Unfortunately, the Red Sox came just short of needing a playoff edition of our rankings.
The MLB playoffs begin today, but the Boston Red Sox will not be participating, unfortunately. Despite remaining competitive for much of the season, the Sox ran out of gas down the stretch, ultimately finishing at an even 81-81.
Even though they missed out on October baseball, the Sox’ year had plenty of successes mixed in, especially for a team that was projected to finish dead last in the American League East before the year began.
Several players broke out while some stalwarts shined. Of course, there were also some contributors who disappointed. We’re here today to highlight both sides and everything in between in the season finale of our monthly player power rankings.
A quick note on eligibility and criteria: In most editions of this series, we primarily weigh performance over the previous month. For the finale, however, we’ll be evaluating each player’s entire body of work in 2024.
In addition, we’ll also be using slightly different criteria for inclusion than usual. As always, all players who appeared in a game for the Red Sox in the last month and are still within the organization are eligible. But we’ll also be including anyone who logged at least 30 plate appearances or 10 innings pitched over the course of the season to ensure as full a picture of the roster from start to finish as possible, just like we did last year.
That’s it for the preamble, let’s get to the rankings.
Editor’s Note: The previous rankings included 35 players.
44. Mickey Gasper (Previous Rank: 33)
Gasper, who made his MLB debut in August, went 0-for-18 at the MLB level this year.
43. Brad Keller (Previous Rank: 35)
Keller signed two minor league contracts with the Red Sox this summer, as he was dropped by the Chicago White Sox (as well as the Red Sox themselves). His results on the campaign might tell you why (5.44 ERA in 41 1/3 innings).
42. Jamie Westbrook (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
Westbrook was part of the season-long game of musical chairs the Red Sox played at second base. The 29-year-old played in 21 games across stints in June and July at the MLB level but produced just a 55 wRC+.
41. Bobby Dalbec (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
Despite being DFA’d and sent off in style, Dalbec is still within the organization after he cleared waivers in early September. Given his continued struggles to hit much of anything with the Red Sox the last few years, it’s not that surprising another team didn’t want to scoop him up.
40. Reese McGuire (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
McGuire appeared in 53 games and posted a 60 wRC+ as the Red Sox’s primary backup catcher before he was DFA’d in late July. The 29-year-old has spent the better part of the last three seasons with the Red Sox and is up for arbitration this offseason.
39. Zach Penrod (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
One of several September call-ups for the Red Sox, Penrod got his first taste of MLB action on Sept. 14, throwing a scoreless frame against the New York Yankees. He only managed four total innings over the final month of the season, including his final outing when he didn’t record an out. It’s tough to make much of four innings, but the 27-year-old will always be able to call himself a big leaguer even if he doesn’t get back again. And if he does, all the better.
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38. Bailey Horn (Previous Rank: 34)
Horn finished the year in Triple-A after logging 18 total innings this season amid several brief call-ups. The 26-year-old didn’t impress in those chances, walking five batters per nine innings and recording a ghastly ERA (6.50) and even worse FIP (7.00).
37. Chase Shugart (Previous Rank: 29)
Shugart made his MLB debut on Aug. 15 and then got a few more chances throughout the last month and a half, pitching to a 4.15 ERA in 8 2/3 total innings. It wasn’t much, but perhaps he’ll get more opportunities next year.
36. Vaughn Grissom (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
Grissom’s season was marred by injuries, as he logged just 31 games played. When he was on the field, the 23-year-old looked overmatched, as he managed a minuscule 28 wRC+ in 114 plate appearances. He still has time to develop and ideally won’t be dealt an unlucky hand injury-wise next year. However, given the Red Sox got him in a trade that sent Chris Sale away to potentially win the NL Cy Young Award, if Grissom doesn’t improve, that deal will look more lopsided than it already does.
35. Lucas Sims (Previous Rank: 32)
Craig Breslow certainly made some deals at the trade deadline, but they mostly hurt more than they helped. Sims had an unsightly 6.43 ERA and 6.09 FIP in 14 innings after being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds. I doubt the Red Sox will re-up with the right-hander this offseason.
34. Luis García (Previous Rank: 31)
García, another trade deadline acquisition, also struggled in a Red Sox uniform. He manged just a 7.98 ERA (5.28 FIP) in 14 2/3 innings with the Red Sox and also dealt with some injury woes. Garcia also seems like an unlikely player to return, as he will be a free agent this offseason.
33. Quinn Priester (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
Priester just barely met the criteria for inclusion, as he made his one and only appearance in a Red Sox uniform on Sunday in the season finale. The former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect, whom the Red Sox traded for at the deadline, put up five innings of solid work in his debut with Boston. However, given his overall body production at the MLB level this season (4.71 ERA and 4.70 FIP in 49 2/3 innings), he still has some improvements to make.
32. James Paxton (Previous Rank: 23)
After returning to the Red Sox via a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Paxton pitched in three games before landing on the injured list for the rest of the campaign. He was at OK in those few outings, but the 35-year-old will be a free agent again this offseason. Time for a third go-round for Boston?
31. Luis Guerrero (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
Guerrero, a 24-year-old right-hander taken in the 17th round of the 2021 draft, made his MLB debut on Sept. 8. Over the course of nine total appearances, he did quite well, allowing zero earned runs, striking out nine batters and recording three holds. That’s quite the encouraging September call-up.
30. Richard Fitts (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
Fitts got called up to make four starts in September and you know what, he was pretty good. The 24-year-old gave up only six runs (four earned) over 20 2/3 innings, going at least five frames in all of his outings. On the negative side, he had nearly as many walks (seven) as strikeouts (nine). We’ll see what role he might have next year based on this brief audition, but my guess is he’s not destined for the full-time starting rotation just yet.
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29. Romy Gonzalez (Previous Rank: 26)
One of several utility infielders the Red Sox employed this season, Gonzalez appeared in 89 games and produced a 97 wRC+ across 216 plate appearances, putting him right around replacement level.
28. Nick Sogard (Previous Rank: 24)
Sogard logged time at every infield position across 31 games for the Red Sox after getting his first taste of MLB action in early August. His production didn’t keep up with his versatility, though, as he had just an 81 wRC+ and didn’t go yard once. At just 27, Sogard should have more opportunities in the future, but without a ton of prospect pedigree, how many remains a question.
27. Enmanuel Valdez (Previous Rank: 27)
Valdez flashed some potential this year but far too infrequently. The 25-year-old, one of many players to man the futile second base spot for the Red Sox, combined a 72 wRC+ with subpar defense to end up below replacement level. In fairness, Valdez was shipped back and forth between Worcester and Boston several times, but he’ll need to be more consistent to lock down a regular spot at the MLB level in the future.
26. Josh Winckowski (Previous Rank: 30)
Winckowski was once again a do-it-all pitcher for the Red Sox, although he moved back and forth from Worcester a handful of times as well. Across 76 innings (34 relief appearances and six starts), the 26-year-old relied on his cutter and sinker to induce groundballs en route to a 97 ERA-. It was a step back for him, but he remained a useful contributor.
25. Garrett Whitlock (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
Whitlock was solid in his very limited time on the mound in 2024 due to an elbow issue that required surgery. The right-hander is ready to start throwing again and the hope is that he’ll be up to speed for next season. He’s this high on the list because when and if he’s healthy, he can be a major difference maker.
24. Brennan Bernardino (Previous Rank: 28)
Bernardino was a critical bullpen arm for much of the season, although he ended it on the 15-day injured list. His production regressed from last year, unfortunately, as his ERA and FIP both crept over 4.00 while he struck out fewer batters and walked more than he did in 2023.
23. Danny Jansen (Previous Rank: 21)
Jansen will likely be remembered more for the fun fact he’s now a part of than his play on the field for the Red Sox. After being traded to Boston before the deadline, the 29-year-old catcher slashed just .184/.326/.303 for an 84 wRC+. He’ll be a free agent this winter and unless the Red Sox were enamored with his impressive walk rate, he’ll likely move on to another squad.
22. Cam Booser (Previous Rank: 25)
For a 32-year-old reliever who took quite the journey to get to the MLB level, Booser made the most of his first season as a big leaguer. Between a few trips between Worcester and Boston and some injury troubles, the left-hander appeared in 43 games and put up a 3.38 ERA and 3.80 FIP.
21. Zack Kelly (Previous Rank: 12)
Like many relievers these days, Kelly went back and forth from the minors throughout the season. When he was in Boston, he was OK, sporting a 3.97 ERA and 4.84 FIP over a career-high 56 2/3 innings. Walks and home runs really held him back from being a permanent member of the bullpen, so we’ll see if he can limit those more next year.
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20. David Hamilton (Previous Rank: 17)
Hamilton’s speed really stole (pardon the pun) the show in terms of his production this year. The 27-year-old snagged 33 bases while being caught only four times. The rest of his profile was less outstanding, as he had just a 92 wRC+ while being decent with his glove. While he may have things to figure out at the plate, having one elite skill will serve Hamilton well, even if he has to settle for a utility role once again next year.
19. Cooper Criswell (Previous Rank: 20)
Going by games started, Criswell was the Red Sox’s No. 5 man in the rotation this year. He acquitted himself fairly well given the role, as he had a 3.49 ERA and 4.21 FIP in 85 innings as a starter. His less successful work as a reliever pulled down his overall numbers, but with the Red Sox needing arms to take on starting duties, Criswell stepped up.
18. Ceddanne Rafaela (Previous Rank: 11)
Rafaela, who turned 24 on Sept. 18, was an exceptionally exciting player to watch as a rookie, but there are still a lot of flaws he needs to iron out. Despite his excellent defensive versatility and speed, Rafaela never found enough rhythm at the plate. He had his moments, belting 15 home runs, but his virtually invisible walk rate contributed to a far below average 79 wRC+. In all, Rafaela was worth less than a win despite playing in 152 games. While we can attribute his struggles to age to a degree, he’ll need to show drastic improvements in the next few years.
17. Rob Refsnyder (Previous Rank: 18)
Refsnyder’s ability to feast on left-handed pitching served him well this season, as he produced a 160 wRC+ against southpaws, helping to buoy his 130 mark for the year overall. However, Refsnyder was pressed into service against righties quite frequently as well, and although his bat wasn’t as potent in such situations, he remained a solid utility outfielder for much of the year regardless of who was on the mound. The Red Sox have a $2 million club option to bring Refsnyder back next year; with how integral he’s been the last couple seasons, I’d expect they’ll exercise it.
16. Greg Weissert (Previous Rank: 16)
Weissert was one of the Red Sox’s most utilized and most effective relievers this season. He pitched in a team-high 62 games and used his side-winding delivery to produce a 3.13 ERA and 3.72 FIP. He was particularly nasty in September, holding opponents scoreless across 11 2/3 innings. He’ll likely be a key cog in the bullpen machine next year as well.
15. Justin Slaten (Previous Rank: 22)
Slaten had a very strong rookie campaign, accruing the highest fWAR total among full-time Red Sox relievers (1.5). The 27-year-old right-hander had a 2.93 ERA and even better FIP (2.61) in 55 1/3 innings and he also struck out 25.9% of the batters he faced while walking only 4.0%. The Red Sox will be hoping for an encore performance next year.
14. Connor Wong (Previous Rank: 19)
Who would have thought Wong would be the last remaining player on the Red Sox from the Mookie Betts trade? Given his 2024 campaign, it seems less surprising. Granted, Wong was only worth one win, but he produced a 110 wRC+ as a catcher and socked 13 home runs. His defense remains suspect, unfortunately, or else he’d likely be one of the better backstops in baseball.
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13. Trevor Story (Previous Rank: Not Ranked)
It wasn’t a sure thing that Story would get back on the field in 2024 after he dislocated a shoulder in early April. But the 31-year-old returned in early September to play out the string. The results were solid, as he led the Red Sox in fWAR during the month (0.6) while posting a 119 wRC+ and shoring up the shortstop position. He’ll be back next year and hopefully he’ll keep it going.
12. Masataka Yoshida (Previous Rank: 2)
Despite a massively cold first few months and an unspectacular September, Yoshida still turned in an above average offensive campaign (115 wRC+), fueled by his excellent bat-to-ball skills. However, his defense and baserunning prowess remain suspect and without a ton of pop (10 home runs), it’s tough to call the entire campaign a full-on success. Still, Yoshida has proven to be competent player top have in the lineup, especially when he goes on a hot streak.
11. Chris Martin (Previous Rank: 7)
Even a 6.75 ERA in September couldn’t sink Martin’s otherwise excellent 2024, although it certainly didn’t help the Red Sox’s failed postseason push. The 38-year-old reliever set a career-low 1.7% walk rate while striking out 27.8% of the batters he faced across 44 1/3 innings this season. His 3.45 ERA was a touch higher than you might expect, but his 2.78 FIP indicates just how effective he was throughout the campaign. Martin will be a free agent this winter and given his age, retirement might be on the horizon, but he proved he still has plenty left to offer in 2024.
10. Kenley Jansen (Previous Rank: 10)
Jansen was actually a bit better in 2024 than he was when he was when he was the Red Sox’s lone All-Star representative in 2023. He improved his ERA, FIP, walk rate and home run rate. However, we’re talking marginal improvements here. At this point in his career, Jansen will likely just keep humming along posting an ERA in the threes while saving 25-30 games like he has his two years in Boston. That is unless his age catches up with him, as the now free agent ended the year on the injured list and will enter his age-37 season in 2025.
9. Kutter Crawford (Previous Rank: 14)
Crawford pitched more innings than any other Red Sox hurler, racking up 183 2/3 frames across 33 starts (also a team-high). For the most part, those innings were pretty good, although the 28-year-old right-hander couldn’t maintain his strong start to the season all year. In fact, he actually finished with worse run prevention numbers than last year overall, but he proved he could eat innings and for a Red Sox rotation that needed some stability, that had value in and of itself.
8. Nick Pivetta (Previous Rank: 13)
Capable of striking out 10 over seven shutout innings one day and getting lit up for seven runs the next, Pivetta tied with Brayan Bello for the second-most fWAR among Red Sox pitchers this season while striking out a team-best 28.9% of batters he faced and posting a just above average ERA- of 97. He’ll be sure to attract several bidders for his services as he enters free agency this winter.
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7. Brayan Bello (Previous Rank: 4)
After signing a six-year, $55 million extension prior to the season, Bello had a lot riding on his shoulders entering the 2024 campaign. As the club’s opening day starter, he struggled with ineffectiveness and injuries in the first half, but he started to turn things around after the All-Star break. From July 20 to season’s end he had a 3.47 ERA and 3.67 FIP in 72 2/3 innings, far surpassing his season-long numbers (4.49 ERA, 4.19 FIP). Ideally, he’ll build on that success and produce at such a rate (or better) from start to finish next year.
6. Triston Casas (Previous Rank: 8)
Casas missed a huge chunk of the season with a left rib strain, but when he did play, he was solid. The 24-year-old first baseman had a 119 wRC+ with 13 home runs across 243 plate appearances while walking 12.3% of the time. To take the next step toward stardom, he’ll need to cut down on the strikeouts and shore up his defense. That all seems doable, especially if he can stay healthy for most or all of next year.
5. Wilyer Abreu (Previous Rank: 1)
In his first full season in the bigs, Abreu turned in a strong campaign, posting 3.0 fWAR with a 114 wRC+ while playing strong outfield defense. He may not have flashed star power, but any team could use an above average position player who hasn’t even hit his late 20s just yet.
4. Tyler O’Neill (Previous Rank: 15)
The Red Sox signed O’Neil to a one-year deal before this past season and I’d say they got their money’s worth. The 29-year-old outfielder clocked a team-high 31 home runs and produced a 131 wRC+ across 473 plate appearances while setting a career-high in walk rate (11.2%). He also struck out a ton and was streaky as hell, but with all that power comes great responsibility? Hmm. I think I lost the plot there. Regardless, O’Neil proved he can bop and that will likely lead to a solid payday for him this winter.
3. Rafael Devers (Previous Rank: 6)
Devers was on pace for a career year before hitting a wall in August. Over the second half of the season, he had just a 95 wRC+, down from 159 before the All-Star break. He also ended the season on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. Despite the swoon down the stretch, Devers was still a four-win player who launched 28 home runs and produced a team-high 134 wRC+. He will still be the focal point of this lineup once again next year even as the Red Sox try to sort out their future around him.
2. Tanner Houck (Previous Rank: 3)
For much of the 2024 season, Houck was a Cy Young Award frontrunner. Although he fell off that pace over the back half of the campaign, he still put together an excellent year, amassing nearly 4.0 fWAR while posting a 3.12 ERA and 3.32 FIP across 178 2/3 innings. Whether Houck is actually an ace remains to be seen, but he proved that he can be a very good part of a rotation, something that wasn’t so certain just a year ago.
1. Jarren Duran (Previous Rank: 5)
Questions about Duran’s ability to build on a solid 2023 season were answered in 2024. The 28-year-old outfielder produced a 20-30 campaign (21 home runs, 34 stolen bases) while logging a team-high 6.7 fWAR, the seventh-best mark in all of baseball. He also made his first All-Star team and was a plus defender. Unfortunately, his use of a homophobic slur in an exchange with a fan stained his off-the-field reputation. The hope is that he can learn and improve from the incident just like he has on the field.