Matthew Lenz

Jon Heyman of the New York Post ($$) writes that Bregman’s camp has fielded interest from the Red Sox, in addition to the Detroit Tigers and receiving a formal offer from the Houston Astros. While the Red Sox have a larger need to lockdown an Ace for their starting rotation, signing the 31-year-old wouldn't necessarily take them out of the race to add another big contract. President of Baseball Operations, Sam Kennedy, recently talked about their willingness to spend to compete for an AL East title and to make a deep playoff run. The fit with Bergman is an interesting one. Earlier in the offseason, he stated he would be willing to move off third so there is a possibility he could play at the keystone for the Red Sox. Another possibility is shifting Rafael Devers to 1st, a move that is likely to happen at some point anyway, and then keep the 2024 Gold Glove winner at the hot corner. The latter move would have more implications on the roster as it would push Casas off of first, possibly into a full-time designated hitter role, which then would impact Masataka Yoshida's role on the team. Bregman posted a .768 OPS in 2024 with 26 home runs and a very good 13.6% strikeout rate. In their Free Agent Prediction article, MLBTR put Bregman at a 7 year, $182 million deal. Assuming it wouldn't impact spending elsewhere, would be in favor of bringing in Bregman for that much money? View full rumor

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic the Red Sox met with Blake Snell recently ($$). This is now the frontline fourth starter that the Red Sox have been tied, which isn't surprising as it is the number one need for a team that looks to get back to the playoffs in 2025 for the first time in three seasons. Snell, who pitched in the spacious confines of Oracle Park for the San Francisco Giants in 2025, also met with the Los Angeles Dodgers this week. The 32-year-old lefty made 20 starts for the bay area team posting a 3.12 ERA / 2.43 FIP and a very good K-BB rate of 24.2% generating elite whiff and quality of contact metrics. Not only is there a clear need on the Red Sox roster, but throughout his career he his adjusted home runs by park has produced 11 fewer home runs in Fenway Park as compared to the 115 that he has actually surrendered. Although injuries have been a concern, he has produced two Cy Young seasons in his healthiest campaigns (2018, 2023) where he exceeded 30 starts. Snell's arsenal features one of the best curveballs in the game that produced a 49.8 whiff rate, as well as an above average 96 mile-per-hour four seam fastball that held opposing hitters to a .200 batting average in 2024. He also has a very good change up and slider despite their below average movement profiles. Of all the pitchers the Red Sox have been tied to, which one would you like them to add the most? View full rumor

Red Sox President of Baseball Operations, Sam Kennedy, was recently quoted as saying the team could afford another to add another massive contract to their payroll stating "If that's what it takes, yeah, absolutely". The 2025 payroll is currently estimated to be just north of $130 million while they were sitting almost $100 million more than that in a disappointing 2024 season. While they already have $313 million dedicated to Rafael Devers, they've been tied to the biggest names on the Free Agent market, including Juan Soto, Willy Adames, Blake Snell, Max Friend, and Nathan Eovaldi. They've also had preliminary talks with the Chicago White Sox on a deal for Garrett Crochet and, if they were to acquire him, it would be understood that he would sign a spendy extension. Missing the playoffs in back-to-back-to-back seasons, Kennedy went on to say "there is an extreme urgency to compete for an AL East championship and make a deep playoff run in 2025." There is belief internally and externally that the Red Sox will be a force for most of the next decade with a strong core at the Major League level and one of the better farm systems in all of baseball. Signing a top end Free Agent or two, would only solidify that belief and set them up nicely to compete with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Of course, you can't sleep on the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays in what may be the best division in baseball from top to bottom. In the words of Kennedy, "[it's] going to take shrewd investment in free agency, shrewd trades, and dedicated player development in the Major Leagues on down" if they plan on making good on their large 2025 and future goals. View full rumor

Per Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Boston Red Sox have shown interested in shortstop Willy Adames. While Adames has said he is open to moving off of shortstop, I speculate that the Red Sox would likely keep him there and move Trevor Story to the Keystone. Adames, who has played for the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers, will be entering his age 29 season in 2025 and coming off a campaign where he slashed .251/.331/.462 with 32 homeruns and 21 stolen bases. He also provides a plus glove at one of the most important positions on the field. One thing to consider for the Sox is how his batted ball profile fits in Fenway Park as his expected homerun output was more than 20% less than his actual output. In their Free Agent predictions, MLBTR projected Adames to get a six year, $160MM deal. Are you willing to pay that for one of the best shortstops in the game? View full rumor

The Red Sox and Juan Soto met on Wednesday in what was described as a "productive" first meeting by Sean McAdam of MassLive. Representing the Red Sox was team president Sam Kennedy, Chief Baseball Operator Craig Breslow, and field manager Alex Cora. The meeting reportedly lasted three hours and served to simply introduce Soto to the team and organization. From McAdam's report, "The Red Sox laid out their plans for the future and highlighted the crop of soon-to-be-arriving top prospects while giving a detailed outline of ownership and Fenway Sports Group." Any potential talk about money and years was not a topic of conversation. McAdam goes on to state that Soto was "impressed" by the Red Sox presentation. The 26-year-old is set to meet with multiple teams including the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. Soto is expected to receive a contract north of 10 years and $500 million. How high should the Red Sox go? View full rumor

On the "Foul Territory" podcast, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com was quoted as saying "I was told that the White Sox have interest in [Wilyer] Abreu and would be satisfied with him headlining -- obviously, not being the only guy in the deal." This should be viewed as a positive development for the Red Sox who have a surplus in the outfield, especially with prospects Kristian Campbell and Roman Anthony close to getting a shot on the Big League roster. They also have a need to diversify their heavy left-handed line up and recently been tied to right-handed hitting outfielder Tesoscar Hernandez. Abreu is coming off a Gold Glove rookie season at just 25-years-old while carrying a .781 OPS, hitting 15 runs, and stealing 8 bases. His power-over-contact approach results in quality batted ball data but also causes him to chase, whiff, and strikeout at above average rates. There hasn't been any indication or substantive rumors as to who the additional piece(s) might be to get the deal done, but McAdam would go on to say "They'd have to put in much more than that, including a pretty good prospect to go with him." So what else do you think needs to be added to the deal for the Red Sox to acquire this young Ace? View full rumor

Rob Bradford of WEEI 93.7 is reporting that the Red Sox are one of several teams interested in 35-year-old right-handed starter Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi was previously with the Red Sox from 2018 to 2022 posting a 4.08 ERA / 3.73 FIP and helped the organization win the 2018 World Series. He has spent the previous two seasons with the Texas Rangers where he carried a 3.72 ERA / 3.86 FIP and won a second World Series in 2023. Specifically in 2024, Eovaldi had a 17.8% K-BB rate across 170 2/3 innings pitched, showing an ability to command the strike zone better than most anyone in baseball with chase and walk rates in the 80th percentile or better of all pitchers. One thing that has seemingly changed since his time in Boston is the effectiveness of his 95 mile-per-hour four-seam fastball that saw batters hit just .212 against the offering and had a run value of +7. This can at least be partly attributed to his four seamer having more glove side movement than it did with the Red Sox. The organization have made their intentions extremely clear in both words and actions. Craig Breslow has stated he is looking to build a team that can make a deep postseason run in 2025 and has now been tied to starting pitchers Max Fried, Garrett Crochet, and now Nathan Eovaldi, as well as outfield bats Juan Soto and Teoscar Hernandez. Now it's just a matter of who the purse most heavily and whether or not they can close the deal. Would you be interested in an Eovaldi reunion? If so, at what cost? View full rumor

In his latest offseason update, Jeff Passan of ESPN states that Nick Pivetta "almost certainly won't accept the qualifying offer to return to Boston; at least a three-year deal awaits Pivetta in free agency." He goes on to specifically name the Cubs, Orioles, and Braves as teams who believe "his stuff plays like a frontline starter". It was a somewhat unexpected move for the Red Sox to make a qualifying offer on Pivetta, but it will pay off in the form of a compensation pick in the 2025 MLB Draft depending on the deal he receives in free agency. Over his eight year big league career, Pivetta has been one of the more solid and reliable starters in Major League Baseball averaging nearly 130 innings per season with a 4.36 FIP and a 17.4% K-BB rate. In 2024 he bested those careers marks with a 4.07 FIP and a 22.9% K-BB rate. Arguably his biggest red flag is his penchant to give up home runs as an extreme fly ballpitcher, something teams will definitely need to consider if they intend to sign the 32-year-old right hander. What's more surprising to you: Pivetta receiving a qualifying offer or possibly rejecting it? View full rumor

In his most recent off-season update, Jeff Passan of ESPN ($$) confimed that "Juan Soto is at the top of the Red Sox want list" and stated the two sides are meeting this week. Many people who cover Major League Baseball expect the 26-year-old Soto will fetch more than $600 million on the free agent market. While the Red Sox do have large contracts on their payroll in Rafael Devers, Masataka Yoshida, and Trevor Story, their projected 2025 payroll is about one hundred million less than the levels they were at in the 2010's and their Chief Baseball Operator, Craig Breslow, has committed to "delivering a team that's capable of winning the AL East and making a deep playoff run." There's not a lot more that can be said about Juan Soto who is the most coveted free agent, maybe ever. He debuted in 2018 at 19-years-old finishing 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting, and followed that up with a season that garnered him MVP votes and a World Series title. After four-plus seasons with the Nationals and multiple MVP worthy campaigns, he was dealt to the Padres before eventually making his way to the Bronx. In 2024, he posted a .989 OPS with 41 home runs, seven stolen bases, and maybe most impressively a 119:129 K:BB ratio. It's inarguable that Soto would be a massive upgrade for the Red Sox, but how much are you willing to fork over for the young superstar? Update: here is more information related to Soto and the Red Sox. View full rumor

The Red Sox have been linked to yet another free agent starting pitcher. Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Red Sox have shown interest in former Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried. The left-hander will be entering his age 31 season after eight seasons with the Braves where he posted a 3.07 ERA / 3.29 FIP and 15.3% K-BB rate across 151 career starts. Fried is an extreme ground ball pitcher with an incredibly deep pitch mix. He features four plus pitches including a mid-90s four seam fastball, a curveball, a sinker, and a change up. He also has an effective sweeper and cutter. In their annual top 50 free agents predictions, MLBTR suggests that Fried could get a six year pact worth $156 million. Would you like to see the Red Sox nab this lefty off the market? View full rumor

Recently, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the Red Sox are showing interest in corner outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Coming off one of the best seasons of his career, Hernández bounced back from a down season in 2023 with an .840 OPS, 33 HR, and 12 stolen bases. Although he struggled in the postseason, many Dodgers players attribute him to being the reason they were in the World Series and, in an interview with Morosi, Bob Nightengale stated that he would be surprised if the Dodgers let him walk. The duo also reported that the Baltimore Orioles are showing interest in the former Blue Jay who will be entering his age 32 season in 2025. While Hernández did spend time in both corner outfield spots his glove grades far better in right field than it does in left, according the FanGraphs UZR/150 metric. To go along with his power bat, he also showcases a power arm with arm strength in the 70th percentile of all outfielders in 2024. If there's one wart the righty has, it's that his aggressiveness at the plate leads to a high amount of strikeouts and a low number of walks, but it pays off in the long run with his power. Would you like to see Teoscar Hernández in a Red Sox uniform? View full rumor

The Red Sox Chief Baseball Operator missed an opportunity to "raise the roof", but he was recently quoted as saying "We know we need to raise the ceiling of the rotation." Buster Olney already linked them to Chicago White Sox starter Garrett Crochet, but even if that doesn't pan out the free agent class has plenty of top tier options to frontline the Red Sox starting rotation. The cream of the crop includes Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell with hurlers like Max Fried and Jack Flaherty a small tier below those names. They could also look to deepen their rotation by adding one or more of Nathan Eovaldi, Yusei Kikuchi, and Sean Manaea, all of which arguably be upgrades over their current number one Tanner Houck. Even without a true "Ace", the 2024 Red Sox starting rotation produced in the top third of baseball. Adding any of the starters would only improve their rotation and better prepare them for some fun in October 2025. The only question that remains is which starter(s) should they aggressively pursue? View full rumor