The Boston Red Sox, as they always seem to be, are “interested” in most of the premier free agents this offseason. Red Sox fans are still holding out hope that slugger Kyle Schwarber, who spent part of the 2021 season in Boston, will decide to reunite with the fanbase that quickly became enamored with him.
Outside of Pete Alonso, Schwarber has been the free agent the Red Sox have been pining after the most so far this offseason, but MLB insider Jeff Passan gave a discouraging update on that quest for Boston in a Threads post on Nov. 30.
“Schwarberâs market is healthy,” Passan wrote. “Heâs going to get years, and heâs going to get AAV, and at this point, he might be the likeliest of the big free agents to sign first. Unclear if something gets done before the meetings, but Iâd be surprised if they end and he doesnât have a team. The Phillies remain the favorite, with Boston, Cincinnati, the Mets and others in the mix.”
Schwarber has spent the last four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, and as of Dec. 1, it seems like Philly is still far and away the favorite to retain their beloved slugger.
The MLB Winter Meetings kick off next Monday, Dec. 8, where Passan believes a deal for Schwarber will ultimately get done.
Red Sox Need Power Bat; May Need to Refocus on Alonso
Boston’s No. 1 priority this offseason is to acquire a power bat for the middle of their lineup. This was a glaring hole in their playoff run especially with the departure of Rafael Devers and the injury issues with Alex Bregman and Roman Anthony.
With Anthony poised for a big season in 2026, Boston needs to add another legitimate power threat to their lineup that primarily succeeded with base hits last year.
If Schwarber is truly no longer an option for the Red Sox, they need to refocus their attention on the other big name slugger in this free agent class, Pete Alonso. Alonso has made a name for himself as one of the premier power hitters in the MLB, and if the Red Sox truly want to prove that they are willing to spend money like the big market team they are, he is the exact type of guy they should be pursuing intently.
Winter Meeting Headlines to Watch For Red Sox Fans
The MLB Winter Meetings are typically chalk full of trades and signings, and for the first time in a while, Boston should be involved at the forefront of the noise at the events.
In terms of power upgrades outside of Schwarber and Alonso, the Red Sox have also been linked to two Japanese stars who are looking to move to the MLB in Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto. Boston does have a track record of signing international players from Japan and the Dominican Republic, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see either of these guys land with the Red Sox.
On the pitching front, free agents Zac Gallen, Michael King, and Framber Valdez all remain on the market and have all been linked to the Red Sox in some respect. A trade isn’t out of the picture either, as Boston will likely be shopping Jarren Duran and prospects for guys like Joe Ryan.
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