It was supposed to be a victory lap. Think about it: the 2021 Boston Red Sox were two wins away from a World Series berth. They had the momentum, the star power, and a manager in Alex Cora who seemed to have the "magic touch." But then 2022 happened. Honestly, looking back at the red sox roster 2022, it feels less like a professional baseball team and more like a medical ward with a side of identity crisis.
They finished 78-84. Dead last in the AL East.
If you were following the team at the time, you remember the frustration. It wasn't just that they lost; it was how they lost. One day the offense would hang 10 runs on someone, and the next, the bullpen would surrender a five-run lead in the eighth inning like it was their job. It was a weird, disjointed year that basically served as the beginning of the end for the Xander Bogaerts era.
The Big Bet: Trevor Story and the Middle Infield
The headline of the 2022 offseason was the $140 million man, Trevor Story. Coming over from Colorado, everyone wondered how his power would play outside of Coors Field. Because Xander Bogaerts was still at shortstop, Story had to swallow his pride and move to second base.
It started rough. Really rough.
Story struggled to find his timing in April, and fans were already getting restless. Then came May. He went on an absolute tear, hitting grand slams and looking like the superstar Chaim Bloom paid for. But then, the theme of the red sox roster 2022 kicked in: injuries. A hand injury sidelined him, and he only ended up playing 94 games.
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When Story was out, the middle infield became a revolving door. You had Christian Arroyo trying to hold it down, and even guys like Jonathan Araúz or Jeter Downs getting looks. It never felt stable. You've got to have stability up the middle to win in the AL East, and the Sox just didn't have it.
A Pitching Staff Held Together by Duct Tape
If you look at the names on the pitching side of the red sox roster 2022, it’s a miracle they won 78 games. Nathan Eovaldi was the "ace," but his velocity was fluctuating, and he spent significant time on the IL with lower back inflammation and shoulder issues.
Then there was Chris Sale. Oh, man.
Sale’s 2022 was a literal tragedy of errors. First, a rib stress fracture in spring training. Then, in his second start back in July, he took a line drive off his pinky finger against the Yankees. Broken. Season over? Not quite. While rehabbing, he broke his wrist in a bicycle accident. You can’t make this stuff up. He pitched a grand total of 5.2 innings the entire year.
The rotation ended up relying on:
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- Nick Pivetta: The workhorse who actually stayed healthy but was consistently inconsistent.
- Michael Wacha: Shockingly the best pitcher on the team. He was a low-risk signing that paid off big, posting an 11-2 record.
- Rich Hill: The 42-year-old legend who was basically pitching on grit and curveballs.
- Brayan Bello: The rookie. This was the year we first saw the "future," though he took some lumps early with a 4.71 ERA.
The bullpen was arguably worse. Matt Barnes, who had been an All-Star closer a year prior, completely lost his feel for the strike zone. He ended the year with an ERA over 4.00 and lost the closer role to a committee that included John Schreiber—who, to be fair, was a total godsend off the waiver wire—and Tanner Houck.
The Devers and Bogaerts "Last Dance"
The heart of the red sox roster 2022 was always the left side of the infield. Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts were arguably the best 3B/SS duo in baseball.
Bogaerts was playing with the "opt-out" hanging over his head all season. Despite the distractions, he was a professional, hitting .307 and winning a Silver Slugger. But you could feel the tension. The front office hadn't locked him up, and every time he stepped onto Fenway's dirt, fans wondered if it was the last time.
Devers was a monster. 27 homers, 155 hits, and a .295 average. He was the only reason the offense stayed afloat during those dismal stretches in July when the team went 8-19. Seeing them together was the highlight of the season, but it was bittersweet. We didn't know yet that Raffy would get the massive extension and Xander would be heading to San Diego.
Why July Was the Month the Season Died
Most people point to the trade deadline as the moment the 2022 Red Sox gave up. It was a bizarre strategy. They were technically still in the Wild Card race, but Chaim Bloom decided to "under-sell and over-buy" at the same time.
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They traded away their heartbeat, catcher Christian Vázquez, to the Astros right before a game. It was brutal. I remember the footage of him being told he was traded while he was on the field. Then, they turned around and traded for Eric Hosmer and Tommy Pham.
It was a "mushy middle" move. It didn't make them significantly better, and it killed the clubhouse morale. The red sox roster 2022 never recovered from that week. They played sub-.500 ball the rest of the way.
Surprising Stats from the 2022 Campaign
Sometimes the raw numbers tell a story that the standings don't.
- The Red Sox actually ranked 9th in MLB for runs scored (735). The hitting wasn't really the main problem.
- They were 25th in the league in ERA for the bullpen. That’s where the leads went to die.
- They committed 101 errors. Only five teams were worse defensively.
- Rob Refsnyder, a journeyman outfielder, somehow became one of their best hitters, posting a .881 OPS in 57 games.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
Looking back at the red sox roster 2022 provides a clear roadmap of what not to do when building a contender. If you’re analyzing team construction, here are the takeaways:
- Banking on "If" is Dangerous: The Sox relied on Chris Sale and James Paxton (who didn't pitch a single inning in 2022) to be cornerstones. You can't build a rotation on "if they stay healthy."
- Clubhouse Culture Matters: Trading a veteran leader like Vázquez in the middle of a playoff push can be a locker room killer, regardless of the "prospect capital" returned.
- Bullpen Volatility is Real: High-leverage relievers can fall off a cliff. Having a deep stable of arms is better than relying on one or two "names."
- Defense is Still a Metric: The 2022 Sox proved that you can't just out-hit your way through 100+ errors.
The 2022 season was a bridge to nowhere. It was the year the championship core officially fractured. While it was painful to watch, it paved the way for the youth movement we see now with guys like Brayan Bello and Triston Casas (who made his debut in September of that year). It wasn't pretty, but it was a necessary, albeit messy, chapter in Red Sox history.