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The Boston Red Sox have had a tough time this season, with a record of 25-34, 11 games behind first place in the AL East, and four games behind the last slot of the AL Wild Card.
Red Sox GM Craig Breslow constructed this roster to put defense first, and to upgrade their starting pitching, which was basically just Garrett Crochet last season. However, Breslow really never had to solve this problem, if he didn’t create it in the first place.
The Red Sox already had star pitchers
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When Breslow took over in the winter of 2022, he had a World Series champion and Cy Young contender in Chris Sale, and a stud in Nick Pivetta. Breslow traded Sale after just one season, and let Nick Pivetta walk after the next.
Now? Chris Sale finally won the Cy Young in 2024, where he went 18-3, had a 2.38 ERA, and is still doing great. Pivetta has evolved into an ace for the San Diego Padres, where just last season he had a 2.87 ERA and was sixth place for the 2025 NL Cy Young.
Breslow hasn’t stopped giving up talent recently, either. He traded for Kyle Harrison when Boston gave Rafael Devers the boot, kept him for half a season, and then traded him to the Brewers for Caleb Durbin.
This year, Harrison is the ace of the Brewers’ staff, with a 7-1 record, a 1.57 ERA, and in the top 10 for the Cy Young.
The return was negligible
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In return for Sale, the Sox got Vaughn Grissom, a top prospect who was a minor bust and is no longer on the team. They got nothing for Pivetta, as he walked in free agency.
As for Harrison, the Sox got Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler, who was called up today. Durbin was supposed to be the Sox’s answer to losing Alex Bregman, and while he’s heating up now, for the better part of the season he was awful offensively.
Overall, the Sox’s return for the stars they gave up was nothing to be proud about.
Breslow’s seat should be burning
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Within the three seasons and change that Breslow has been in charge, the Red Sox have been mediocre with only last year as an outlier.
If the Sox aren’t able to at least make the playoffs this season before a potential lockout, Breslow’s place as Chairman of Baseball Operations should be called into question.
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