doolittle and ESPN believe they are still a team to do something this upcoming season.
This is what Doolittle said about the Red Sox specifically: “Craig Breslow has set the Red Sox up with one of the game’s best rotations. The depth chart goes six-deep with veterans, led by Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, and Brayan Bello, then adds the depth and upside of young hurlers Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, and Kyle Harrison. Only the Dodgers have a better park-neutral rotation ERA forecast and a higher projected dominance factor.”
He goes on to talk about how the offense still needs work, but if they add one more key piece, they could move even further up the stock report: “The offense could use an upgrade considering its Bregman-sized hole. Bregman not only provided needed injections of contact and patience — while aiding an already-strong defense — but he provided cover against a Trevor Story collapse, as Marcelo Mayer could slide in at shortstop. It feels like Boston is one key move from making it into that crowded second tier, putting the Red Sox on even footing with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees.”
The thing is, who’s the big key move to vault the Red Sox to within the top six of the stock report?
What’s the Plan?
After the Bregman news, it seems like Bo Bichette is the likely primary target for the Red Sox. However, he is projected by The Athletic to sign for eight years, $212 million. If the Red Sox were not willing to give Bregman what he wanted, why would they be in for Bichette?
Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic stated in a recent article, “If Boston’s greatest reservation was about Bregman’s age and the length of the deal rather than the actual money spent, then signing Bichette makes the most sense. He’s already said he’s willing to move from shortstop to second base, an area of need for the Red Sox.”
If Bichette is the guy for the Red Sox, they need to get that gone asap. The Red Sox cannot afford to drop any further back in the AL East, which is already loaded after the Baltimore Orioles and the Blue Jays got better this offseason. Plus, the Yankees aren’t going to roll over either, even if they sometimes have cried poor this offseason. Regarding the Red Sox, it’s high time they get a move done, and soon, or they will be left behind, regardless of whether their stock is in the top 10 according to ESPN.
After making the postseason in 2025, they need to take the next step. Point blank.