Boston manager Alex Cora said the Red Sox will stay aggressive after bold offseason moves.
The New York Yankees’ archrivals are coming for them. After making a big splash this winter by acquiring Garrett Crochet and signing third baseman Alex Bregman, Walker Buehler and former Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, the Boston Red Sox sent a message that they are going to be aggressive about winning the American League East this season.
“We talked about winning the last few years, a thing that we haven’t done,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters on Saturday. “I think the front office talked — we talked as an organization at the end of last year’s season, and [concluded] we need to be more aggressive in the offseason and execute.
“So far, we’ve done a good job. We haven’t stopped, though. We aren’t done yet; we’re still trying to improve the roster, which is the most important thing. I think the guys in the clubhouse, they understand that.”
New Boston Red Sox slugger Alex Bregman.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA standings have the Red Sox finishing less than a game behind the Yankees in the American League East with 88.5 projected wins. The Yankees are projected to finish first in the division with 89.3 wins and second in the American League behind the Texas Rangers with 90.7 wins.
The Red Sox have reloaded after three straight seasons of finishing no better than third in the division. Boston last won the AL East in 2018, when they then beat the Yankees in the playoffs and won the World Series.
The Yankees have already acknowledged they feel the heat from the Red Sox this winter.
The Yankees, however, are likely not done with their offseason moves as well.
They head into the first full-squad workout with a big question mark still hanging over their infield. All winter, there’s been speculation the Yankees would trade veteran starter Marcus Stroman, who has already created an issue with his role this spring. The Yankees are also gambling on top prospect Jasson Dominguez’s ability to transition to an everyday big leaguer and win the left field job this spring.