What in the world is happening to the Boston Red Sox?
A team that was once the pride of Major League Baseball, winning three World Series in a decade (2004-2013), now sits at .500 (70-70) with a slim 8.2% chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs.
They’re in the middle of a five-game losing streak, 5.5 games back from the last wild card spot. The outlook is dim not just for the remainder of this season, but beyond.
To find out how the Sox got here, we need to look back at a series of questionable decisions and a troubling shift in philosophy.
The 2018 championship, led by MVP Mookie Betts, seemed like a crowning achievement, but it masked deep cracks in the foundation. That was also Alex Cora’s first year as manager—a man now synonymous with multiple cheating scandals.
Since then, Cora’s tenure has been anything but smooth. He’s averaged just 83 wins per season, excluding the pandemic-shortened season and that glorious 2018 run.
Cora isn’t solely to blame for Boston’s woes, but it’s hard to ignore his involvement in two tainted titles and the fact that the Red Sox front office, led by owner John Henry, rewarded him with another contract extension through 2027.
The extension feels oddly misplaced for a manager whose record—outside of 2018—has been average at best.
Henry’s leadership has become a lightning rod for fan frustration. He once held immense respect, but his recent comments to the Financial Times about the reality of winning championships have only worsened his standing with Red Sox Nation, as he hinted that annual championship aspirations are unrealistic, stating that the odds are actually "one in 20 or one in 30 (years)."
Boston fans aren’t buying into those odds—especially not when their team is valued by Forbes at $4.5 billion, with a $500 million revenue in 2023.
What’s more concerning is how the Red Sox are operating as a big-market team with a small-market mentality. Since 2020, they’ve consistently stayed below the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, signaling a shift in the organization’s priorities.
When they traded Mookie Betts in 2020, it was a loud declaration that spending big to stay competitive was no longer part of the plan.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 4, 2024
In 2022, the CBT threshold was $230 million, yet the Red Sox spent just $211.8 million. This year, they’re even lower at $189.2 million, with the CBT set at $233 million. They aren’t even close to spending up to the threshold, raising legitimate questions about management's commitment to winning.
The impact of this penny-pinching extends to the players. Stars like third baseman Rafael Devers, who just signed a long-term extension, must be wondering what the future holds for them. Devers has grown increasingly frustrated with the media, perhaps reflecting dissatisfaction with the front office's operations. The team's unwillingness to spend big or find a steady leader could lead to an eventual divorce.
The solution is simple: Boston needs to stop cutting corners and start investing in its future. This isn't just about spending more on payroll—it's about building a modern, robust scouting and development system to compete with smaller market teams that are outmaneuvering them.
Big-market teams like the Red Sox shouldn't be falling behind in talent acquisition and development. The front office needs to prioritize long-term success, not just patchwork fixes. That means putting resources toward hiring the best scouts and player developers and creating a system capable of turning raw talent into future stars.
The Red Sox aren't a team that should be making excuses, but they’ve been acting like one. With the right commitment, Boston can return to the powerhouse status it once held, but the team's philosophy has done little to inspire confidence in such a turnaround.
