The 2006 Boston Red Sox season was the 106th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished third in the American League East with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses, 11 games behind the New York Yankees. The Red Sox failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2002. It was also the first time that the Red Sox finished lower than second in the American League East since 1997.

Offseason November 24, 2005: Shortstop Hanley Ramírez was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with pitchers Jesús Delgado (minors), Harvey García and Aníbal Sánchez to the Florida Marlins, in exchange for P Josh Beckett, 3B Mike Lowell and P Guillermo Mota.Hanley Ramirez Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com December 8, 2005: Édgar Rentería was traded by the Boston Red Sox with cash to the Atlanta Braves for Andy Marte.Edgar Renteria Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com February 1, 2006: Free agent catcher Ken Huckaby was signed by Boston.Ken Huckaby Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com

Regular season

Transactions January 27, 2006: The Red Sox sent Guillermo Mota, Andy Marte, Kelly Shoppach, a player to be named later (Randy Newson, July 21) and cash to the Indians, in exchange for Coco Crisp, David Riske, and Josh Bard.Coco Crisp at Baseball-Reference.com March 30, 2006: Charles Johnson and Chris Narveson were obtained by Boston from the Rockies for Byung-hyun Kim and cash consideration. Johnson was released the same day.Charles Johnson at Baseball-Reference.com May 1, 2006: Doug Mirabelli was acquired by the Red Sox from the Padres in exchange for Josh Bard, Cla Meredith and cash.Doug Mirabelli at Baseball-Reference.com June 21, 2006: Jason Johnson was purchased by the Red Sox from the Indians.Jason Johnson at Baseball-Reference.com August 4: Javy López was purchased by Boston from the Orioles.Javy López at Baseball-Reference.com August 16, 2006: Carlos Peña signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.Carlos Peña at Baseball-Reference.com August 17, 2006: Eric Hinske was purchased by the Red Sox from the Blue Jays.Eric Hinske Statistics - Baseball Reference.com August 28, 2006: Jason Johnson was released by the Red Sox.Jason Johnson Statistics - Baseball Reference.com September 8, 2006: Javy López was released by the Red Sox.Javy López Statistics - Baseball Reference.com

Season summary The Boston Red Sox finished eleven games behind the first place team in the American League East, the New York Yankees. While part of the blame for the Red Sox's demise could be the five-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees from August 18 – 21, the team had a poor record the entire month of August (going just 9-21) and September (13–14). Also, they suffered extensive injuries to Jason Varitek, Manny Ramirez, Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester, and Keith Foulke.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

+Red Sox vs. National League East TeamATLFLANYMPHIWSHBoston3–02–13–05–13–0

Opening Day lineup 10 Coco Crisp CF  3 Mark Loretta 2B34 David Ortiz DH24 Manny Ramirez LF  7 Trot Nixon RF33 Jason Varitek C25 Mike Lowell 3B20 Kevin Youkilis 1B11 Álex González SS38 Curt Schilling P

Roster 2006 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders

Designated hitter Manager

Coaches (first base) (third base) (hitting) (bench) (bullpen; interim pitching) (interim bullpen) (pitching)

Game log

|- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 1 || April 3 || @ Rangers || 7–3 || Schilling (1–0) || Millwood (0–1) || || 51,541 || 1–0 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 2 || April 4 || @ Rangers || 10–4 || Padilla (1–0) || Wakefield (0–1) || || 29,442 || 1–1 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 3 || April 5 || @ Rangers || 2–1 || Beckett (1–0) || Loe (0–1) || Papelbon (1) || 32,416 || 2–1 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 4 || April 7 || @ Orioles || 14–8 || Clement (1–0) || Cabrera (0–1) || || 37,063 || 3–1 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 5 || April 8 || @ Orioles || 2–1 || Schilling (2–0) || Chen (0–1) || Papelbon (2) || 41,166 || 4–1 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 6 || April 9 || @ Orioles || 4–1 || Wakefield (1–1) || López (1–1) || Papelbon (3) || 37,998 || 5–1 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 7 || April 11 || Blue Jays || 6–1 || Beckett (2–0) || Towers (0–2) || Papelbon (4) || 35,491 || 6–1 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 8 || April 12 || Blue Jays || 8–4 || Chacín (2–0) || Wells (0–1) || || 36,378 || 6–2 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 9 || April 13 || Blue Jays || 8–6 || Lilly (1–0) || Clement (1–1) || Ryan (3) || 36,524 || 6–3 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 10 || April 14 || Mariners || 2–1 || Schilling (3–0) || Moyer (0–2) || Papelbon (5) || 36,431 || 7–3 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 11 || April 15 || Mariners || 3–0 || Piñeiro (2–1) || Wakefield (1–2) || Guardado (2) || 36,047 || 7–4 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 12 || April 16 || Mariners || 3–2 || Beckett (3–0) || Washburn (1–2) || Papelbon (6) || 36,181 || 8–4 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 13 || April 17 || Mariners || 7–6 || Timlin (1–0) || Guardado (0–1) || || 36,188 || 9–4 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 14 || April 18 || Devil Rays || 7–4 || Timlin (2–0) || Lugo (0–1) || Papelbon (7) || 36,423 || 10–4 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 15 || April 19 || Devil Rays || 9–1 || Schilling (4–0) || Waechter (0–1) || || 36,454 || 11–4 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 16 || April 20 || Devil Rays || 5–1 || Kazmir (2–1) || Wakefield (1–3) || Miceli (4) || 36,607 || 11–5 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 17 || April 21 || @ Blue Jays || 7–6 || Speier (1–0) || Foulke (0–1) || || 28,333 || 11–6 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 18 || April 22 || @ Blue Jays || 8–1 || Halladay (2–1) || DiNardo (0–1) || Walker (1) || 34,387 || 11–7 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 19 || April 23 || @ Blue Jays || 6–3 || Clement (2–1) || Towers (0–4) || Papelbon (8) || 28,737 || 12–7 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 20 || April 25 || @ Indians || 8–6 || Foulke (1–1) || Mota (0–1) || Papelbon (9) || 18,438 || 13–7 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 21 || April 26 || @ Indians || 7–1 || Lee (2–1) || Wakefield (1–4) || || 21,575 || 13–8 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 22 || April 27 || @ Indians || 15–3 || Byrd (3–2) || Beckett (3–1) || || 26,952 || 13–9 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 23 || April 28 || @ Devil Rays || 5–2 || Fossum (1–1) || Clement (2–2) || Walker (1) || 22,565 || 13–10 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#bbffbb" | 24 || April 29 || @ Devil Rays || 9–6 || Foulke (2–1) || Walker (0–1) || Papelbon (10) || 27,415 || 14–10 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#ffbbbb" | 25 || April 30 || @ Devil Rays || 5–4 || Kazmir (3–2) || Schilling (4–1) || Camp (3) || 26,690 || 14–11

|- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 26 || May 1 || Yankees || 7–3 || Timlin (3–0) || Small (0–1) || || 36,339 || 15–11 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBBBBB" | – || May 2 || Yankees || colspan=5|Postponed (rain) || 15–11 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 27 || May 3 || Blue Jays || 7–6 || McGowan (1–0) || Papelbon (0–1) || Ryan (6) || 35,881 || 15–12 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 28 || May 4 || Blue Jays || 7–4 || Clement (3–2) || Towers (0–6) || Papelbon (11) || 36,396 || 16–12 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 29 || May 5 || Orioles || 6–3 || Schilling (5–1) || López (1–4) || Papelbon (12) || 36,515 || 17–12 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 30 || May 6 || Orioles || 9–3 || Wakefield (2–4) || Bédard (4–2) || || 36,507 || 18–12 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 31 || May 7 || Orioles || 10–3 || DiNardo (1–1) || Benson (4–3) || || 36,022 || 19–12 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 32 || May 9 || @Yankees || 14–3 || Beckett (4–1) || Johnson (5–3) || || 54,688 || 20–12 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 33 || May 10 || @ Yankees || 7–3 || Mussina (6–1) || Schilling (5–2) || || 54,769 || 20–13 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 34 || May 11 || @ Yankees || 5–3 || Wakefield (3–4) || Villone (0–1) || Papelbon (13) || 54,956 || 21–13 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 35 || May 12 || Rangers || 6–0 || Loe (2–3) || Clement (3–3) || || 36,102 || 21–14 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBBBBB" | – || May 13 || Rangers || colspan=5|Postponed (rain) || 21–14 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBBBBB" | – || May 14 || Rangers || colspan=5|Postponed (rain) || 21–14 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 36 || May 15 || @ Orioles || 11–1 || Beckett (5–1) || López (1–6) || || 25,607 || 22–14 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 37 || May 16 || @ Orioles || 6–5 || Schilling (6–2) || Williams (1–1) || Papelbon (14) || 27,565 || 23–14 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 38 || May 17 || @ Orioles || 4–3 || Bédard (5–2) || Wakefield (3–5) || Ray (10) || 32,089 || 23–15 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 39 || May 19 || @ Phillies || 5–3 || Clement (4–3) || Lieber (3–5) || Papelbon (15) || 44,296 || 24–15 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 40 || May 20 || @ Phillies || 8–4 || Beckett (6–1) || Myers (2–2) || || 44,809 || 25–15 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 41 || May 21 || @ Phillies || 10–5 || Lidle (4–4) || DiNardo (1–2) || || 44,738 || 25–16 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 42 || May 22 || Yankees || 9–5 || Schilling (7–2) || Wang (4–2) || || 36,342 || 26–16 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 43 || May 23 || Yankees || 7–5 || Wright (2–3) || Wakefield (3–6) || Rivera (9) || 36,290 || 26–17 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 44 || May 24 || Yankees || 8–6 || Johnson (6–4) || Clement (4–4) || Rivera (10) || 36,375 || 26–18 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 45 || May 25 || Devil Rays || 4–1 || Beckett (7–1) || Waechter (0–3) || Papelbon (16) || 36209 || 27–18 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 46 || May 26 || Devil Rays || 8–4 || Tavárez (1–0) || Kazmir (7–3) || Papelbon (17) || 36,129 || 28–18 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 47 || May 27 || Devil Rays || 6–4 || Schilling (8–2) || McClung (2–6) || Papelbon (18) || 36,409 || 29–18 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 48 || May 28 || Devil Rays || 5–4 || Wakefield (4–6) || Hendrickson (3–5) || Tavárez (1) || 36,015 || 30–18 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 49 || May 29 || @ Blue Jays || 7–6 || Ryan (1–0) || Riske (0–1) || || 24,038 || 30–19 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 50 || May 30 || @ Blue Jays || 8–5 || Chacín (6–1) || Beckett (7–2) || Ryan (12) || 27,324 || 30–20 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 51 || May 31 || @ Blue Jays || 8–6 || Van Buren (1–0) || Lilly (5–5) || Papelbon (19) || 24,526 || 31–20

|- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 52 || June 2 || @ Tigers || 3–2 || Seánez (1–0) || Jones (0–3) || Papelbon (20) || 35,531 || 32–20 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#FFBBBB" | 53 || June 3 || @ Tigers || 6–2 || Bonderman (6–4) || Wakefield (4–7) || Rodney (7) || 40,872 || 32–21 |- style="text-align:center;background-color:#BBFFBB" | 54 || June 4 || @ Tigers || 8–3 || Clement (5–4) || Miner (0–1) || || 35,764 || 33–21