The Red Sox had a recent Zoom meeting with Bo Bichette, reports Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston. It was already known that Bichette was on the Sox’s radar as they pursue an impact bat.
Boston’s top goal may be adding more of a prototypical power bat. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has spoken about the desire to add a slugger on a few occasions. He reiterated that sentiment this evening from the Winter Meetings (link via Ian Browne of MLB.com).
“Home runs are a foolproof way to put runs on the board. Typically, that type of profile comes with a tradeoff, most often contact ability, which is another area that we feel like we need to improve the identity of the offense,” Breslow told reporters. “But at the end of the day, we’re trying to score as many runs as possible. There are a few different paths to doing that. … We’re going to consider all ways of improving the team, but finding someone in the middle of the order and who hits the ball out of the park is a really good place to start.”
Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso would fit that description more aptly than Bichette. They’re both of interest to Boston — indeed, the Sox are scheduled for an in-person meet with the Polar Bear this week. Still, it’d be surprising if the Red Sox didn’t keep in contact with Bichette. He’s coming off a .311/.357/.483 season and probably would have reached 20 homers had his season not been cut short by a knee sprain. Boston doesn’t have anyone locked in at second base, so they could target Bichette at the keystone or consider bumping Trevor Story to the other side of the second base bag. They’re also surely still interested in Alex Bregman, so there are plenty of possibilities for Breslow and his staff.

Swipe left Bo!
naw fam Swipe right Bo!
I recently had one of those “videos meetings”.
Clean the keyboard
Wrap it in Saran Wrap.
I think us older Sox fans remember what his dad didn’t do in Boston. Still got a bad taste in my mouth. Save the $ .
800 ops age 36 37 sign me up for that.
He’d look great in red stockings but won’t hit too many homeruns in Boston.
Too bad he got rid of his Johnny Damon tribute haircut.
Bo + Alonso would be too perfect, that is why I as a Mariners fan would pray PLEASE DEAR LORD DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN.
Don’t worry our pitching isn’t on par with what they’ve done so far
Not so sure I agree on that one (not an Alonso fan), but they only have about 35mil to spend to stay under the first CBT threshold and still make in-season adjustments, so I doubt it happens unless both take low AAVs than expected and the Red Sox deal Duran.
They are on record as being ok with passing the first cbt threshold but not the second and no word on how far past the 1st they will go..but in for a penny might as well be in for a pound..technically both are doable while remaining under the 2nd threshold
@poolhalljunkies
They’re clearly going over the tax (as they did last season) at 244mil but I haven’t seen any reporting they would go over the 264mil threshold. Do you remember where your saw that?
They’re currently at ~223mil and will need 5-10mil for in season moves which gives them only 31-36mil to spend with a lefty reliever likely needed as well. If they can go up to 284mil then they have a chance at two of the big names.
There is reporting on this site stating thier willingness to exceed the first threshold..I havnt seen anything on the second..but you can far exceed the first without reaching the second…its like .why exceed by a few million then stop unless you are approaching the second threshold
@Poolhalljunkies
There’s reporting all over that they’re exceeding the CBT, if that’s what you mean. Each threshold is set at 20mil, and the team needs 5-10mil for in-season adjustments. So they can’t go that far unless they’re exceeding the next threshold.
There are additional penalties for exceeding each threshold
Ahh ok..i didn’t realize the difference between the 1st and 2nd threshold was so small 20 million isn’t much when that wont even buy one top end player for a single year
@WCSox-They can always …..ahem dare I say it?……………..They can always DEFER some that $$$$$$
@Dolemite
I expect they will but the deferments are accounted for in the AAV used for the CBT number (there’s ~30-35% reduction in AAV for the amount deferred assuming 10 year deferments).
Did he call breslow a f****** stiff?
Tang – Ha, beat me to it!
Thinking this could also be an effort to build leverage in their Bregman pursuit but could as easily be keeping options open.
Funny to follow the site right now – many teams interested in almost everyone. Can you say agent source?
The opening day 2025 Red Sox roster had 3 middle of the order bats under control for multiple years (Bregman technically had the opt-out but still) in Devers, Bregman and Casas. Currently only Casas is on the roster, and they’re crying for middle of the order bats. Not a good look Breslow.
Casas was hardly great shakes before then.
Casas OPS+:
2023: 129
2024: 124 (shortened due to injury)
He had a slow start to his rookie year in 2023, but put up an OPS of 1.199 in July.
He’s a good young hitter who has dealt with two freak injuries.
Not saying he will immediately regain that form, but he has the talent.
I think I learned something today. Apparently home runs are good. And if you score more than your opponent, it’s a good thing. Thank you Mr Breslow.
If you score more runs than your opponent, then you win the game! That theory will revolutionize the game.
Arson bichette
Anyone of us could be writing articles about the “rumors” and conjecture flying around by baseball “insiders” at these meetings. Wake me up when something actually happens…
All signs point to a Murakami signing. Let me explain. In the last 24hrs the Red Sox have; cried poverty, been linked to acquiring an aging 2B with a $100m+ contract that would require sending major league players and/or propects, had a zoom meeting with Bichette, will be having an in-person sit-down with Alonso, and Breslow stating he wants a home run hitter for the middle of the order. But let’s keep in mind that besides Devers, The Sox haven’t paid or bought a multi-year contract that would take a position player past the age of 34 since 2018.. So that leaves the 25yr Murakami left as the only fit.. Maybe Bichette but not if he wants more then 6yrs.
Assuming you are referring to Marte for the aging 2nd baseman? I’d honestly rather trade for him than sign Bichette. There’s a minor possibility the Dbacks eat some cash depending on the trade but either way, his contract is backloaded and doesn’t get in to $20mm territory until 2028 ($16/‘26, $12/‘27). Plus the dude can still play solid d whereas Bichette is below average. I don’t think any team is keen on inking Murakami to a large contract. He’s more of a work in progress project that will likely take a couple years to adjust to the velocity and breaking balls pitchers throw stateside. Def potential to be a major power threat but not immediately.
Re; Marte, besides Devers, The Sox haven’t paid or bought a multi-year contract that would take a position player past the age of 34 since 2018. This is a team philosophy, Breslow is the PBO and he’s completely in charge of the pitching side. But team philosophy is decided by those that sit at the decision making round table as a whole and he is part of that process.. The Red Sox are not trading for Marte. It’s a media driven topic for the headlines, a fandom trade created for the uneducated masses to get clicks. Boston is a big market club and they have world wide appeal, Murakami fits what a big market club is looking for.
I’m not saying who the Sox will sign. Merely who I’d rather them sign. You really think they’re gonna push hard for another MLB unproven bat with defensive liabilities? Not being condescending. Genuine inquiry.
Yea, I think they could, they want world wide star power.
Spend the money on Bo! I f the Red Sox want the most production for their FA money, this the player to sign!
Eh, like the article says a power bat is more likely, but you never know. Bo stay home, bro.
Bo was seen on a plane heading for Logan International…..
Bo’s dad, Dante, met Bo’s mom at a gym outside of Fenway. It would be sort of a “homecoming” for Bo. If the Sox don’t sign Bregman, put Bichette at 3B and Mayer at 2B.