Is the rivalry finally back on?
Major League Baseball is better when both the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are in the playoff hunt.
While the rivalry may never quite reach the heights of the early 2000s again, we’ve seen more recent seasons with real vitriol between the Yankees and Red Sox. Plus, the last two times Boston made the playoffs (2018 and 2021), they eliminated the Yankees in their first-round series.
With Boston missing the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and New York making it to the World Series last year, the pendulum had shifted a bit in the Yankees’ direction. Did the Red Sox do enough this offseason to swing it back?
Well, in this instance, respect is a good thing, and the Yankees’ manager certainly seems to have more of it for this Red Sox squad than he did the past few seasons.
On Monday, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone discussed the Red Sox’s offseason, hinting that the team looked better on paper and would be a threat to take away the Yankees’ American League East title.
“I prefer them in that .500 area. I’m fine with that,” Boone said, per Peter Abraham. “They’re always a tough opponent. It has that rivalry nature no matter what the two teams are going through.”
“Getting Alex (Bregman) here recently, they look like they have a really formidable team. We talk about our division and how tough it is, I certainly feel that way sitting here right now. You can make a case for all five teams.”
The projections still seem to favor the Yankees as division favorites, but there’s no doubt the Red Sox have closed the 13-game gap that existed between the two last season. Fangraphs projects New York to win the division at 87-75, with Boston in second place at 85-77.
With Juan Soto having left New York and the Red Sox bringing in Bregman and Garrett Crochet, the balance of star power feels much more equivalent. Perhaps both teams’ depth will be the key in determining whether either outlasts the rest of the division to take home the crown.
Red Sox 25-Year-Old Set To Take Important Step: Insider
The Boston Red Sox already have dealt with some nagging injuries to kick off Spring Training but they did get a positive update on Monday.
Boston starter Brayan Bello has been dealing with some shoulder soreness that has slowed him down to kick off Spring Training. He hasn’t been ruled out for Opening Day at this point and did get a positive update. MLB.com’s Ian Browne shared that Bello has thrown at 120 feet and will throw a bullpen on Friday.
“Brayan Bello did well with his strength tests and is throwing out to 120 feet,” Browne said. “He will throw his first bullpen of Spring Training on Friday. Unclear if he’ll be ready for the start of the season. Alex Cora said Lucas Giolito is ahead of Bello.”
This is exactly what the Red Sox likely want to hear. Boston starter Kutter Crawford seems to be behind Bello at this point and it has been shared that he may be unlikely for Opening Day.
The Red Sox will need as many starters as possible and the 25-year-old should be in line for a big year. Bello somewhat struggled to kick off the 2024 season. He was much better in the second half and finished the year with a 4.49 ERA overall across 30 starts. Bello struggled out of the gate but had a 3.53 ERA across his final 14 starts of the season. That’s the production Boston needs.
If the Red Sox are going to accomplish their goals and make a deep run this year, Bello is going to have to step up. This is a great update on the young starter.
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