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Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony will not undergo surgery on his strained hand, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow revealed during a press conference. Anthony's 2026 season ended prematurely when he exited the team's first playoff game with the injury. Breslow admitted uncertainty about the nature of the injury, stating, "What we've been told [is] that we don't even know what surgery we would do." The news comes as a relief for the Red Sox, who are counting on Anthony to be a key contributor in 2027.
However, Anthony alone cannot solve Boston's power outage. The Red Sox struggled to hit home runs in 2026, ranking 26th in MLB with 163 homers, a significant drop from their 2025 total of 186 (15th). Their on-base percentage also dipped from .324 (8th) to .319 (12th), and their slugging percentage fell from .421 (9th) to .398 (20th). Despite identifying power as a priority last offseason, the lineup regressed, leaving the front office searching for answers.
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One potential internal solution is Curtis Mead, whom the Red Sox acquired and appear ready to install at second base. Manager Chad Tracy expressed excitement about Mead's potential, noting, "You see the numbers that kind of project at least toward a 30-home run season." Mead's power could provide a boost, but the team may still seek external options to address their offensive woes.
Another power source, Willson Contreras, had a tumultuous end to the season. Following the Red Sox's playoff exit, Contreras voiced dissatisfaction, but Breslow and Tracy met with him for over two hours on Sunday to clear the air. Breslow described the conversation as "incredibly constructive" and said Contreras spoke highly of his time in Boston. The discord seemed to stem from Tracy's decision to pull Sonny Gray early in Game 2 against the Yankees, a move Tracy defended: "It was my call. It's my decision. It went south."
Contreras can take solace in being a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award, given to the top offensive player. Fans can vote for him online, and the recognition underscores his value to the team. As the offseason progresses, the Red Sox must balance internal improvements with potential acquisitions to return to contention in 2027.
Originally reported by yahoo.