Alex Cora, the Red Sox manager, has a bold claim: the 2026 Red Sox are 'a more complete team than last year'. But is this statement controversial? Let's delve into the details. One day before the official start of spring training, Cora, in his eighth season as Red Sox manager, made an interesting declaration. He stated that the team's roster is different from last year, yet ironically, he feels they have a more complete team. This assessment comes after the team's struggles in the previous year, where they led the league with 116 errors, a source of ongoing frustration for Cora. He has consistently preached the need for lockdown defense throughout his tenure. The team's defense needs improvement, and establishing everyday players for the infield is key. The Red Sox have signed left-hander Ranger Suárez and made several trades, but the question remains: are they a more complete team? The '25 Red Sox excelled at creating chances to score, but squandered too many of them. With the departure of Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman, the team's lineup has changed. Cora believes that with the talent they have, they can put it together with the pitching staff and grind some wins. However, several key players will have to stay healthy and take tremendous steps forward. The team's success will depend on their ability to improve in several facets of their game and deliver on defense. Will the Red Sox live up to Cora's assessment? Only time will tell. But here's where it gets controversial... Are the Red Sox a more complete team without Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman? And this is the part most people miss... The team's defense needs improvement, and the new players will have to step up to fill the gaps. Will the Red Sox be able to turn things around and become the team they want to be?
