The 2007 Boston Red Sox season was the 107th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. Managed by Terry Francona, the Red Sox finished first in the American League East with a record of 96–66. In the postseason, the Red Sox first swept the American League West champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS. In the ALCS, the Red Sox defeated the American League Central champion Cleveland Indians in seven games, despite falling behind 3–1 in the series. Advancing to the World Series, the Red Sox swept the National League champion Colorado Rockies, to capture their second championship in four years.
Off-season
On November 14, 2006, Major League Baseball announced that the Red Sox had competed for the rights to negotiate a contract with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. Boston won with a bid of US$51.1 million and had 30 days to complete a deal. On December 13, 2006, the day before the deadline, Matsuzaka signed a six-year contract worth $52 million.
It was initially announced that closer Jonathan Papelbon would become a starter in 2007, partially to protect his arm from the injury that sidelined him. Pitchers Hideki Okajima, J. C. Romero and Joel Piñeiro were signed as free agents. Brendan Donnelly was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in a trade for pitcher Phil Seibel.
However, there was no clear candidate for the closer role. Papelbon wanted to re-fill that spot, and team officials believed he had rehabilitated himself so well in the offseason that his health of this shoulder was no longer a concern, and allowed him to return to the bullpen.Papelbon takes closing argument
The Red Sox lost free agent Álex González to the Cincinnati Reds (leading the Red Sox to sign Julio Lugo) and Mark Loretta to the Houston Astros (allowing Dustin Pedroia to become the team's starting second baseman). Trot Nixon, also a free agent, signed with the Cleveland Indians, creating the need for a right fielder. The Red Sox pursued J. D. Drew, who had recently opted out of the remainder of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers to become a free agent. However, the Red Sox medical staff had concerns about Drew's previously injured shoulder. On January 25, 2007, the Red Sox and Drew agreed to a five-year deal worth $70 million.
Outfielder Gabe Kapler, age 31, announced his retirement to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a coach. The Red Sox named him manager of their single-A affiliate, the Greenville Drive.
At the end of spring training of 2007, the Red Sox traded minor league veteran catcher Alberto Castillo for Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cory Keylor.
Regular season
Opening Day lineup 23 Julio Lugo SS20 Kevin Youkilis 1B34 David Ortiz DH24 Manny Ramirez LF 7 J. D. Drew RF25 Mike Lowell 3B33 Jason Varitek C10 Coco Crisp CF15 Dustin Pedroia 2B38 Curt Schilling P
Honoring a Boston legend Bright green jerseys, with "Red Sox" in white letters outlined in red across the front, were worn on April 20 to honor former Boston Celtics coach, general manager, and president Red Auerbach, who had died during the previous off-season. The jerseys also had players' names on the back, believed to be a first for Red Sox home uniforms.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
+Red Sox vs. National LeagueTeamNL West ARICOLLADSDPSFGATLBoston2–11–2—2–13–04–2
Notable transactions November 30, 2006: Hideki Okajima signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.Hideki Okajima Statistics - Baseball Reference.com December 6, 2006: Julio Lugo signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.Julio Lugo Statistics - Baseball Reference.com December 14, 2006: Daisuke Matsuzaka was purchased by the Red Sox from Seibu Lions.Daisuke Matsuzaka Statistics - Baseball Reference.com December 15, 2006: J. C. Romero signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.J. C. Romero Statistics - Baseball Reference.com January 4, 2007: Joel Piñeiro signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.Joel Piñeiro Statistics - Baseball Reference.com February 14, 2007: J. D. Drew signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.J. D. Drew Statistics - Baseball Reference.com June 18, 2007: J. C. Romero was released by the Red Sox.J. C. Romero Statistics - Baseball Reference.com July 31, 2007: Éric Gagné was acquired by the Red Sox from the Rangers in exchange for Engel Beltré, Kason Gabbard and David Murphy.Eric Gagne Statistics - Baseball Reference.com In a separate trade, minor leaguer Sean Danielson was acquired by the Red Sox from the Cardinals in exchange for Joel Piñeiro.Joel Piñeiro Statistics - Baseball Reference.com August 6, 2007: Bobby Kielty signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.Bobby Kielty Statistics - Baseball Reference.com August 21, 2007: Minor leaguer Chris Carter was acquired by the Red Sox from the Nationals. Four days earlier, the Red Sox traded outfielder Wily Mo Peña to the Nationals.Chris Carter Statistics - Baseball Reference.com August 23, 2007: Royce Clayton signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.Royce Clayton Statistics - Baseball Reference.com
Game log
|- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 1 || April 2 || @ Royals || 7–1 || Meche (1–0)|| Schilling (0–1) || || 41,257 || 0–1 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 2 || April 4 || @ Royals || 7–1 || Beckett (1–0) || Pérez (0 – 1) || || 22,348 || 1-1 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 3 || April 5 || @ Royals || 4–1 || Matsuzaka (1–0) || Greinke (0–1) || Papelbon (1) || 23,170 || 2–1 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 4 || April 6 || @ Rangers || 2–0 || Tejeda (1–0) || Wakefield (0–1) || Otsuka (1) || 51,548 || 2-2 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 5 || April 7 || @ Rangers || 8–2 || Millwood (1–0) || Tavárez (0–1) || ||40,865 || 2–3 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 6 || April 8 || @ Rangers || 3–2 || Schilling (1-1) || Padilla (0–2) || Papelbon (2) || 28,347 || 3-3 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 7 || April 10 || Mariners || 14–3 || Beckett (2–0) || Weaver (0–1) || || 35,847 || 4–3 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 8 || April 11 || Mariners || 3–0 || Hernández (2–0) || Matsuzaka (1-1) || || 36,630 || 4-4 |- style="background-color:#bbbbbb" | -- || April 12 || Mariners || colspan=5|Postponed (rain) || 4-4 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 9 || April 13 || Angels || 10–1 || Wakefield (1-1) || Lackey (2–1) || || 35,946 || 5–4 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 10 || April 14 || Angels || 8–0 || Schilling (2–1) || Carrasco (0–1) || || 36,300 || 6–4 |- style="background-color:#bbbbbb" | -- || April 15 || Angels || colspan=5|Postponed (rain) || 6–4 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 11 || April 16 || Angels || 7–2 || Beckett (3–0) || Santana (1–2) || || 35,424 || 7–4 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 12 || April 17 || @ Blue Jays || 2–1 || Chacín (2–0) || Matsuzaka (1–2) || Frasor (1) || 42,162 || 7–5 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 13 || April 18 || @ Blue Jays || 4–1 || Wakefield (2–1) || Ohka (0–2) || Papelbon (3) || 20,188 || 8–5 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 14 || April 19 || @ Blue Jays || 5–3 || Timlin (1–0) || Marcum (1-1) || Papelbon (4) || 33,297 || 9–5 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 15 || April 20 || Yankees || 7–6 || Snyder (1–0) || Rivera (1–2) || Okajima (1) || 36,786 || 10–5 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 16 || April 21 || Yankees || 7–5 || Beckett (4–0) || Karstens (0–1) || Papelbon (5) || 36,342 || 11–5 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 17 || April 22 || Yankees || 7–6 || Matsuzaka (2-2) || Proctor (0–1) || Papelbon (6) || 36,905 || 12–5 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 18 || April 23 || Blue Jays || 7–3 || Ohka (1–2) || Wakefield (2-2) || Frasor (2) || 36,669 || 12–6 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 19 || April 24 || Blue Jays || 10–3 || Halladay (3–0) || Tavárez (0–2) || || 37,161 || 12–7 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 20 || April 25 || @ Orioles || 6–1 || Schilling (3–1) || Cabrera (1–2) || || 27,613 || 13–7 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 21 || April 26 || @ Orioles || 5–2 || Beckett (5–0) || Ray (2-2) || Papelbon (7) || 33,522 || 14–7 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 22 || April 27 || @ Yankees || 11–4 || Matsuzaka (3–2) || Pettitte (1-1) || || 55,005 || 15–7 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 23 || April 28 || @ Yankees || 3–1 || Igawa (2–1) || Wakefield (2–3) || Rivera (1) || 55,026 || 15–8 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 24 || April 29 || @ Yankees || 7–4 || Tavárez (1–2) || Wang (0–2) || Papelbon (8) || 54,856 || 16–8
|- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 25 || May 1 || Athletics || 5–4 || Duchscherer (2–1) || Donnelly (0–1) || Street (7) || 37,052 || 16–9 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 26 || May 2 || Athletics || 6–4 || Beckett (6–0) || Marshall (1-1) || Timlin (1) || 37,006 || 17–9 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 27 || May 3 || Mariners || 8–7 || Donnelly(1-1) || Reitsma (0–1) || Romero (1) || 37,216 || 18–9 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 28 || May 4 || @ Twins || 2–0 || Wakefield (3-3) || Silva (2-2) || Papelbon (9) || 34,951 || 19–9 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 29 || May 5 || @ Twins || 2–1 || Santana (4–2) || Tavárez (1–3) || Nathan (8) || 40,088 || 19–10 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 30 || May 6 || @ Twins || 4–3 || Schilling (4–1) || Ponson (2–4) || Papelbon (10) || 27,807 || 20–10 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 31 || May 8 || @ Blue Jays || 9–2 || Beckett (7–0) || Zambrano (0–2) || || 41,203 || 21–10 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 32 || May 9 || @ Blue Jays || 9–3 || Matsuzaka (4–2) || Ohka (2-4-) || || 21,784 || 22–10 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 33 || May 10 || @ Blue Jays || 8–0 || Wakefield (4–3) || Halladay (4–2) || || 22,290 || 23–10 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 34 || May 11 || Orioles || 6–3 || Burres (1-1) || Tavárez (1–4) || Ray (8) || 37,039 || 23–11 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 35 || May 12 || Orioles || 13–4 || López (1–0) || Leicester (0–1) || || 36,503 || 24–11 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 36 || May 13 || Orioles || 6–5 || Romero (1–0) || Ray (3-3) || || 36,379 || 25–11 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 37 || May 14 || Tigers || 7–1 || Matsuzaka (5–2) || Robertson (3-3) || || 36,935 || 26–11 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 38 || May 15 || Tigers || 7–2 || Verlander (3–1) || Wakefield (4-4) || || 37,031 || 26–12 |- style="background-color:#bbbbbb" | -- || May 16 || Tigers || colspan=5|Postponed (rain) || 26–12 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 39 || May 17 || Tigers || 2–1 || Tavárez (2–4) || Miner (0–1)|| Papelbon (11) || 36,767 || 27–12 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 40 || May 17 || Tigers || 4–2 ||Donnelly (2–1) || Ledezma (0–1)|| Okajima (2) || 37,006 || 28–12 |- style="background-color:#bbbbbb" | -- || May 18 || Braves || colspan=5|Postponed (rain) || 28–12 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 41 || May 19 || Braves || 13–3 || Matsuzaka (6–2) || Lerew (0–2) || || 36,358 || 29–12 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 42 || May 19 || Braves || 14–0 || Smoltz (6–2) || Hansack (0–1) || || 36,792 || 29–13 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 43 || May 20 || Braves || 6–3 || Gabbard (1–0) || Hudson (5–2) || || 36,140 || 30–13 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 44 || May 21 || @ Yankees || 6–2 || Wang (3-3) || Wakefield (4–5) || || 55,078 || 30–14 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 45 || May 22 || @ Yankees || 7–3 || Tavárez (3–4) || Mussina || || 54,739 || 31–14 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 46 || May 23 || @ Yankees || 8–3 || Pettitte' (3-3) || Schilling (4–2) || || 55,000 || 31–15 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 47 || May 25 || @ Rangers || 10–6 || Matsuzaka (7–2) || Littleton (0–1) || || 33,552 || 32–15 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 48 || May 26 || @ Rangers || 7–4 || Wakefield (5-5) || Padilla (2–7) || Papelbon (12) || 37,974 || 33–15 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 49 || May 27 || @ Rangers || 6–5 || Piñeiro (1–0) || Otsuka (1-1) || Okajima (3) || 40,323 || 34–15 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb"