The Boston Red Sox are off to a brutal start in 2026, sitting at 12-19 as they prepare to face the Houston Astros this Friday. It's been a season full of disappointment and turmoil, and the blame game is in full swing after the shocking firing of manager Alex Cora last Saturday night. While some reports point fingers at Cora for failing to develop young talent at the major league level, a deeper look reveals a more fundamental issue: the Red Sox have a serious roster construction problem.
Coming into the 2025 season, Boston looked like a legitimate contender for the American League pennant. The rotation featured budding superstar Garrett Crochet, the lineup boasted one of baseball's most feared power hitters in Rafael Devers, and the clubhouse had a much-needed veteran leader in Alex Bregman. On paper, this was a team built to win.
But the cracks started showing early. After spending the entire offseason praising Bregman's versatility at second base, the team suddenly announced him as the everyday third baseman. That move created immediate tension with Devers, the franchise cornerstone who signed with Boston as a 16-year-old. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the decision came from chief baseball officer Craig Breslow's analytical models, which showed the team was best configured with Bregman at third and top prospect Kristian Campbell at second. Despite a rough spring training, Campbell was named the starter—and Devers was pushed to DH.
The tension only escalated when Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury. The team asked Devers to change positions again, this time to first base. Devers pushed back, telling the media that Breslow should "do his job" and acquire a new first baseman instead. He made it clear he wouldn't be moving again.
The situation reached a breaking point when Devers was shockingly traded to the San Francisco Giants in what amounted to little more than a salary dump. Meanwhile, Campbell struggled mightily, becoming one of the worst hitters in baseball before being optioned back to Triple-A. For a team that prides itself on its rich history and passionate fanbase, this roster chaos has been a tough pill to swallow—and a clear sign that something needs to change in Boston's front office approach.