3 Red Sox Playing Their Final Season in Boston in 2024
As Opening Day approaches, don't be surprised if these three Red Sox are no longer in Boston following the 2024 MLB season.
Opening Day 2024 is right around the corner and Boston Red Sox fans are hoping for a positive experience this time around. The Red Sox were one of the MLB's biggest underperformers in 2023, having gone 78-84 for the second year in a row en route to missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.
Even though we have a good idea of who'll be on the Opening Day roster, don't count on the group sticking together for the entire season. Trades and expiring contracts are a part of baseball, meaning that certain players might be gearing up to play their final season in Beantown.
Here are three Red Sox who are playing their final season in Boston this year.
1. RHP Kenley Jansen
After spending the majority of his career as an LA Dodger with a brief stop in Atlanta, Kenley Jansen joined the Red Sox on a two-year, $32 million contract last offseason.
Although he was far from the worst closer in the Majors, Jansen left much to be desired in his first year with the team. He made 51 relief appearances and pitched to a 3.63 ERA while tallying 29 saves. His 1.276 WHIP and 8.1 hits per nine innings were the worst marks of his career while the 10.5 strikeouts he averaged per nine was well below his career average (12.8).
If the Red Sox are among this season's basement-dwellers, I won't be shocked if Jansen doesn't end the season in Boston. He's on an expiring contract, which could make him attractive to contending teams that are looking to bolster the bullpen. The fact that he's a two-time NL Reliever of the Year with a 2020 World Series ring will only add to his potential value.
And even if he does survive the trade deadline in Boston, a 2025 return isn't guaranteed considering that he turns 37 in September and the Red Sox might be more interested in a younger option going forward.