Red Sox Seek Second Ace as Opening Day Arrives

BOSTON, Mass. – The Boston Red Sox are entering the 2025 MLB season with a surge of optimism, a stark contrast to the mediocrity that has plagued the team in recent years.

For the past three seasons, Red Sox fans expressed frustration over the team’s lack of significant roster improvements. However, following a robust offseason, Boston now finds itself among the American League favorites, largely due to the addition of new ace Garrett Crochet, acquired in a high-profile trade with the Chicago White Sox last December.

“The Red Sox needed a certified number one for their rotation, and they finally have that in Crochet,” said Red Sox analyst Jacob Mountz. “His presence alone has reinvigorated the team’s prospects this season.”

As the season prepares to kick off, the Red Sox face challenges with the lower half of their rotation. Following a spring marred by injuries, speculation arises about another potential blockbuster trade to acquire Miami Marlins superstar Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner. Mountz predicts that Boston may pursue this opportunity during the 2025 season.

“Boston has an abundance of both cash and prospects. Acquiring a brand-new ace just makes sense for the Red Sox. And there doesn’t appear to be a more sought-after ace than Sandy Alcantara,” he noted.

Alcantara, 29, has two years remaining on his $56 million arbitration extension with the Marlins, excluding a 2027 club option worth $21 million. After a solid spring where he threw 12.1 innings without allowing a single earned run, Alcantara is poised to reclaim his former dominance after missing the entire 2024 season due to injury.

Despite needing to leverage their farm system even further to acquire Alcantara, Red Sox management recognizes the opportunity presented by a competitive American League. This may compel them to act decisively to secure a long-awaited playoff run.

In addition to their pitching strategy, the team is adapting to changes on the field as well. Rafael Devers will transition to a full-time designated hitter role this season after initially expressing reluctance to shift from third base. Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed the change, citing Devers’ previous unwillingness to concede his position due to the arrival of Alex Bregman.

“I’m ready to start the season. I’m feeling good,” Devers said on Wednesday through translator Daveson Perez. “No difference in preparing for at-bats as a DH. I have the same sequence that I always do to go out there and hit. Nothing changes. I’m excited to get going. Spring training is way too long.”

This transition not only solidifies Bregman’s spot at third base but also opens a doorway for rookie Kristian Campbell to debut on Opening Day. Cora emphasized Devers’ importance in the batting lineup, stating that he would bat second against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers.

The last time the Red Sox repositioned a left-handed slugger to a full-time DH role, they famously won their first World Series in 86 years. Seven years after their last championship, many fans are hopeful that history might repeat itself in 2025.