If you found it a little strange that Sonny Gray was considering retiring after one of the best seasons of his career, Sonny apparently agrees with you. Though he hinted all season that he could hang up the crooked hat for good this winter, Gray confirmed that he will return to Major League Baseball in 2027. Now the question is: with what team? “My family and I have talked about it and it’s an easy decision,” Gray said. “I still want to win a World Series, whether that is [with] Boston or with whoever wants me.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Another member of the 2026 Red Sox who isn’t done with baseball? That would be Alex Cora. But given that he’s getting married in November and, like the rest of us, seeing a looming lockout on the horizon, he’s taking his time. Cora recently turned down the manager’s job with the Phillies — for the second time in the last six months. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
The loss of Gray in free agency would certainly hurt the Red Sox. But, thankfully, starting pitching is the strongest area of the team. We all know the weakest: power hitting, particularly from the right side. For two years in a row now Craig Breslow has pledged to add power to the Sox lineup. But, this year, he’s already throwing up a note of caution. “I think as teams become more competitive, there are fewer and fewer teams that are willing to move current major league talent because everyone wants to be competitive,” he said. “So we’ll have to be creative in figuring out how we improve our roster.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Adley Rutschman didn’t provide all that much of a power boost when he joined the Sox late this season, but he is nonetheless one of the best offensive catchers out there. So will the Sox look to extend him before he enters free agency next offseason? Craig Breslow isn’t tipping his hand. “What I would say is that Adley stepped in as our primary catcher in the middle of a season, which is not easy to do,” Breslow said. “Especially when pitching is a strength for our team. He immediately endeared himself to the pitching staff, to the coaching staff, to the clubhouse. Just a really, really high-quality teammate and leader. As to the other question, I think that’s something that will develop internally. Any conversations about what Adley’s future looks like will take place between Adley, his representatives and me.” (Patrick McAvoy, SI.com)
David Ortiz also thinks there’s something missing from this Red Sox roster, but the slugger isn’t focusing on home runs. “We seemed shy. We seemed a little [concerned]. We seem a little scared when we go into those series. … We need attitude, bro. … I haven’t seen that this past couple of years going into the Bronx,” Papi said. “You know what I’m saying? And I tell you what, man, when you go to play in the Bronx, you better be ready. You better be ready.” (Conor Ryan, Boston.com)
And, following the Yankees subsequent playoff exit against the Rays, Ortiz had similar criticism of the pinstripes. “I never played for the Yankees, but I competed a lot against the Yankees,” said Ortiz. “There’s one thing that I can see missing from the Yankees. It is culture. There are a lot of little things that in the long run, they start catching up.” (Hayden Bird, Boston.com)
