Although optimism wasn’t through the roof heading into last season, the 2021 Boston Red Sox put together a thrilling campaign and came just a hair shy of a World Series berth. With Chaim Bloom in command of the roster and Alex Cora returning to his post as skipper, Boston found itself back in contention immediately. Their strong season also allowed them to enter the offseason with a focus on building a team that can go deep into the playoffs. Let’s dive into the state of the Red Sox before they kick off regular-season play on Thursday. AdditionsThe Red Sox repeatedly made it clear that they we…