“We have a plan in place. We know there’s certain aspects of the roster that we have to improve. I think we’re going to be very aggressive on that.”

All signs point toward the Red Sox having a busy and impactful offseason.

Boston’s reported activity thus far coupled with manager Alex Cora’s Saturday comments regarding the organization’s plan to improve the club, and the team should be poised for a more meaningful winter than last year’s.

Following reports that Red Sox executives traveled to visit top free agent Juan Soto this week, Cora spoke publicly about the franchise’s offseason strategy. He called Boston’s approach “aggressive” while speaking with Chris Cotillo of MassLive on Saturday.

“I think the talk (internally) has been more about the big league club instead of player development, and that’s a positive for the fan base,” Cora said. “We have a plan in place. We know there’s certain aspects of the roster that we have to improve. I think we’re going to be very aggressive on that.”

The Red Sox have reportedly been heavily involved in both the free agent and trade market through the young offseason. After failing to make a splash last winter, Boston is rumored to be suitors for top free agent sluggers like Soto and Teoscar Hernandez and pitchers such as Max Fried, Nathan Eovaldi, and Blake Snell.

The club is also reportedly in the running to acquire White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet, a player who could require a hefty haul in return.

Coming off a mediocre 81-81 season filled with injuries and shortcomings, the Red Sox could benefit from some roster turnover and more talented players.

Cora acknowledged that players like Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu were bright spots during a roller coaster of a season. However, he also acknowledged that that isn’t a good enough recipe for success.

“We talked about if after the season on the stage (at the end-of-year press conference), where we’re at right now as an organization,” Cora said. “We’re in a good place. … We made some strides. That’s the bottom line. There were some individual players, if you go by pieces of the puzzle, there were some good stories. Guys got better. Guys can still get better. And there’s a plan in place.”

In July, Cora signed a three-year contract extension to remain Boston’s skipper and cut his lame-duck season short. Coming off a 2023 offseason that failed to fulfill promises of going “full throttle”, it’s hard not to wonder if Cora has reason to believe that this winter will definitively be different.

He doubled down on the notion that the Red Sox have a blueprint to improve the club in time for Opening Day next year.

“I truly believe what we talked about — I can’t talk for Scott (Boras) and what the industry’s saying — but what we said the last time we were together at Fenway. We were very honest and I think we’re going to execute.”

The aforementioned Boras did in fact recently comment on Boston’s plan. The high-profile sports agent echoed sentiments similar to Cora’s in terms of the Red Sox’ plan.

“In our meetings, [the Red Sox] are definitely letting us know that ownership is committed, that they’re wanting to secure high-level players and that they’re definitely planning on being very active in the free agent market,” he said at the GM meetings (via The Athletic).