Returning to the playoffs is just the beginning; Red Sox CEO declares: No limits for the 2026 season

Despite not keeping Alex Bregman or adding the strong batter the team wanted, Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy still believes the team is competitive. He mentioned that making the playoffs last year was just the initial step, with loftier goals set for this year.

“There are no limits for the Boston Red Sox in 2026,” Kennedy said. “If this group of players stays healthy and everything goes well, I believe our achievements could be boundless.”

The Red Sox, who made the playoffs only once between 2019 and 2024, returned last year with their second-best record in nearly seven years, ending a three-year postseason drought. Kennedy remarked, “At the end of last season, we said making the playoffs again was just the first step. Now we look forward to taking the next one. We won 89 games last year, and this year we want to increase that number in the regular season, reach the playoffs, stay healthy, and take the next step in October. Of course, winning the World Series is the ultimate goal.”

The most significant addition to the Red Sox lineup this year came via trade from the St. Louis Cardinals: Willson Contreras, who posted a wRC+ of 129 over the past three years with the Cardinals. Having just joined the new team, Contreras has already made a positive impression: “We’ve been having a lot of fun. What struck me most is the chemistry they already have; I feel like I’ve been here for years, even though I’ve only been here for three days.”

As a member of the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series championship team, Contreras also said, “It all starts in the clubhouse. Winning begins by building a foundation in the players’ room, then translating that onto the field—working side by side, supporting each other. That’s going to be a great experience.”