Alex Cora Sends Unique Message After Red Sox’s Busy Offseason

The Boston Red Sox have been one of the most active teams this offseason, and Alex Cora loves the additions the Red Sox have made.

“We got some big donkeys,” Cora said, per The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey.

The Red Sox added Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo and Willson Contreras as their headline additions. Gray and Oviedo figure to play a role in the starting rotation, while Contreras gives the team a right-handed power hitter.

Contreras is a three-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Cubs. He was primarily a catcher until last season, when the St. Louis Cardinals moved him to first base. He started 119 games at first base, posting a plus-six outs above average.

Not only was he a great defender at first base, but he was a solid hitter. It was a down year for him compared to his previous three seasons, but he still posted a .791 OPS. Since the start of 2022, he has 77 home runs and a .817 OPS. He will bring some much-needed power to the lineup.

Gray is also a three-time All-Star. He had a down year as well, but the Red Sox and their pitching coaches are hoping they can get him back on track. In 2023 and 2024, he posted a 3.29 ERA across 60 starts. Last season, he had a 4.28 ERA in 32 starts.

However, he ranked in the 93rd percentile for walk rate and 97th percentile for breaking run value. The Red Sox will look to get has fastball back to where it was in 2023, when it was much more effective.

Oviedo made nine starts last season, but is a promising young pitcher. He missed most of the season as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, he posted a 3.57 ERA in his 40 1.3 innings of work. At 6-foot-6, his extension off the mound is among the best in baseball. He ranks in the 98th percentile for extension, helping his stuff play better against hitters.

His fastball sits at 95.5 mph. He has a five-pitch arsenal, throwing a slider, curveball, sinker and changeup as well. He gets plenty of ground balls, and the Red Sox will hope he can contribute in the backend of their rotation, behind Garrett Crochet, Gray and Brayan Bello.