“I Hope They Win”: Johnny Damon’s Blueprint for Red Sox Success

Johnny Damon Gives His 2025 Prediction for the Boston Red Sox and Names Biggest Threat to the Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Boston Red Sox great Johnny Damon believes his former team will be better this year – just not good enough to be a World Series contender.

The Red Sox are coming off a disappointing 81-81 campaign, their third straight non-playoff season. It's also the fifth time in the past six seasons that they've missed the postseason. What makes it more difficult to stomach is the fact that the Red Sox's biggest rivals, the New York Yankees, are coming off of a World Series appearance.

However, the Red Sox had one of the best offseasons of any MLB team, bringing in All-Star left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet and two-time All-Star pitcher Walker Buehler. That's in addition to adding veteran reliever Aroldis Chapman to the mix.

Damon says that should be good enough to get the team to 85 wins and in contention for an AL Wild Card spot.

"Well, I think they're going to get out there and compete," says Damon in a one-on-one interview with RG on behalf of his drink, A-Game. "I mean, there's some teams that are just loaded. And you need guys to step up.  I would probably say 85 wins. You have to start off April well, not that you end up cruising, but you just start playing with a lot more confidence and try to beat up teams when they're down early on."

Damon – who is best known for playing a key role on the Red Sox team that ended its 86-year World Series drought in 2004 – says he doesn't see Boston having enough talent to compete with the Yankees, but says he may be wrong.

"I don't think so, but what does my opinion matter," says Damon.

"Hopefully those guys can take a look at this and say, 'Let's show Johnny Damon that we're a lot better than we are.' I always loved that because when I was on the Royals, we were always picked to finish in last place.  

"We had some tough years, but we competed," Damon continues to say of his tenure with the Kansas City Royals. "In the year 2000, we led the league in hitting with .288. If you go back to 2024, the leading hitting team was .263. That's the kind of stuff that drives us."

The two-time All-Star makes sure to single out 28-year-old outfielder Jarren Duran, who is coming off of his first All-Star season after leading the American League in doubles and triples.

 "Jared Durran, what a player," Damon says of the Red Sox' top batter. "When I see him play, I'm like, 'Damn, is that how I used to play?' Because I admire his style and he gets after it and he plays hard. He's just a gamer. Hopefully they can see more of that, but he's becoming too good. His value's gonna be through the roof when he becomes a free agent. We'll see what happens in his story."  

Damon – who played for the Red Sox from 2002 until 2005 – says he hopes the franchise can get back to its winning ways. Boston was a winning team during all four of his seasons there and were in the playoffs during his final three years there.  

"I hope they win," says Damon.

"I think it would be great to visit when the Red Sox are kicking a lot of tail. It's a great place to be during the summer. Please win and keep the fans excited."

The two-time World Series champ predicts the Los Angeles Dodgers to win it all in 2025 – a repeat of 2024 – and says the Philadelphia Phillies are the biggest threat to preventing a Dodgers repeat. The Phillies lost in the NLDS after posting the second-best record in the National League (95-67) last season.