Red Sox eliminated by Yankees in Wild Card sweep, look to offseason changes

The Boston Red Sox were swept by the New York Yankees in the two-game Wild Card series, losing the final game 9-2 at Yankee Stadium and ending their season with an 18-2 run differential. The loss follows a season that saw the Red Sox finish 89-73, a slight decline from the previous year, and miss the postseason after a mid-season surge.

Manager Alex Cora was dismissed after a 10-17 start, and the team rebounded with a 32-5 stretch before slipping to a 23-24 record in the final 47 games. Despite adding All-Stars Willson Contreras, Ranger Suárez and pitcher Sonny Gray in the offseason, Boston fell short of expectations.

A key offseason priority will be addressing the hand injury that limited rookie Roman Anthony, who appeared in only 55 games and missed the Wild Card series. Anthony, a highly regarded prospect signed to an eight-year, $130 million contract, said the injury involved “the same thing that happened early on in the year plus additional strains.”

The Red Sox also aim to increase power hitting. The team hit 163 home runs, the fifth-fewest in the league, down from 186 the previous season. Improvements could come from a healthy Anthony, catcher Adley Rutschman, and potential contributions from recent acquisition Curtis Mead, while second-base options may be explored.

Pitcher Sonny Gray, a free-agent candidate, has not confirmed his plans for 2027. He indicated he will “take today for today, take tomorrow for tomorrow,” leaving his future uncertain. Boston’s rotation includes several pitchers under contract through 2027, providing depth even if Gray departs.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is expected to evaluate roster composition, including the status of reliever Brayan Bello, outfielder Jarren Duran, and other pieces, as the club prepares for the 2027 season.