Mass Live’s Chris Cotillo pointed to Kyle Schwarber as a possible target of the Red Sox, but the most likely scenario still seems to be that he’ll re-sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.
It’s clear, though, that the Red Sox need a middle-of-the-order hitter. Schwarber is coming off of a better season than Pete Alonso, but the latter is two years younger and won’t have a qualifying offer attached to him, so it won’t cost draft-pick compensation to sign him.
Last offseason, it felt like Alonso wanted the Mets more than they wanted him. He’ll have more leverage this time around, though. First of all, he’s set the Mets all-time home run record, so there’s no motivation to go back to get that. Secondly, he’s coming off of a better season, having posted an .871 OPS in 2025, as opposed to .788 in 2024. And as mentioned, there’s no qualifying offer attached to him this time around. He should be able to get at least a four-year deal this offseason.
Alonso could begin the deal at first base, particularly with uncertainty surrounding the health of Triston Casas, who will be returning from a ruptured left patellar tendon. Not that Casas is a Gold Glove-level defender either, but in the long run he could push Alonso—who posted minus-nine defensive runs saved—to DH on a more consistent basis.
Boston would be paying for the bat of Alonso, who would surely be able to wear out the Green Monster playing 81 home games a season at Fenway Park.
If Alonso was signed, Bregman would likely leave in free agency, departing for nothing since he’s not eligible for the QO. Alonso, though, probably fits what the Red Sox need even more, and it’s easier to swallow the pill of losing Bregman for nothing if he’s replaced by someone without a QO attached to them.