Red Sox in the Hunt for Complementary Bat This Offseason, Who Are Their Options?
The Boston Red Sox have been linked to several top hitters this offseason, including Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and Munetaka Murakami. However, they may also look to trade for a complementary bat to bolster their lineup. According to recent reports, the Red Sox are unlikely to sign two of "premium" bats in free agency this offseason but could consider adding a new player.
Several players who could fit the bill include Willson Contreras, Yandy Diaz, Ketel Marte, Brandon Lowe, Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado, and Alec Bohm. Here's a closer look at each potential target:
Contreras, 1B, Cardinals
The 33-year-old right-handed hitter has been consistent since his days with the Cubs, hitting .260 and 20 home runs in five of the last six seasons. However, he's never hit 25 home runs in a season. Contreras is under contract for two more years at $36.5 million.
Diaz, 1B, Rays
The 34-year-old right-handed hitter posted a .300 batting average and 25 homers last season, marking the fourth straight year he's had a batting average of at least .280. Diaz is entering the final year of his contract and might be more expendable now than ever.
Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks
The three-time All-Star has been one of the top second basemen in the league over the last few years, hitting .292 with 36 home runs in 2024. Marte is under contract through at least 2030 and could be a pricey trade target.
Lowe, 2B, Rays
Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Lowe still provides much-needed pop to any lineup. The All-Star second baseman hit .256 with 31 home runs last season and is entering the final year of his contract.
Donovan, 2B, Cardinals
The 28-year-old left-handed hitter can hit for average and get on base well, posting a .282 career batting average and .361 on-base percentage. Donovan has positional versatility but may come with a higher price due to Chaim Bloom's connection to the team.
Arenado, 3B, Cardinals
Although Arenado isn't the same player he once was, he still provides value as a plus fielder. The Red Sox were linked to him last offseason, and if they lose Bregman in free agency, Arenado might be their only option.
Bohm, 3B, Phillies
The 29-year-old is entering his final year of team control, making this a reasonable time for the Phillies to trade him. Bohm has logged at least .270 batting average and an OPS of at least .710 in each of the last four seasons but lacks significant power.
While trading for any of these players would be a significant move, they could potentially bolster the Red Sox' lineup and provide a more well-rounded team heading into the 2026 season.
The Boston Red Sox have been linked to several top hitters this offseason, including Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and Munetaka Murakami. However, they may also look to trade for a complementary bat to bolster their lineup. According to recent reports, the Red Sox are unlikely to sign two of "premium" bats in free agency this offseason but could consider adding a new player.
Several players who could fit the bill include Willson Contreras, Yandy Diaz, Ketel Marte, Brandon Lowe, Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado, and Alec Bohm. Here's a closer look at each potential target:
Contreras, 1B, Cardinals
The 33-year-old right-handed hitter has been consistent since his days with the Cubs, hitting .260 and 20 home runs in five of the last six seasons. However, he's never hit 25 home runs in a season. Contreras is under contract for two more years at $36.5 million.
Diaz, 1B, Rays
The 34-year-old right-handed hitter posted a .300 batting average and 25 homers last season, marking the fourth straight year he's had a batting average of at least .280. Diaz is entering the final year of his contract and might be more expendable now than ever.
Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks
The three-time All-Star has been one of the top second basemen in the league over the last few years, hitting .292 with 36 home runs in 2024. Marte is under contract through at least 2030 and could be a pricey trade target.
Lowe, 2B, Rays
Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Lowe still provides much-needed pop to any lineup. The All-Star second baseman hit .256 with 31 home runs last season and is entering the final year of his contract.
Donovan, 2B, Cardinals
The 28-year-old left-handed hitter can hit for average and get on base well, posting a .282 career batting average and .361 on-base percentage. Donovan has positional versatility but may come with a higher price due to Chaim Bloom's connection to the team.
Arenado, 3B, Cardinals
Although Arenado isn't the same player he once was, he still provides value as a plus fielder. The Red Sox were linked to him last offseason, and if they lose Bregman in free agency, Arenado might be their only option.
Bohm, 3B, Phillies
The 29-year-old is entering his final year of team control, making this a reasonable time for the Phillies to trade him. Bohm has logged at least .270 batting average and an OPS of at least .710 in each of the last four seasons but lacks significant power.
While trading for any of these players would be a significant move, they could potentially bolster the Red Sox' lineup and provide a more well-rounded team heading into the 2026 season.
. But is it just about finding the right player or is it about creating balance in the team's dynamic? Are they trying to replicate what they had last season or create a new identity?
. And what about Yandy Diaz, he's got that quiet confidence that can be so powerful.
. Is this a team that's focused on winning now or building for the future?
. I'm also low-key excited about the idea of Willson Contreras or Ketel Marte joining the team 
. We need more power in the middle of the order and those two could bring it 
. Nolan Arenado might not be as flashy as some of these other options, but he's still a solid choice 
. One thing I'm worried about is how they'll balance their payroll with all these big-name signings 
. Still, I'm hyped to see what the Red Sox do this offseason 
. Pete Alonso is an amazing player, but I think what they really need is someone who can fill in those gaps. Willson Contreras seems like a great option, he's got some nice power and consistency on his side, plus he's only signed for two more years 
. Alec Bohm could also be a good pick, he's got some serious skills and a reasonable price tag 
. What do you think? Should the Red Sox go for someone with more juice or focus on filling in those holes? 
- cant they just get it from within? like how some teams have been doing it successfully with internal players they develop from their minor leagues. might be worth exploring those options instead of relying on free agency or trades
. I think they should go for Willson Contreras or Alec Bohm, two players who can bring some much-needed stability to their lineup. Pete Alonso is gonna be pricey and might not fit in perfectly with the team's new dynamic 
. And as for Yandy Diaz, while he's an amazing hitter, I think he's a bit of a mystery - we've never seen him play for anyone else besides the Rays 
.
️. but i guess it's true, guys like contreras & marte could be good additions to their lineup 
.
, pete alonso can be a great backup but murakami is on another level, plus he's not that expensive compared to other premium bats 
. I'm not sure about Alonso, he's too expensive for what they'd get out of him. They should consider guys like Contreras or Diaz instead. They're established hitters with decent contracts and could bring a nice balance to the lineup. Marte is also an option but I think his price tag would be too high 
! Pete Alonso is still out of reach, but Kyle Schwarber would be AMAZING 
- can you imagine the combo with Devers?! 
, I've had his highlights on repeat since last season - that bat pop is REAL 
. And Brandon Lowe's power game would bring some serious excitement to the lineup 
but if they wanna do it, i think willson contreras would be a decent pick he's consistent but not all stars material. ketel marte is also a good option, he's been hitting 36 homers a season for like forever 
. And let's be real, Nolan Arenado is a solid player, but he's not gonna change the team's fortunes single-handedly 
. Don't get me wrong, these guys are solid, but is this really what we need? Can't we just stick with the youngsters like Devers and Renfroe? I mean, I'm all for a good trade or signing, but it's like they're throwin' money at the problem instead of fixin' the foundation 
. And if they can get him at a reasonable price, that'd be huge 
.
. The real question is whether they can find value in trading or signing the right player without breaking the bank 
I mean, Alonso and Schwarber are amazing players, but can they really carry a whole team on their shoulders? I think the Red Sox need someone who can complement those guys, you know? Maybe someone like Willson Contreras or Brendan Donovan. They've got some pop in their bat, but not so much that it's gonna be too overwhelming for the rest of the lineup 
.