The 2026 Boston Red Sox season was the 126th season in Boston Red Sox franchise history, and their 115th season at Fenway Park. The team opened the regular season in an away game against the Cincinnati Reds on March 26 and concluded the regular season with a home game (played in Florida due to inclement weather in Boston) against the Chicago Cubs on September 27.
After a start, including a sweep at home against their rival New York Yankees, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora on April 25. Triple-A Worcester Red Sox manager Chad Tracy was subsequently named as the team's interim manager by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. Tracy was officially named as the team's permanent manager on September 22.
On July 22, the team won its 15th game in a row to tie the franchise record for consecutive games won, established 80 years earlier by the 1946 Red Sox. At the end of the month, the Red Sox' record set a new record for their highest monthly winning percentage in franchise history.
Facing the Kansas City Royals on September 13, starting pitcher Payton Tolle became the first Red Sox pitcher to record an immaculate inning since Chris Sale accomplished the feat in 2021, and the first to do so in the first inning of the game since Pedro Martínez in 2002.
The Red Sox clinched their second consecutive playoff berth on September 20, when the Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros. The Red Sox became the fourth team in major-league history to clinch a playoff spot after being 14 or more games below .500 during the season. They were swept by their division rival New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Series in two games.
Offseason At the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Red Sox had 11 players under contract for the 2026 season: Roman Anthony, Brayan Bello, Kristian Campbell, Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Crochet, Jarren Duran, Jordan Hicks, Ceddanne Rafaela, Patrick Sandoval, Garrett Whitlock, and Masataka Yoshida. Four players had contract options and/or opt-outs, four players were eligible to become free agents, nine players were eligible for arbitration, and an additional 22 players were not yet eligible for arbitration due to their limited service time in MLB, and could therefore be retained by the team for the league-minimum salary or released.
+ October–December 2025 Roster movesDateRoster moveRef. October 3 The team recalled Chris Murphy from Worcester, and activated Roman Anthony, Brennan Bernardino, Isaiah Campbell, Kristian Campbell, Cooper Criswell, José De León, Richard Fitts, Jhostynxon García, Lucas Giolito, Jordan Hicks, Dustin May, Jovani Morán, and Luis Perales from Worcester, the 10-day injured list, or the 15-day injured list. October 10 The team signed free agents Sebastian Rondon, Steven Garcia, Hicter Ruiz, and Cristopher Silvestre to minor league contracts. October 13 The team dismissed Ben Rosenthal as assistant hitting coach. October 16 The team sent Isaiah Campbell and José De León outright to Worcester. October 23 The team hired John Soteropulos as assistant hitting coach. October 27 The team signed free agent Jason Delay to a minor league contract. November 2 Outfielder Rob Refsnyder and pitchers Steven Matz, Dustin May, and Justin Wilson elected free agency. November 3 Third baseman Alex Bregman opted out of his contract and pitcher Lucas Giolito's mutual option was declined, resulting in both players becoming free agents. November 4 The team re-signed outfielder Jarren Duran to a one-year, $7.7m contract for 2026 after declining the option on his prior contract. Shortstop Trevor Story opted in to the remaining two years of his contract to remain with the team, and the team declined their mutual option for pitcher Liam Hendriks, making him a free agent. November 6 The team activated Triston Casas, Kutter Crawford, Hunter Dobbins, Vaughn Grissom, Tanner Houck, Marcelo Mayer, Patrick Sandoval, and Josh Winckowski from the 60-day injured list, and to clear room on the 40-man roster, the team designated Luis Guerrero for assignment. The team re-signed pitcher Cooper Criswell to a one-year major league contract for 2026. November 18 The team designated Josh Winckowski and Nathaniel Lowe for assignment, selected Shane Drohan, David Sandlin, and Tyler Uberstine to the Red Sox roster from Worcester, and completed a series of trades: Luis Guerrero was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for infielder Tristan Gray, Brennan Bernardino was traded to the Colorado Rockies for minor league outfielder Braiden Ward, Chris Murphy was traded to the Chicago White Sox for minor league catcher Ronny Hernandez, and minor league pitcher Alex Hoppe was traded to the Seattle Mariners for minor league catcher Luke Heyman. November 20 The team re-signed catcher Connor Wong to a one-year, $1.3m contract for 2026 to avoid arbitration. November 21 The team tendered contracts to all 26 remaining unsigned players on the major league roster, excluding Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Winckowski, who became free agents. November 25 The team traded pitchers Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Sonny Gray and cash. December 4 The team designated pitcher Cooper Criswell for assignment, and traded minor league prospects Jhostynxon García and Jesus Travieso to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Johan Oviedo, Tyler Samaniego and Adonys Guzman. December 9 The team traded Vaughn Grissom to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for outfield prospect Isaiah Jackson. December 10 The team traded minor league prospect Justin Riemer to the Athletics for minor league pitcher Ryan Watson. Watson was originally a Rule V selection from the Giants. December 15 The team traded minor league pitcher Luis Perales to the Washington Nationals for minor league pitcher Jake Bennett. December 21 The team traded pitcher Hunter Dobbins and minor league pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita to the St. Louis Cardinals for first baseman Willson Contreras. December 30 Infielders Marcelo Mayer and Nate Eaton changed their player numbers to 11 and 18, respectively.
+ January–March 2026 Roster movesDateRoster moveRef. January 6 The team signed free agent pitcher T.J. Sikkema to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training, and further announced Osvaldo Berrios, Vinny Capra, Jason Delay, Alec Gamboa, Hobie Harris, and Devin Sweet as non-roster invitees to spring training. Boston also avoided arbitration with Kutter Crawford, signing him to a one year contract for $2.75 million. January 9 The team reached one-year agreements with their four remaining arbitration-eligible players (Triston Casas, Romy González, Tanner Houck, and Johan Oviedo), avoiding arbitration. January 21 The team signed pitcher Ranger Suárez to five-year, $150 million contract, and further announced that they traded infielder Tristan Gray to the Minnesota Twins for minor league catcher Nate Baez. January 23 The team announced Nate Baez, Allan Castro, Max Ferguson, Tayron Guerrero, Nathan Hickey, Seth Martinez, Tyler McDonough, Wyatt Olds, Ronald Rosario, Mikey Romero, Noah Song, Braiden Ward, Jacob Webb, and Jeremy Wu-Yelland as non-roster invitees to Spring Training. January 31 The team signed free agent catcher Matt Thaiss to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Thaiss previously made 60 major league appearances with the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays in 2025. February 1 The team traded pitcher Jordan Hicks and pitching prospect David Sandlin to the Chicago White Sox, as well as two players to be named later, in exchange for minor league pitcher Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later. The trade included the Red Sox providing Chicago with $8 million in cash, and in turn the White Sox agreed to cover the remaining $16 million of Hicks' $24 million contract. February 2 The team signed free agent pitcher Vinny Nittoli to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. February 3 The team signed free agent pitcher Kyle Keller to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Keller spent the 2025 season playing in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants. February 4 The team claimed utility player Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Washington Nationals, having previously appeared in 13 games for the Red Sox in 2024. The team also signed free agent infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a one-year contract. Kiner-Falefa previously made 138 major league appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays in 2025. February 6 The team claimed infielder Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the Washington Nationals. February 9 The team traded pitchers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, and infielder David Hamilton, to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for infielders Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler, and a Compensatory round draft pick (Round B). February 10 The team signed infielder Brendan Rodgers to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. March 9 The team optioned pitcher Jake Bennett, and reassigned pitchers Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris, Vinny Nittoli, Devin Sweet, and Jeremy Wu-Yelland, as well as catchers Nate Baez and Ronald Rosario, all to Minor League camp. March 12 The team signed free agent pitcher Danny Coulombe to a one-year major league contract, and placed utility player Romy González on the 60-day injured list following a successful debridement surgery on his left shoulder. March 13 The team reassigned pitcher Jacob Webb to minor league camp. March 17 The team reassigned pitchers T.J. Sikkema, Seth Martinez, Wyatt Olds, and Noah Song to minor league camp. March 19 The team signed Tommy Kahnle to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, and reassigned players Max Ferguson, Tyler McDonough, Mikey Romero, Allan Castro, and Nathan Hickey to minor league camp. The team also optioned Tsung-Che Cheng and Nick Sogard to minor league camp.
Spring training Spring Training non-roster inviteesPlayer Position 2025 team(s) Source Osvaldo Berrios Pitcher Memphis Redbirds (AAA) / Springfield Cardinals (AA) Alec Gamboa Pitcher Lotte Giants (KBO) Tayron Guerrero Pitcher Chiba Lotte Marines (NPB) Hobie Harris Pitcher Worcester Red Sox (AAA) / FCL Red Sox (Rookie) Kyle Keller Pitcher Yomiuri Giants (NPB) Seth Martinez Pitcher Miami Marlins / Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (AAA) Vinny Nittoli Pitcher Nashville Sounds (AAA) / Norfolk Tides (AAA) Wyatt Olds Pitcher Worcester Red Sox (AAA) / Portland Sea Dogs (AA) T.J. Sikkema Pitcher Louisville Bats (AAA) / Chattanooga Lookouts (AA) Noah Song Pitcher Worcester Red Sox (AAA) / Portland Sea Dogs (AA) / Greenville Drive (High A) / Salem Red Sox (A) / FCL Red Sox (Rookie) Devin Sweet Pitcher Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) Jacob Webb Pitcher Worcester Red Sox (AAA) / Portland Sea Dogs (AA) / Greenville Drive (High A) Jeremy Wu-Yelland Pitcher Portland Sea Dogs (AA) / Greenville Drive (High A) Nate Baez Catcher Wichita Wind Surge (AA) / Cedar Rapids Kernels (High A) Jason Delay Catcher Gwinnett Stripers (AAA) / Columbus Clingstones (AA) Ronald Rosario Catcher Portland Sea Dogs (AA) Matt Thaiss Catcher Tampa Bay Rays / Chicago White Sox Nathan Hickey Catcher / Infielder Worcester Red Sox (AAA) Vinny Capra Infielder Milwaukee Brewers / Chicago White Sox / Charlotte Knights (AAA) Brendan Rodgers Infielder Houston Astros Mikey Romero Infielder Worcester Red Sox (AAA) / Portland Sea Dogs (AA) Max Ferguson Infielder / Outfielder Worcester Red Sox (AAA) / Portland Sea Dogs (AA) Tyler McDonough Infielder / Outfielder Worcester Red Sox (AAA) Allan Castro Outfielder Portland Sea Dogs (AA) Braiden Ward Outfielder Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA) / Hartford Yard Goats (AA)
The team's equipment departed Fenway Park on February 2, colloquially known as "Truck Day", in preparation for their arrival in Fort Myers, Florida to begin Spring Training.