An issue is developing for the Boston Red Sox heading into the 2025 season. It may be a good issue to have in theory, but it’s an issue nonetheless.
The Red Sox simply have too many good outfielders on their team. They’ve got All-Stars. Excellent defenders. Pure power hitters. Top prospects. It’s almost become an embarrassment of riches for a Boston team that also traded away two World Series-winning outfielders in the past five years.
Unfortunately, the Red Sox can only play three outfielders at a time, per the centuries-old rules of the sport they play. And with an impending roster crunch.
Free-agent-to-be Tyler O’Neill is making the Red Sox’s decision on whether to bring him back in 2025 difficult with a late-season power surge. Jarren Duran isn’t going anywhere, Wilyer Abreu is a Rookie of the Year candidate, and Ceddanne Rafaela got a contract extension this spring.
Then, there’s 20-year-old Roman Anthony, recently named the number-one prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America. His ascent to the big leagues is exciting, but it also means the Red Sox may have to move someone to make room for the future slugger.
