Crew MVP
Within the spirit of selecting a hitter to win MVP, I suppose it’s Willson Contreras. His OPS was the third-highest amongst qualifiers and was pretty constant all through the season. Sonny Grey, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu all deserve shouts too, however Contreras performed for many of the season and stayed regular all through.
— Jacob Roy
I’ll say Ceddanne Rafaela. There are a few guys you would go together with right here with out listening to an argument from me, however I can’t recover from the leap in offensive manufacturing to go together with the all-world protection. Who can say for positive if the 113 OPS+ would be the norm transferring ahead, however he’s improved his common, on-base proportion, and slugging proportion yearly throughout his still-young profession. The primary-time All-Star will get my vote for MVP.
—Fitzy Mo Peña
I really assume it’s Caleb Durbin, which is each a credit score to him and a knock to the workforce as a complete. When the Summer time Sox managed to tear off that sensational 32-5 stretch in an in any other case disastrous season, Garrett Crochet wasn’t there, Roman Anthony wasn’t there, Trevor Story wasn’t there, Ranger Suarez was largely damage, Connelly Early acquired damage after which acquired traded, and even Willson Contreras — who had a incredible 12 months total — was both suspended or banged up for ten of the video games scattered all through that streak (and the workforce went 9-1 in these video games the place he both didn’t play or didn’t make it to the tip). However are you aware who performed in each single a type of video games throughout the 32-5 stretch? Caleb Durbin. And he did it posting an .885 OPS. Oh, and on prime of Durbin being nice throughout the streak, he additionally posted the very best WAR of anyone on the workforce from Might twenty eighth onward after he revamped his swing.
—Matthew Gross
Willson Contreras. Regardless of 2026 being a particularly up and down 12 months there are literally quite a few gamers who may very well be the workforce MVP. Rafaela, Durbin, Tolle, are all contenders. However Contreras was there from day one to the tip as virtually the residing illustration of the center of the workforce.
— Mike Carlucci
I agree with Mike on two counts: there are a number of contenders, and the winner is Willson Contreras. He was basically the center and soul of the workforce.
— Maura McGurk
Crew LVP
Jarren Duran couldn’t cease discovering his method into the lineup, and he couldn’t cease not hitting the ball. His glove was strong, however a 76 OPS+ shouldn’t warrant 600 at-bats.
— Jacob Roy
Yeah, Jacob actually mentioned it finest there. Over 600 plate appearances for a man who solely simply barely hit his physique weight (.207 in comparison with 205 kilos per Baseball Reference, good!) is hard to justify, even when he did go 20-20. I ponder how uncommon it’s to hit 20 homers for Boston but solely have an OPS that’s 10 factors increased than town’s space code. The protection seemed higher, not less than (aside from a couple of actual unhealthy standout examples; that Colorado one involves thoughts). A 12 months to overlook for Mr. Duran, sadly.
—Fitzy Mo Peña
I’m positive most individuals don’t need to hear this, but it surely’s Garrett Crochet. He entered the season because the man who was imagined to be the ace, and as an alternative we acquired six begins to the tune of a 6.30 ERA, a -0.5 WAR, and an damage that stored morphing into one thing extra advanced and problematic. Then, he was allowed to return out of the bullpen in a do or die Sport 2 with the season on the road in a decent 2-0 affair, and all 4 batters he confronted scored. You may say he was unfortunate, and also you’d be proper, however no participant underperformed expectations greater than Crochet in 2026.
—Matthew Gross
It’s bizarre to say a man who went 20-20 however Jarren Duran. You may positively see it was torturing him to battle. He had an awesome Might and August. Simply didn’t do a lot these different months. Hopefully he bounces again in 2027 as a result of he has too many abilities to place up a season that’s solely simply over 0 WAR.
—Mike Carlucci
Jarren “Nothing Occurred” Duran. I’m speaking about not solely his efficiency in 2026, which left a lot to be desired but in addition his repeated tussles with followers and even our beloved Willson Contreras. “Nothing occurred” was his stubbornly repeated response when requested to deal with his interplay with a fan in June. Granted, it was a Yankees heckler and that individual was proven the exit. Duran had already tangled with a fan in April (to not point out much more notable interactions in previous seasons). In July, he boiled over at Willson Contreras, who appropriately held (and was held by third-base coach Chad Epperson) at third base. Duran thought he ought to have run anyway and let him have it. This man doesn’t appear to study.
—Maura McGurk
The right reply is Jarren Duran and Matt makes a compelling case for Garrett Crochet. However I’ll shoot for one thing completely different right here: Carlos Narvaez. Craig Breslow acquired the workforce’s ace by buying and selling away the workforce’s catcher of the long run, Kyle Teel. Narvaez was acquired to interchange Teel and, for some time there in 2025, it seemed like he would do exactly high-quality. However, in plummeting again right down to Earth this 12 months (.161/.241/.226 – yikes!), Narvaez left the workforce not solely with a black gap in a lineup that already had one too lots of these, however turned the catching place into an open query for the foreseeable future — a query that Breslow then needed to reply by sending out but extra future belongings to herald Adley Rutschman, who nonetheless might not be the catcher of the long run given his contract standing.
— Dan Secatore
Most Nice Shock
Mickey Gasper couldn’t purchase a success in his first stint with the Purple Sox, bounced to Minnesota, after which yo-yo’d between Worcester and Boston on his return to the Purple Sox system. He was, probably unfairly, requested to catch almost each day when the offense wanted a spark, however his bat couldn’t assist his subpar protection behind the plate. At 30 years previous, his profession appeared to be on life assist, however when he was recalled in the midst of August and requested solely to hit in opposition to right-handed pitchers, he grew to become a weapon. Not like a pepper spray kind weapon, extra like a tank or a gatling gun. One thing cool and explosive. Critically, he hit extra house runs than Vladimir Guerrero Jr., besides the previous’s got here in 33 video games and the latter performed 144.
He additionally went to the very esteemed Bryant College. Different notable alumni embody Matt Gross, “Coach” from Cheers, and myself. I suppose his success shouldn’t come as a shock, primarily based on the truth that he was in a position to face up to the rigorous educational curriculum required to obtain a level from Bryant.
— Jacob Roy
Nick Sogard changing into a capital-D Dude in 2026. That’s a ballplayer, man. Swap-hitting infielder man who can get scorching occasionally and play strong protection up the center, he’s a strong man to have round. I don’t know what the long run holds for him in terms of taking part in time—Curtis Mead’s gonna come a-knockin’—however I like the concept of Sogard being a platoon man transferring ahead. He’s acquired a fan in me.
—Fitzy Mo Peña
The 15-game profitable streak itself. I watched it, I lived it, I studied it, I wrote about it, and I nonetheless don’t know the way it occurred. It shines like a diamond in the midst of a huge pile of rubbish.
—Matthew Gross
Connor Wong. The backup catcher had a brutal 2025 after Cora referred to as upon him to fill in at first base and second base along with catcher the prior 12 months. Then after dropping the job in 2025 was referred to as on to handle the pitching workers in 2026. The expectations have been low and he confirmed he nonetheless has some years left within the tank.
—Mike Carlucci
Greatest Newcomer
I used to be tremendous excessive on Jake Bennett after Spring Coaching, after which slightly extra tepid after his first couple of begins within the majors. He’s on the previous facet for a prospect, however given what number of pitchers have been in entrance of him on the depth chart, he discovered himself within the majors sooner than anticipated. He didn’t skip a beat and posted a 3.65 ERA over 20 appearances whereas blowing previous his profession excessive in innings and clearly battling some fatigue down the stretch. The rotation doesn’t survive the summer season with out him, so he’s my decide.
— Jacob Roy
Do I decide the previous Cardinal with the 153 OPS+, or do I decide the previous Cardinal with the 150 ERA+? Tie goes to the man who was taking part in largely each day previous to his damage; I’ll say Willson Contreras. He’s going to be fairly pivotal for our hopes in 2027.
—Fitzy Mo Peña
Extra props to Caleb Durbin! He was put in an unattainable scenario when requested to observe each Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman at third base, and after a disastrous first eight weeks of the season, he managed to catch fireplace and thrive. As famous above, it’s probably not an awesome signal within the grand scheme of issues that Durbin was the very best participant on the roster for the ultimate 4 months of the season, but it surely’s an enormous credit score to him and the way a lot he grinded to show his (and the workforce’s) season round.
—Matthew Gross
Caleb Durbin. You need somebody who can carry the mantle of Dustin Pedroia? Right here he’s! Most likely profitable a Gold Glove too along with having an damage that kinda kicked off a profitable streak.
—Mike Carlucci
I’m having hassle deciding between Willson Contreras, who actually carried the workforce on his again in so some ways this season as the center and soul of the workforce, and Caleb Durbin. I’ll go together with Durbin since, as a a lot youthful participant in solely his second season, he’s extra “newcomer” to the league total (not simply the Sox). I do know, that’s getting hyper-specific however I couldn’t assist myself; it was a troublesome name.
—Maura McGurk
Greatest Storyline
Something involving Payton Tolle. Take your decide. I like him like a son.
—Fitzy Mo Peña
I completely love the connections between Chad Tracy and his father Jim. Again in 2009, Jim took over the Rockies in Might when Clint Hurdle was fired. The workforce then dipped to a season low 12 video games beneath .500 (20-32) in early June, after which rallied on the again of a ridiculous 17-1 stretch to seize a Wild Card. This 12 months, Chad Tracy took over the Purple Sox in April when Alex Cora was fired. This time, the workforce dipped to a good worse 14 video games beneath .500 (32-46) in late June. However then in close to excellent symmetry, these Purple Sox rallied on the again of an astounding 32-5 stretch to seize a Wild Card. Sadly, each groups additionally proved fast postseason exits, with neither profitable a single spherical in October. (A minimum of we’ll at all times have this stunning graph the place we will marvel on the wondrous connections.)
—Matthew Gross
Payton Tolle vs The World. The hug. The balk. The pushup. Speaking about being within the rain like he was Obi-Wan Kenobi on Kamino. Extraordinarily gifted on the recreation and has a incredible outlook on life.
—Mike Carlucci
Caleb Durbin, “It’s solely a pinky!” Perhaps extra like a tagline than a storyline, however what else is there to say?
—Maura McGurk
It doesn’t matter what he does for the remainder of his profession, Mickey Gasper’s heater goes to be remembered perpetually.
— Dan Secatore