"Angels never won with Mike Trout" - Red Sox analyst urges Boston to rope in 3x All-Star to support Roman Anthony

Despite being written off after a slow start, the Boston Red Sox went on to enjoy a great 2025 season, with Roman Anthony playing a starring role. After breaking a three-year playoff drought, the Red Sox are looking to build on that success and brought in three-time All-Star Sonny Gray to bolster their starting rotation.

Though this is a step in the right direction, the Red Sox also need significant offensive reinforcements, according to analyst Lou Merloni. On NESN on Wednesday, Merloni urged the Red Sox to bring back three-time All-Star Alex Bregman.

In order to drive his point home, Merloni pointed to Mike Trout's lack of collective success with the Angels as an example of what might end up happening if the Red Sox fail to surround Roman Anthony with other quality hitters.

"You guys asked me a while ago, if you could only have one, would it be a number-two (starting pitcher) or a bat? I said bat," Merloni said. [36:36] "I do think that's where the DNA has to change a little bit in this ball club. Part of that is a guy like (Alex) Bregman, bringing him back.

"You love Roman Anthony, but he can't hit every inning, one through nine. You have to put (other guys around him). The Angels never won with Mike Trout, so you have to put some guys around him. Focus on the bats right now."

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"He understands what wearing that jersey means" - Red Sox skipper Alex Cora commends Roman Anthony's quality

On the Nov. 9 episode of "Hot Stove", Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora applauded Roman Anthony's talent.

"The kid, he’s a great at-bat, he’s a great baserunner," Cora said. "The kid became a monster in the outfield, he was a plus defender. A good kid, he understands what wearing that jersey means.

"If you look at his season, you know who he is, you know what he’s going to do and just very happy that I’m going to be able to manage him at least for the next two years.”

Tampa Bay Rays v Boston Red Sox - Source: Getty

Despite making his debut relatively late in the regular season, Anthony was named one of the finalists for the AL Rookie of the Year award, alongside Athletics stars Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson. Ultimately, it was Kurtz who took home the prestigious prize.