The Boston Red Sox returned to the postseason in 2025 in what chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has acknowledged as the first step in a larger path back to contending for a World Series.

The Red Sox front office has promised a return to postseason relevance throughout the team’s half-decade long rebuild, but the vibes feel different since they signed Alex Bregman, traded for Garrett Crochet and returned to the playoffs. Boston only needs a few more additions to grow into a true contender for the American League East, and maybe even more.

Breslow usually keeps his plans close to his chest, and no clear player targets have emerged yet, as playoff baseball is still being played. But the CBO hinted at the type of player he may pursue during the October 14 episode of NESN’s “310 to Left” podcast.

“What we need to do and what we’ll do over the course of the offseason is take a step back and really recognize what type of potential pitching additions or acquisitions really move the needle for us because we do have what I would suggest is a strong group of pitching depth,” Breslow said. “So we want to make sure that any additions that we make actually improve our team.”

Craig Breslow comments suggest Red Sox will pursue elite pitching this offseason

Reporters and fans have said since before the 2025 trade deadline that a No. 2 starter to bear some weight behind Garrett Crochet would be essential to Boston’s success in its division and in the postseason. Breslow’s focus on additions that “move the needle” could suggest such a move will be of high priority this offseason.

The Red Sox certainly have enough depth to focus on bolstering the rotation with quality arms, even with the potential loss of Lucas Giolito to free agency. Crochet and Brayan Bello are locks for the rotation next year after their 2025 showings, and Boston also has Hunter Dobbins, Kutter Crawford, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Kyle Harrison, Richard Fitts, and maybe even top prospect Luis Perales in the mix for starting jobs.

The Sox have been linked to a few starting pitcher trade candidates before the official start of the offseason, like Joe Ryan and Hunter Greene. The Twins and Reds’ offseason needs line up well with the tradable players in Boston’s player and prospect pools, so either could be an ideal trade partner.

The Red Sox could also pursue free agent pitching options, but there aren’t many clear No. 2 starters expected to hit the open market next month. Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez, Michael King and Framber Valdez are among the best starters who will be available, but they each have their drawbacks.

Breslow isn’t often so upfront with his goals for the offseason and trade deadline, so his openness about his pitching plan has inspired confidence in Sox fans. A No. 2 starter would take the Red Sox’s rotation to another level and help them remain competitive with the Yankees and Blue Jays as they also continue to improve.