Handing out awards to the 2026 Red Sox

Team MVP

In the spirit of selecting a hitter to win MVP, I assume it is Willson Contreras. His OPS was the third-highest amongst qualifiers and was pretty constant all through the season. Sonny Gray, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu all deserve shouts too, however Contreras performed for many of the season and stayed regular all through.

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— Jacob Roy

I’ll say Ceddanne Rafaela. There are a few guys you can go along with right here with out listening to an argument from me, however I can not recover from the soar in offensive manufacturing to associate with the all-world protection. Who can say for certain if the 113 OPS+ would be the norm transferring ahead, however he is improved his common, on-base share, and slugging share yearly throughout his still-young profession. The first-time All-Star will get my vote for MVP.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

I really suppose it is Caleb Durbin, which is each a credit score to him and a knock to the group as a complete. When the Summer 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 harm, Connelly Early bought harm after which bought traded, and even Willson Contreras — who had a unbelievable yr general — was both suspended or banged up for ten of the video games scattered all through that streak (and the group went 9-1 in these video games the place he both did not play or did not make it to the tip). But have you learnt who performed in each single a kind 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 best WAR of anyone on the group from May twenty eighth onward after he revamped his swing.

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—Matthew Gross

Willson Contreras. Despite 2026 being a particularly up and down yr there are literally a lot of gamers who might be the group MVP. Rafaela, Durbin, Tolle, are all contenders. But Contreras was there from day one to the tip as virtually the dwelling illustration of the guts of the group.

— Mike Carlucci

I agree with Mike on two counts: there are a number of contenders, and the winner is Willson Contreras. He was primarily the guts and soul of the group.

— Maura McGurk

Team LVP

Jarren Duran could not cease discovering his method into the lineup, and he could not cease not hitting the ball. His glove was strong, however a 76 OPS+ should not warrant 600 at-bats.

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— 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 is 10 factors greater than the town’s space code. The protection appeared higher, at the very least (aside from a couple of actual dangerous standout examples; that Colorado one involves thoughts). A yr to overlook for Mr. Duran, sadly.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

I’m certain most individuals do not need to hear this, but it surely’s Garrett Crochet. He entered the season because the man who was purported to be the ace, and as an alternative we bought six begins to the tune of a 6.30 ERA, a -0.5 WAR, and an damage that stored morphing into one thing extra complicated and problematic. Then, he was allowed to return out of the bullpen in a do or die Game 2 with the season on the road in a decent 2-0 affair, and all 4 batters he confronted scored. You can say he was unfortunate, and you would be proper, however no participant underperformed expectations greater than Crochet in 2026.

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—Matthew Gross

It’s bizarre to say a man who went 20-20 however Jarren Duran. You can undoubtedly see it was torturing him to battle. He had an ideal May and August. Just did not 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 is solely simply over 0 WAR.

—Mike Carlucci

Jarren “Nothing Happened” 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 accurately 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 would not appear to be taught.

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—Maura McGurk

The appropriate reply is Jarren Duran and Matt makes a compelling case for Garrett Crochet. But I’ll shoot for one thing totally different right here: Carlos Narvaez. Craig Breslow acquired the group’s ace by buying and selling away the group’s catcher of the longer term, Kyle Teel. Narvaez was acquired to exchange Teel and, for some time there in 2025, it appeared like he would do exactly nice. But, in plummeting again all the way down to Earth this yr (.161/.241/.226 – yikes!), Narvaez left the group 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 usher in Adley Rutschman, who nonetheless will not be the catcher of the longer term given his contract standing.

— Dan Secatore

Most Pleasant Surprise

Mickey Gasper could not purchase successful in his first stint with the Red Sox, bounced to Minnesota, after which yo-yo’d between Worcester and Boston on his return to the Red Sox system. He was, probably unfairly, requested to catch practically daily when the offense wanted a spark, however his bat could not assist his subpar protection behind the plate. At 30 years previous, his profession gave the impression to be on life assist, however when he was recalled in the course 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. Something cool and explosive. Seriously, he hit extra residence runs than Vladimir Guerrero Jr., besides the previous’s got here in 33 video games and the latter performed 144.

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He additionally went to the very esteemed Bryant University. Other notable alumni embody Matt Gross, “Coach” from Cheers, and myself. I assume his success should not come as a shock, primarily based on the truth that he was capable of 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. Switch-hitting infielder man who can get sizzling occasionally and play strong protection up the center, he is a strong man to have round. I do not know what the longer term holds for him with regards to taking part in time—Curtis Mead’s gonna come a-knockin’—however I like the thought of Sogard being a platoon man transferring ahead. He’s bought a fan in me.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

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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 course of a huge pile of rubbish.

—Matthew Gross

Connor Wong. The backup catcher had a brutal 2025 after Cora known as upon him to fill in at first base and second base along with catcher the prior yr. Then after shedding the job in 2025 was known 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

Best Newcomer

I used to be tremendous excessive on Jake Bennett after Spring Training, after which somewhat 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 did not 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 would not survive the summer season with out him, so he is my decide.

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— 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 daily previous to his damage; I’ll say Willson Contreras. He’s going to be fairly pivotal for our hopes in 2027.

—Fitzy Mo Peña

More 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 is not likely an ideal signal within the grand scheme of issues that Durbin was one of the 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 group’s) season round.

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—Matthew Gross

Caleb Durbin. You need somebody who can carry the mantle of Dustin Pedroia? Here he’s! Probably profitable a Gold Glove too along with having an damage that kinda kicked off a profitable streak.

—Mike Carlucci

I’m having bother deciding between Willson Contreras, who actually carried the group on his again in so some ways this season as the guts and soul of the group, and Caleb Durbin. I’ll go along with Durbin since, as a a lot youthful participant in solely his second season, he is extra “newcomer” to the league general (not simply the Sox). I do know, that is getting hyper-specific however I could not assist myself; it was a troublesome name.

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—Maura McGurk

Best Storyline

Anything 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. Back in 2009, Jim took over the Rockies in May when Clint Hurdle was fired. The group 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 yr, Chad Tracy took over the Red Sox in April when Alex Cora was fired. This time, the group dipped to a fair worse 14 video games beneath .500 (32-46) in late June. But then in close to excellent symmetry, these Red Sox rallied on the again of an astounding 32-5 stretch to seize a Wild Card. Unfortunately, each groups additionally proved fast postseason exits, with neither profitable a single spherical in October. (At least we’ll at all times have this stunning graph the place we will marvel on the wondrous connections.)

—Matthew Gross

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Payton Tolle vs The World. The hug. The balk. The pushup. Talking about being within the rain like he was Obi-Wan Kenobi on Kamino. Extremely proficient on the recreation and has a unbelievable outlook on life.

—Mike Carlucci

Caleb Durbin, “It’s solely a pinky!” Maybe extra like a tagline than a storyline, however what else is there to say?

—Maura McGurk

No matter what he does for the remainder of his profession, Mickey Gasper’s heater goes to be remembered perpetually.

— Dan Secatore