Red Sox Deserve To Be AL East Favorites In Wide Open Division

The Boston Red Sox face multiple questions heading into the 2025 MLB season, but they deserve to be one of the top favorites to win the American League East.

Boston is +260 to win the AL East at FanDuel Sportsbook. That’s behind the New York Yankees, who are the favorite at +150. The margin between those teams and the Baltimore Orioles (+290) is deserved, and NESN’s George Balekji and Kasey Hudson broke down the division on “Boston Has Entered The Chat.”

“… I think this division is truly wide open,” Balekji said. “… It’s the Red Sox with the rotation where it’s at. It’s not 100% healthy, but their top guys are there. They built a deeper bullpen; I still think they’re going to add, and I think this is an improved defense. I really like the Red Sox when it comes to the AL East.

Hudson and Balekji also highlighted the injuries other AL East teams will deal with to start the season. The Yankees will be without Gerrit Cole for the year, and Giancarlo Stanton will miss time due to elbow injuries. The Orioles will be without Gunnar Henderson, and Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan suffered an injury less than a week before Opening Day. You also have uncertainty with the Toronto Blue Jays and their stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.

The Red Sox have the luxury of potentially getting even better when the season rolls on.

“… The prospect pool. While you talk about Kristian Campbell, there’s been a lot of chatter in the last week and a half, especially through spring training, saying Marcelo Mayer’s made a case to be on this roster, too, eventually, and help out,” Hudson said. “There’s so many looks this team can serve because of the options and the depth they have. …”

Boston still needs to go out and get the job done, but it is set up well to accomplish its goals and pay off what’s been a great offseason.

You can listen to more of “Boston Has Entetred The Chat” on YouTube or Spotify.