The 2014 Boston Red Sox season was the 114th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished last in the five-team American League East with a record of 71–91, twenty-five games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
It was the second last-place finish for the team in three years, and they were the second defending World Series champions to finish last in their division, the first having been the 1998 Florida Marlins. They also became the first MLB team to finish last in one season, win the World Series the next, and finish last again the following season.
Offseason
November On November 1, 2013, the Red Sox picked up their $13 million club option on their ace pitcher Jon Lester for 2014. On November 11, 2013, Boston announced that Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew and Mike Napoli have all declined the qualifying offer from the club and hit the free agent market.
December On December 3, 2013, the Red Sox signed catcher A. J. Pierzynski to a one-year, $8.25 million contract. On December 3, 2013, just hours after Boston's signing of Pierzynski, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia signed a 3-year, $21 million deal with the Miami Marlins. On December 3, 2013, a third and final offseason move culminated the day with an announcement with major implications for the league and free agency market. Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury signed a 7-year, $153 million deal with the New York Yankees. On December 12, 2013, the Red Sox resigned Mike Napoli to a two-year contract. On December 18, 2013, the Red Sox signed Japanese pitcher Shunsuke Watanabe to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. On December 18, 2013, the Red Sox traded pitcher Franklin Morales to the Colorado Rockies for infielder Jonathan Herrera.
January On January 22, 2014, the Red Sox signed outfielder Grady Sizemore to a one-year deal, initially only worth $750,000 but with a possible $6 million in incentives. Sizemore had been out of baseball since 2011 due to injuries.
February On February 16, 2014, one day after pitchers and catchers reported, Ryan Dempster announced he will not pitch in 2014. On February 20, 2014, the Red Sox signed Chris Capuano to a one-year worth $2,250,000 contract with incentives to make the contract worth up to $5,000,000
March On March 23, 2014, the Red Sox and David Ortiz agreed on a 1-year contract extension through the 2015 season worth $16 million with a club/vesting option for 2016 and a club option for 2017.
During the season
Opening Day
The 2014 Red Sox season opened on March 31, with a 2–1 road loss against the Baltimore Orioles.
Opening Day lineup 29 Daniel Nava RF15 Dustin Pedroia 2B34 David Ortiz DH12 Mike Napoli 1B37 Mike Carp LF38 Grady Sizemore CF 2 Xander Bogaerts SS40 A. J. Pierzynski C16 Will Middlebrooks 3B31 Jon Lester P
April On April 7, the Red Sox signed infielder Ryan Roberts. He is designated for assignment 11 days later, but stays with the organization.
May On May 21, the Red Sox sign Stephen Drew.
June On June 18, the Red Sox release Grady Sizemore.
July On July 1, the Red Sox release Chris Capuano. On July 9, the Red Sox release A. J. Pierzynski. On July 26, the Red Sox traded Jake Peavy to the San Francisco Giants for LHP Edwin Escobar and RHP Heath Hembree. On July 30, the Red Sox traded Félix Doubront to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later (Marco Hernández). On July 31, the Red Sox traded Jon Lester, Jonny Gomes and cash considerations to the Oakland Athletics for OF Yoenis Céspedes and a competitive balance draft pick. The Red Sox traded John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly. The Red Sox traded Andrew Miller to the Baltimore Orioles for Eduardo Rodríguez. The Red Sox traded Stephen Drew to the New York Yankees for Kelly Johnson.
August On August 1, the Red Sox release Mike Carp. On August 22, 2014, the Red Sox sign Rusney Castillo to a 7-year, $72.5 million deal.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
+Red Sox vs. National LeagueTeamNL Central CHCCINMILPITSTLATLBoston0–34–00–30–31–24–0
Roster 2014 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches
(interim hitting)
Player stats
Batting Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Bases on balls; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBAVGSLGDustin Pedroia13555172153330753651.278.396Xander Bogaerts144538601292811246239.240.362David Ortiz1425185913627035104075.263.517Brock Holt106449681262354291233.281.381Mike Napoli119415491032001755378.248.419Jackie Bradley Jr.1273844576192130831.198.266Daniel Nava1133634198210437433.270.361A. J. Pierzynski72256196510143109.254.348Will Middlebrooks632151441100219115.191.265Jonny Gomes78209224970632026.234.354Yoenis Céspedes51201275410353347.269.423Mookie Betts521893455121518721.291.444Grady Sizemore521851440102215519.216.324Christian Vázquez55175154290120019.240.309David Ross50152162870715016.184.368Stephen Drew39131112361411114.176.328Shane Victorino3012314336121226.268.382Allen Craig2994712301219.128.191Jonathan Herrera42901021120917.233.289Mike Carp42869175109011.198.279Rusney Castillo1036612102633.333.528Garin Cecchini113168301403.258.452Jemile Weeks142668300324.308.423Bryce Brentz92658200200.308.385Kelly Johnson102514100100.160.200Ryan Roberts81912000003.105.105Dan Butler71914300201.211.368Ryan Lavarnway91000000000.000.000Alex Hassan3811000001.125.125Carlos Rivero4714201301.5711.286Corey Brown3100000000.000.000Pitcher totals1621903000010.158.158Team totals162555163413552822012360163535.244.369 Source:
Pitching Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPHRERBBSOClay Buchholz8115.3428280170.118210810154132Jon Lester1072.5221210143.0128524032149John Lackey1173.6021210137.1137605532116Jake Peavy194.7220200124.0131676546100Rubby De La Rosa484.4319180101.211651503574Brandon Workman1105.171915087.08857503670Burke Badenhop032.29700170.27020181940Koji Uehara652.526402664.1511818880Junichi Tazawa432.86710063.05823201764Joe Kelly424.111010061.14729283241Edward Mujica243.90640860.06928261443Félix Doubront246.071710059.16945402643Allen Webster535.031111059.05835332836Craig Breslow245.96600154.17340362837Andrew Miller352.34500042.12513111369Anthony Ranaudo434.8177039.13921211615Chris Capuano114.55280031.23417161529Alex Wilson101.91180028.12086519Steven Wright012.5761021.02186422Tommy Layne210.95300019.01442814Heath Hembree004.5060010.0115556Matt Barnes004.005009.0114428Drake Britton000.007006.250024Edwin Escobar004.502002.011102Mike Carp009.001001.001150Team totals71914.01162162361465.214587156534821213 Source:
Game log
Red Sox Win Red Sox Loss Game postponed Eliminated from Playoff Race Boldface text denotes a Red Sox pitcher
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 1 || March 31 || @ Orioles || 1–2 || Britton (1–0) || Lester (0–1) || Hunter (1) || Camden Yards || 46,685 || 0–1 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 2 || April 2 || @ Orioles || 6–2 || Lackey (1–0) || Jiménez (0–1) || || Camden Yards || 25,708 || 1–1 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 3 || April 3 || @ Orioles || 4–3 ||Doubront (1–0) || Chen (0–1)||Uehara (1) || Camden Yards || 20,880|| 2–1 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 4 || April 4 || Brewers || 2–6 || Kintzler (1–0) || Mujica (0–1) || || Fenway Park || 36,728 || 2–2 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 5 || April 5 || Brewers || 6–7 (11) || Thornburg (1–0) || Badenhop (0–1) || Rodríguez (2) || Fenway Park || 35,729 || 2–3 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 6 || April 6 || Brewers || 0–4 || Gallardo (2–0) || Lester (0–2) || || Fenway Park || 35,958 || 2–4 || L3 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 7 || April 7 || Rangers || 5–1 || Lackey (2–0) || Scheppers (0–1) || || Fenway Park || 35,842 || 3–4 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 8 || April 8 || Rangers || 7–10 || Pérez (1–0) || Doubront (1–1) || || Fenway Park || 34,142 || 3–5 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 9 || April 9 || Rangers || 4–2 || Miller (1–0) || Ogando (0–1) || Uehara (2) || Fenway Park || 33,585 || 4–5 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 10 || April 10 || @ Yankees || 1–4 || Pineda (1–1) || Buchholz (0–1) || Phelps (1) || Yankee Stadium || 42,821 || 4–6 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 11 || April 11 || @ Yankees || 4–2 || Lester (1–2) || Sabathia (1–2) || Mujica (1) || Yankee Stadium || 44,121 || 5–6 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 12 || April 12 || @ Yankees || 4–7 || Kuroda (2–1) || Lackey (2–1) || Kelley (2) || Yankee Stadium || 48,572 || 5–7 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 13 || April 13 || @ Yankees || 2–3 || Nova (2–1) || Doubront (1–2) || Kelley (3) || Yankee Stadium || 46,081 || 5–8 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 14 || April 15 || @ White Sox || 1–2 || Webb (1–0) || Badenhop (0–2) || || U.S. Cellular Field || 13,402 || 5–9 || L3 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 15 || April 16 || @ White Sox || 6–4 (14) || Capuano (1–0) || García (0–1) || Badenhop (1) || U.S. Cellular Field || 13,302 || 6–9 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 16 || April 17 || @ White Sox || 3–1 || Lester (2–2) || Belisario (1–2) || Uehara (3)|| U.S. Cellular Field || 17,454 || 7–9 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 17 || April 18 || Orioles || 4–8 || Tillman (2–1) || Lackey (2–2) || O'Day (1) || Fenway Park || 36,408 || 7–10 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 18 || April 19 || Orioles || 4–2 || Tazawa (1–0) || Norris (0–2) || Uehara (4) || Fenway Park || 37,689 || 8–10 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 19 || April 20 || Orioles || 6–5 || Mujica (1–1) || Matusz (1–1) || || Fenway Park || 33,947 || 9–10 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 20 || April 21 || Orioles || 6–7 || Chen (3–1) || Buchholz (0–2) || Hunter (5) || Fenway Park || 37,513 || 9–11 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 21 || April 22 || Yankees || 3–9 || Tanaka (3–0) || Lester (2–3) || || Fenway Park || 37,041 || 9–12 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 22 || April 23 || Yankees || 5–1 || Lackey (3–2) || Pineda (2–2) || || Fenway Park || 37,015 || 10–12 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 23 || April 24 || Yankees || 5–14 || Sabathia (3–2) || Doubront (1–3) || || Fenway Park || 37,356 || 10–13 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 24 || April 25 || @ Blue Jays || 8–1 || Peavy (1–0) || Buehrle (4–1) || || Rogers Centre || 29,411 || 11–13 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 25 || April 26 || @ Blue Jays || 7–6 || Buchholz (1–2) || Morrow (1–2) || Uehara (5) || Rogers Centre || 40,322 || 12–13 || W2 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;" | 26 || April 27 || @ Blue Jays || 1–7 || Dickey (2–3) || Lester (2–4) || || Rogers Centre || 45,260 || 12–14 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbffbb;" | 27 || April 29 || Rays || 7–4 || Lackey (4–2) || Gomes (1–1) || Uehara (6) || Fenway Park || 34,794 || 13–14 || W1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbbbbb" | — || April 30 || Rays ||colspan="8" | Postponed (rain) (Makeup date: May 1)
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#ffbbbb;"