The Boston Red Sox have missed the postseason for the third season in a row, and the end of their season is in sight.
The end of a campaign brings roster changes. From trades to free agent departures, the Sox will likely have a slew of new faces on the roster before spring training. For now, we’ll focus on the team’s impending free agents.
Boston opted not to sell at this season’s trade deadline, which means quite a few Sox may be leaving to pursue free agency this winter. Most of the Sox’s free agent departures will be out of the already sparse pitching staff, so they’ll have quite a bit of adding to do over the offseason.
These four Red Sox each had solid tenures with the team, but a return probably isn’t in the cards for any of them based on the team’s needs and recent spending habits.
4 Red Sox players who definitely won’t be back for the 2025 season
Kenley Jansen
The second of Kenley Jansen’s two years with the Red Sox was riddled with trade rumors and speculation. Still, the closer persevered and posted yet another great season in his 15-year, likely Hall-of-Fame-caliber career.
Jansen posted a 3.29 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 20 walks over 54.2 innings with the Sox this season. He logged a 3.63 ERA in 10 fewer innings in 2023, and the performance secured him an All-Star nod. Unfortunately, Jansen’s tenure in Boston ended a bit early, as he landed on the 10-day injured list with six games to go.
The Red Sox were loud about their hopes to trade away some or all of Jansen’s $16 million salary this year, but they couldn’t get another club to bite. Jansen will continue to be too pricey for Boston’s newly cheap front office. He also made his intent to play elsewhere next season quite clear when he departed the Red Sox before the season ended.
The closer has also told reporters he dreams of playing for a contender, and the Red Sox have not been one since 2018. There are likely a few more seasons left in him before he retires, but Jansen has announced that he hopes to retire in Dodger blue.
Nick Pivetta
Nick Pivetta has been Boston’s most reliable starter since 2020, by the numbers. He’s had inconsistent outings, but for the most part, Pivetta has been there when and wherever the Sox have needed him. He leads the team in innings pitched since the 2020 season, but he’s surely gone when the 2024 campaign ends.
Pivetta has been a Red Sox since the pandemic-shortened season and he’s been a key piece for Alex Cora, who loves to shuffle lineups. When the righty struggled in the rotation, Cora could confidently move him to the bullpen and vice versa. Pivetta posted a 4.14 ERA with 172 strikeouts and 36 walks over 145.2 innings. He’s pitched to a 4.29 ERA over his four and a half seasons with the Sox.
Boston’s rotation lacks left-handed talent and, with Lucas Giolito coming back into action next season, there wouldn’t be much room to add a lefty with Pivetta on the payroll. He’s been a staple of the Red Sox for the past few seasons and was visibly emotional after his potential final start in Boston. He said in his postgame press conference that he’s grown comfortable in the Boston area and he would consider another contract with the Red Sox, but the team will likely move on.
Tyler O’Neill
Tyler O’Neill fit in well with the Red Sox and posted a rebound campaign this year. The 29-year-old outfielder also clocked the most games he’s played in a single season since 2021 when he received MVP votes with the St. Louis Cardinals.
O’Neill brought power from the righty batter’s box, which the Sox desperately needed this year. He batted .241/.336/.511 with a .847 OPS over 113 games. He found his home run swing at Fenway Park and posted 31 homers on the season, just three shy of his career-high from 2021.
For the most part, O’Neill avoided the frequent injuries he had come to be known for in St. Louis. He did spend some time on the injured list, but mostly due to freak accidents, like a collision with Rafael Devers in April or a leg infection in August. O’Neill still didn’t get an excess of playing time, though, as Boston’s outfield was packed — Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder also needed spots.
O’Neill has made it clear he’d be open to another deal with the Red Sox, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said he’d be “interested in having some of those conversations” about a return for the slugger. However, Refsnyder will likely be back with Boston next year, Rafaela will be back in the outfield every day with a healthy Trevor Story at shortstop, and Roman Anthony could be big-league-ready by Opening Day 2025. O’Neill has been great for the Sox, but the outfield lineup logjam is only set to get worse — there may not be a spot for him in the outfield alignment for next year.
Luis GarcÃa
Boston’s trade for Luis GarcÃa was just one of its trade deadline additions that didn’t go as planned. He pitched well for the Angels in the leadup to the trade, but once he came to the Sox, he lost all momentum.
GarcÃa clocked a 2.76 ERA in his final 15 appearances with the Angels before the trade. He pitched to a 10.13 ERA in 10.2 innings for the Sox before he landed on the injured list for just under a month. GarcÃa’s been on a roll since his return on Sept. 22, and he’s allowed one run over four innings since then.
GarcÃa is an impending free agent and Boston’s bullpen will need reinforcements before the start of next season, but the Sox haven’t seen much from the 37-year-old in his short, healthy tenure with the team. Both sides will likely move on this winter.
