The 2025 season felt like a fever dream for anyone Refreshing the standings Boston Red Sox page every morning. For years, the Fenway faithful lived in a sort of purgatory. Last place finishes mixed with "bridge years" that seemed to lead nowhere.
But then 2025 happened.
Boston finished the regular season with an 89-73 record. They grabbed the third spot in the AL East, sitting five games behind the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees, who both finished with 94 wins. It wasn't just about the record, though. It was about the fact that they actually played meaningful baseball in September for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
The 2025 Reality Check: Third Place Never Felt So Good
If you looked at the AL East standings on September 1st, 2025, the Red Sox were right there. They were hunting. Honestly, the final standing of 3rd place doesn't quite capture how much stress they put on the Yankees and Jays.
✨ Don't miss: Front Row Motorsports: Why the Scrappiest Team in NASCAR is Finally Winning
They clinched a Wild Card berth on September 26th. Finally.
The playoffs were a bit of a gut punch, losing the Wild Card Series in three games to the Yankees. Seeing the pinstripes celebrate at Fenway? Brutal. But the baseline has shifted. We aren't talking about "if" they can compete anymore. Now, it's about how they bridge that 5-game gap to the top of the division.
Where the Red Sox Stand Right Now
As of January 18, 2026, the 2025 season is in the rearview, and the 2026 outlook is taking shape. The roster isn't just a collection of "wait and see" prospects anymore.
Craig Breslow has been busy.
The biggest news this week is the commitment to Trevor Story at shortstop. Despite some fans wanting to see him move to second or third to make room for Marcelo Mayer, the front office is doubling down. Story hit .263 with 25 homers and 96 RBIs last year. He's the clubhouse leader. Mayer? He's likely heading to third base to start 2026.
Recent Major Moves (Winter 2025-2026)
- Ranger Suarez signed: A massive 5-year, $130 million deal to anchor the rotation.
- Sonny Gray acquired: Traded from St. Louis to provide that veteran "crafty" edge.
- Willson Contreras joined: Another Cardinals trade that finally gives Boston a powerhouse behind the plate.
- Garrett Crochet is the Ace: He’s coming off an 18-win season and looks like a legitimate Cy Young contender.
Breaking Down the Division Competition
The AL East is still a meat grinder. Looking at the projected standings Boston Red Sox fans will face in 2026, it's clear nobody is backing down.
Toronto and New York are still the heavyweights. The Yankees lost Alex Bregman to free agency (sorta shocking, right?), which might take some sting out of their lineup, but they still have Judge and Soto. The Blue Jays are returning almost everyone from a 94-win squad.
Then you have the Orioles. They took a massive step back in 2025, finishing 75-87. Most experts think that was a fluke and expect them to bounce back. The Rays are always the Rays—annoying, efficient, and somehow winning 80 games with a $40 payroll.
✨ Don't miss: Arizona State Sun Devils Athletics: Why Tempe Is Finally Becoming a Powerhouse
Basically, 89 wins might not be enough to get a Wild Card spot in 2026. The bar is higher.
Why 2026 Projections Look Different
ZiPS projections (shoutout to Dan Szymborski) are actually pretty high on Boston for once. They see a deep lineup.
The "run prevention" issue is the big hurdle. Alex Cora has been vocal about this. In 2025, the Red Sox led the league in errors with 116. That is... not great. You can't give the Yankees four outs in an inning and expect to win a division.
Cora mentioned at the Winter Meetings that the defense cost them the playoff series against New York. All four runs in the Game 3 elimination came in one messy inning. So, the focus for the 2026 standings isn't just "hit more homers"—it's "stop throwing the ball into the bleachers."
The Impact of the "Crafty Veteran" Strategy
There is a weird, throwback vibe to the 2026 rotation. You have Garrett Crochet throwing absolute gas, but then you have Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray who live in the high 80s and low 90s.
It’s a contrast.
The Red Sox are betting that these high-IQ, control-first pitchers will provide more durability than the flamethrowers who keep ending up on the IL. If Brayan Bello can take another step forward as a #3 starter, this rotation is arguably the best in the division.
📖 Related: BB in Baseball: Why This One Stat Changes Everything You Know About Hitting
Actionable Insights for Fans Tracking the Standings
If you're following the standings Boston Red Sox path this year, keep an eye on these specific indicators during Spring Training and the early season:
- Check the Error Count: If the infield (specifically Story and the new look at 3rd) isn't cleaner in the first 20 games, those 89 wins from last year will be hard to replicate.
- Watch the "Crafty" Velocity: If Ranger Suarez’s velocity dips even slightly, he becomes very hittable. His health is the lynchpin for the 2026 standings.
- Monitor the 2B/3B Production: With Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer likely graduating to full-time roles, the "floor" of the Red Sox lineup is much higher.
The Red Sox have moved from a team of "potential" to a team of "expectations." The 2025 third-place finish was a proof of concept. Now, in 2026, the goal isn't just to be in the hunt—it's to take the crown back from the Jays and Yankees. Keep the standings page bookmarked; it’s going to be a long, loud summer in Boston.