Biggest Need(s): Veteran bat, left-handed set-up man
Ideal Solution: Re-sign Alex Bregman
There was an argument to be made at the outset of the offseason that Craig Breslow and the Red Sox might be better served letting Alex Bregman walk and instead signing a more power-focused bat to augment their lineup.
Ultimately, though, Boston didn’t approach the five-year, $150 million deal that Kyle Schwarber signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, nor were they willing to match the five-year, $155 million pact the AL East-rival Baltimore Orioles gave to Pete Alonso.
At this juncture of the offseason, re-signing Bregman would be the best move for Boston. He was an All-Star for the Red Sox in 2025, posting an .821 OPS over 114 games. He’s also a strong defender at third base, one who could shift to second base if the Red Sox ever wanted to do that.
When you add in his leadership and the fact that Bregman being ineligible for the qualifying offer this offseason means that Boston won’t get anything in return if he leaves in free agency, the Red Sox should give the 31-year-old a five-year deal.
Additionally, while Aroldis Chapman was baseball’s best reliever a year ago, the only other left currently projected to be in the bullpen for Alex Cora’s squad is Jovani Morán, who has a 4.26 ERA in 81 career MLB appearances. So, another left-handed option in the ‘pen wouldn’t hurt.