here are some important factors that the Boston Red Sox will have to consider over the next few weeks to months. On paper, this is a young team with a lot of talent and has some veterans who will help them win a World Series in the near future.
In terms of future outlook, there’s a strong argument to be made that the Red Sox are in as strong a position to win it all as any team in Major League Baseball.
What Will the Red Sox Do in Free Agency?
It’ll come down to what the Boston Red Sox decide to do in free agency and how some of those young guys continue to grow. However, when focusing just on the free agent front, this is as big a winter as ever for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox are in a position to go out and spend some money, and according to the latest from Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, it sounds like they’ll have their eyes set on Pete Alonso of the New York Mets.
“I do think the Red Sox will be in on Alonso. At the end-of-season news conference, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow noted on more than one occasion the need for more power in the lineup. Throughout the season, it was clear manager Alex Cora wished the lineup had more thump, noting the difficulty of consistently stringing together hits,” McCaffrey wrote.
“He’s not a perfect fit, though. He will be 31 in December and likely command a monster deal. He’s reportedly seeking a seven-year deal, one likely north of $175 million. If obtained by Boston, he likely would be shifted to designated hitter at some point during the contract. How he would fit alongside Casas, if Casas remains, is something the Red Sox would need to explore.”
Getting someone like Alonso in Boston would be a great fit, especially with the obvious need for a first baseman for the Red Sox.
If there’s one area the Red Sox have to improve on moving forward, it’s at first base. However, if the organization wants to look at other potential power options, that’s where someone like Kyle Schwarber could come into play.
Will the Red Sox Pursue Kyle Schwarber?
According to McCaffrey, she believes the Boston Red Sox will have another opportunity to go after Schwarber this winter.
“In my opinion, even though Schwarber is a lefty, he’s a better fit for the Red Sox roster with his leadership, a strong power bat and shorter projected deal. Schwarber loved his two months in Boston after he was traded here from the Nationals at the deadline in 2021. Though Schwarber had an outsized impact on the lineup and in the clubhouse in a short time in 2021, the Red Sox didn’t make a large offer that winter and he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on a four-year, $79 million deal.
“Boston has another chance now. One evaluator highlighted that strong fit in 2021 as a reason the Red Sox should pursue him again. They already know he can succeed in and handle the pressures of Boston,” she wrote.
Coming off arguably his best season ever, Schwarber hit 56 home runs and drove in 132. He’s continued to be a monster power bat and is already liked in Boston, so the fit might be better than Alonso.
