As the Red Sox embark on a fresh season, a different kind of optimism surrounds the club. Last year at this time, coming off a brutal 2020 season, the bridge year narrative was in full force. Yet the Red Sox surprised many across baseball, pushing deep into the postseason with a flexible roster and strong chemistry while embracing their underdog status (as much as a team with a $200 million payroll can be an underdog).

This year, there have been a few subtractions but some notable additions but many of the same faces. Because of all that, the Red Sox figure to be right in the mix of the American League East.

Here are 11 predictions about the Red Sox this season, starting with:

Trevor Story has a 30-30 season in his debut in Boston. These numbers might be conservative considering Story’s pull-side power. Ability to use the wall in left at Fenway. Story has had two seasons in 2018 and 2019 where he hit more than 30 homers and 30 doubles so there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again with the help of Fenway’s friendly dimensions for his swing.

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