6 Red Sox players that won’t be back next season.

Boston Red Sox fans can find solace in the fact that the 2023 season is finally over and they can starting turning their attention to the offseason. While finishing the season six games below .500 and in dead last place in the AL East and having to find a new front office point person isn’t ideal, this is an organization that has a lot going for it both in the minor leagues as well as with their big league roster with exciting young players like Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Triston Casas in the fold.

However, for Boston to turn this thing around, they are going to have to make the hard choices and cut the fat off this roster as they simply have too many players that aren’t contributing right now. When you combine that need with the fact that Boston is also going to have some players leave of their own volition, you have a Red Sox team that is going to look quite different in 2024 regardless of who Boston hires to run their front office.

Not every player here is a lock to not come back in 2024 nor is this a wishlist of players that Boston should get rid of. Sure, it would be nice to get rid of the remainder of Chris Sale’s contract, but that would have happened already if that were feasible and that money didn’t get easier to move after this season. This list is a mix of pending free agents and guys with contract options that either shouldn’t figure into Boston’s future or who seem likely to move on to greener pastures next season.

 

Let’s take a look at which Red Sox players won’t be back for the 2024 season.

Corey Kluber

Kluber is probably the easiest choice on the list. When the Red Sox signed Corey Kluber, the hope was that he would be able to turn back the clock and put up a season or two of reasonable production on the mound with a slight chance that he could become the pitcher he once was.

Unfortunately, he did not come close to doing that in 2023 as he appeared in 15 games (9 starts) for Boston, posted a 7.04 ERA in 55 innings, and hasn’t pitched since June while dealing with issues with his shoulder. The Red Sox hold a $11 million option for 2024 for Kluber, but they absolutely shouldn’t exercise it and instead should focus on bringing in arms that have more upside and less injury risk. Plus, saving that $11 million makes Boston’s potential pursuit of Shohei Ohtani all the more possible.