What’s next after whiffing on Alonso? Red Sox must get creative originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox entered the offseason in need of at least one middle-of-the-order bat. Nothing they’ve done so far this winter suggests they’re serious about addressing that void.
On Tuesday, they watched old friend Kyle Schwarber return to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million contract. While Schwarber always seemed like a long shot to return to Boston, it was alarming to see the Red Sox weren’t mentioned with the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds as clubs to make competitive offers to the National League MVP runner-up.
The real gut punch came Wednesday. Not only did the Red Sox miss out on slugging first baseman Pete Alonso, but they will also have to see him in the American League East for the foreseeable future. The biggest bat on the market joined the Orioles on a five-year, $155 million deal, and the Red Sox’ offer reportedly wasn’t in the same stratosphere.
Boston whiffed on Alonso two days after chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made this remark at the MLB Winter Meetings:
“I think that the true middle-of-the-order bat that can hit the ball out of the park, has probably an outsized impact on the rest of the lineup because of the way you have to attack someone — the on-base implications it can have,” he said. “And so, again, 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.”
Alonso was widely considered the perfect fit for Boston. The five-time All-Star has been one of the premier power hitters in baseball for the last seven years. His right-handed pop would have paired perfectly with Fenway Park, especially in a Red Sox lineup loaded with left-handed bats.
So, now what?
Turning to the trade market
With Schwarber and Alonso off the board, Boston must get creative to add legitimate power to the lineup. Re-signing Alex Bregman alone won’t cut it, and with an underwhelming free-agent class, Breslow and Co. will likely have to explore the trade market to add anyone worth getting excited about.
One intriguing possibility is Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. The three-time All-Star has recently been linked to the Red Sox in trade rumors, though it will take a significant haul to land him. Arizona is reportedly looking for young, big-league-ready starting pitching in return. Marte signed a six-year, $116.5 million extension with the D’backs last April.
Another name that moves the needle? Corey Seager. Boston has had talks with the Texas Rangers about a potential deal for the five-time All-Star shortstop, according to The Boston Globe. Acquiring Seager seems less likely than Marte, given that the two-time World Series MVP is owed $31 million in each of the next six seasons. Plus, Seager has almost exclusively played shortstop throughout his 11-year career, so either Trevor Story would have to move to second base, or Seager would have to adjust to second or third.
Houston Astros infielder Isaac Paredes and St. Louis Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan are also on the Red Sox’ reported list of trade targets. While both would be solid additions, neither would be enough to say Boston made the necessary upgrades to its lackluster offense.
Free-agent alternatives
There’s still a chance for Breslow to add power via free agency. Shortstop Bo Bichette and third baseman/DH Eugenio Suarez are the two most appealing options, though both come with caveats.
Bichette is largely considered an alternative to Bregman; otherwise, he’d have to move to second base. Suarez will turn 35 in July and is a defensive liability at third base, though he could move to first or serve as the Red Sox’ designated hitter.
In conclusion
Boston can still salvage what already feels like a disappointing offseason. The most likely path involves parting ways with promising young pitchers, such as left-handers Connelly Early or Payton Tolle, when all principal owner John Henry really had to do was open his wallet.
Boston’s unwillingness to offer competitive deals for Schwarber or Alonso proves that returning to the postseason wasn’t enough to convince Red Sox brass to act like a big-market organization. That’s a discouraging sign for the team’s 2026 chances, and it should infuriate fans who bought back in on the club during the 2025 campaign.
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