Despite a late-season spiral, the Red Sox remained one of baseball’s top offenses in 2024, finishing sixth in slugging (.423) and tying the Astros for seventh in OPS (.741). They achieved those marks with some players who were getting their real first sniff at the big-league level.

At their year-end press conference in late September, members of Red Sox leadership said the wait had gone on long enough, and it was time to get back in the game. It was a significant statement of intent compared to recent quiet offseasons,