With Sonny Gray now in the rotation, the expectation is that the Red Sox will now move onto adding a prominent bat as the next item on their to-do list, with such major names as Pete Alonso, J.T. Realmuto, Kazuma Okamoto, and former Boston players Alex Bregman and Kyle Schwarber linked to the team. Reports indicate that the Sox might try to acquire more than one player from that group, but Alex Speier of the Boston Globe also lays out a different path. According to sources, Speier writes that the Red Sox are considering adding not necessarily two top-tier stars, but rather a bigger name and then “an additional complementary position player.”
Speier cites Jorge Polanco as a model for this type of addition, so it would seem like the idea is still to add a prominent everyday bat rather than a true platoon type, for instance. But, someone like Polanco wouldn’t be as expensive as the other free agent targets, and an older player (Polanco turned 32 last July) on a shorter-term contract might have more appeal for a Boston team deep in younger position players.
For instance, if the Red Sox signed Alonso and Polanco, they’d have first base covered with Alonso, Trevor Story returning at shortstop, Polanco toggling between second and third base, and Marcelo Mayer able to gain playing time at whichever position Polanco wasn’t playing. Re-signing Bregman would create an infield alignment of Bregman at third base, Story at shortstop, Mayer probably as the primary second baseman, and Polanco perhaps getting some time at first base. Polanco has all of one career MLB game as a first baseman, but as injuries limited his on-field time in 2025, a shift over to first base duty makes sense for Polanco as he gets deeper into his career.
In short, there are plenty of approaches the Red Sox can take, as right now Story seems to be the only infielder truly locked into a regular role heading into 2026. Triston Casas is penciled in at first base but has been often mentioned as a trade candidate, Mayer is a top prospect who is still unproven at the big league level, and any number of players (i.e. Ceddanne Rafaela, Romy Gonzalez, Kristian Campbell, David Hamilton) could factor into the infield picture as well. If not Polanco himself, another multi-position infielder in that mold would help the Red Sox juggle the playing time situation.
While more rotation moves might yet be in the offing, acquiring Gray relatively early in the offseason gives the Red Sox some measure of relief in knowing that at least one frontline arm is in the fold, giving the club more flexibility in broadly assessing its options on the position-player front. Budget-wise or luxury tax-wise, there is nothing necessarily preventing Boston from making multiple splashes in free agency, but one big-ticket signing and another more modest signing would probably be preferable from a payroll perspective.
Phillies Front Office: If you’re looking for a partner in a Nick Castellanos deal, look no further than these Boston Red Sox. They have a lefty heavy lineup with several unfavorable contracts of their own. Casty comes with some fan fare, could handle RF at Fenway, balances their lineup AND should be plenty motivated in a contract year. Nick Castellanos (1/$20M) for Jordan Hicks (2/$25M), straight up. If I were the Phillies, I’d try to nab that 22 y/o LHP prospect, Brandon Clarke in the deal – even if they had to add a good prospect or two, to get it done. Kid has insane K/9 rate in the minors and we’ve seen what the Phillies player development dept. has done with guys like Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo and Christopher Sanchez. Casty to the Red Sox makes a lot of sense for both clubs.
Castellanos could most definitely not handle RF at Fenway.
Brandon Clarke was traded last week.
Jesus Luzardo was not developed in the Phillies system.
…..and Castellanos sucks.
Other than all that, sounds like a great plan, eh?
Was this a chatGPT made post?
Heh. Yup, my thought exactly. Almost certainly.
Castellanos for Yashida straight up, who says no?
Nick C couldn’t crack that line up as it is now, let alone after they sign a free agent
Castellanos may not even be worth a roster spot for the league min. He certainly can’t field anywhere. Brandon Clarke is a Red MiLB high-A player. Your evaluations appear way off.
It’s an auto comment generated by AI.
I have my doubts they sign all three of Alonso, Polanco and Bregman.
They won’t and the article didn’t suggest it.
Yep! Here it comes, John Henry and the Sox are going cheap again. Just enough to stay competitive but not enough to go for championships! Get ready for another disappointing off season.
And queue the “Boston is going to cheap out I told you so!” Comments.
The way the team spends their money is more important than how much a team spends
The doomsayers who deliberately “forget” last year’s amazing Red Sox offseason will be all over every hot stove board until they make a big signing and another trade or two, when they’ll hit the pause button until just before the trade deadline.
Not much in terms of substance here, so I guess its up to all of us to opine.
I have thought since the minute of his opt-out that Bregman was not coming back, and my mind hasn’t changed at all. The Sox haven’t signed multi-year deals with position players that would take them well beyond their 34yo season. Signing Bregman would require that, and, at what a price.
Same goes for Alonso, except that if he can be had for a three year deal (perhaps with a fourth year option) that would make him only 35 at the end of his contract. Unfortunately, I dont see a soft market for Alonso this off season and I think 3yrs is probably not happening.
My best guess is that one of the two top Japanese corner infielders is coming to Boston.
Keeping both prospects and money in reserve for mid season additions isn’t the worst fall back option though.