The Boston Red Sox need to prioritize a power bat this offseason. They ranked 26th in baseball last season with 163 home runs, an unacceptably low number for this franchise. Last offseason, the Red Sox prioritized pitching and defense, and while those two areas certainly got better, it came at the offense's expense.
This offseason, finding another player who is a consistent and reliable power threat needs to be the way to go. While the Sox have players with 30-home-run potential, injuries and inconsistency prevent them from realizing that potential. This offseason, they need to rectify that, but they also need to do it the right way.
1 dream target, 1 realistic target, 1 mistake Red Sox could make in power bat search
Dream target - Yordan Alvarez
Is it realistic that the Houston Astros trade Alvarez this offseason? Probably not, but the door is more open this offseason than it has been in the past. Even with him likely winning the American League MVP this season, the rumors started to swirl around the trade deadline that he could've been moved. While it was never substantial, where there's smoke, there's fire (sometimes).
Even though the Astros made the playoffs, they became the first team to ever do so without a winning record. The team is in an odd state of wanting to contend, but probably needing to rebuild. Trading Alvarez would certainly signal the start of a rebuild, but it could also set up their future for years to come.
Alvarez would give the Sox the one thing they are known for: incredible DHs. Between David Ortiz and J.D. Martinez, the Red Sox went years with a full-time DH who was one of the best hitters in the game. They've been missing that since Martinez left, but Alvarez would certainly fix that. Putting him in the lineup with Willson Contreras, Adley Rutschman and Roman Anthony would strike fear in the hearts of opponents. But it's probably a pipe dream.
Realistic target - Jake Bauers
The 2026 Brewers first baseman had a breakout season, helping lead Milwaukee's offense to the World Series. He is a free agent this offseason, and because it was just one year of excellence, he likely won't command the contract of a career slugger.
Signing Bauers would allow the team to slide Contreras to DH more often, or have them rotate at the corner, keeping Contreras healthy. Not only did Bauers slug 26 home runs this season and drive in 86, he drew 94 walks. He was 93rd percentile in xwOBA and 98th percentile in walk percentage. He is someone the Red Sox need to target this offseason
Mistake target - Brandon Lowe
After being dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates last offseason, Lowe had a career season, not just at the plate but on defense as well. He had 65 extra-base hits, including 35 home runs, 96 RBIs, and a 5.4 bWAR. He completely flipped on defense, from fifth percentile Fielding Run Value in 2025 to 96th percentile in 2026. After a season like Lowe had, some would think he is an excellent candidate for the Red Sox, but that would be a major mistake
Lowe's breakout seems much less sustainable than Bauer's. His actual batting average, slugging percentage, and wOBA were higher than his expected numbers, suggesting that he got lucky at the plate this season. He was still in the 10th percentile or worse in chase percentage and whiff percentage, and even an improved walk rate left him in the 55th percentile. Lowe, historically, has never been a good defender either, so that is hard to trust, too. It was also his first season he's played more than 134 games since 2021.
Some may look at Lowe and say he could be the power bat the Sox need, and his positional versatility (he has played some outfield in the past) would be helpful, too, but this season felt more lucky than a true breakout. The Red Sox don't need the strikeouts without the walks to balance it out, and they can't trust his health. He just shouldn't be on the Red Sox board this offseason.
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