The Red Sox Need to Stop Pretending and Sell

It’s a tough time if you’re a Boston Red Sox fan.

Although the current ownership has brought the Red Sox several World Series championships, since their last victory in 2018, it’s felt as if they have given up on competing with the top franchises in the sport, such as the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Since trading centerpiece player Mookie Betts to those aforementioned Dodgers a year after winning their last World Series crown, the Red Sox have fallen back into mediocrity while Betts has gone on to win three more titles with Los Angeles, making his Red Sox tenure a footnote in his legacy.

And while the Red Sox have continued to try to make moves to get themselves back in the hunt for an American League pennant, right now, they’re near rock bottom.

Boston is last place in the American League East, and though rumors are swirling around the team that they are desperately searching for another impact bat through a trade, they need to stop and come to a realization.

It’s time to sell.

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It’s time to wave the white flag, regardless of how cowardly and embarrassing it might be, and plan for the future. Boston have two extremely valuable cornerstones of the future in outfielder Roman Anthony and ace pitcher Garrett Crochet, both 22 and 26, respectively.

While the Red Sox crossed their fingers and hoped Anthony would be the next coming of Aaron Judge, fused with Mookie Betts, he hasn’t been the instant savior they hoped he would be. And that’s fine. He’s a great 22-year-old prospect who will grow into one of the sport’s best players over the next half-decade.

But today? It’s time to sacrifice the current day to push towards a brighter tomorrow, where the lineup isn’t held together by journeymen and inexperienced youngsters.

Get what you can for Aroldis Chapman. Flip Sonny Gray to a contender who would love a reliable starting arm down the stretch. Hope some general managers can see the upside of a Jarren Duran resurgence.

The 2026 Boston Red Sox are not going to contend for the World Series. Yet, the 2026 Boston Red Sox can make moves this trade deadline that set them up to contend for a World Series in the next few seasons, if pulled off correctly.

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This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 6:47 PM.