The Boston Red Sox were active in the trade and free agent markets during the month of December, but the team lost out on its biggest target in Juan Soto.
Once Soto signed with the Mets, the Red Sox have seemingly done an about-face on their vow to spend big this offseason. Their new approach appears to be signing low risk/high reward veterans for limited years and using their revamped farm system to acquire talent. They have added a potential ace in Garrett Crochet at the expense of some valuable minor league talent. The team also added some veteran pitchers on the free agent market like Aroldis Chapman, Patrick Sandoval, and Walker Buehler, all at two years or fewer.
The Red Sox never appeared in the Teoscar Hernández sweepstakes before he re-signed with the Dodgers and have yet to acknowledge an interest in another right-handed power bat, Alex Bregman. While there has been some speculation that the Sox may make a move for free agent switch-hitting power bat Anthony Santander, there hasn’t been any movement on that front as of yet. If the Sox avoid the rest of the free agent pool, will they turn to the trade market once again to make a splash?
3 blockbuster trade targets who could be the Red Sox's next big move
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
If you’re going blockbuster, this move is near the top of the list. The Red Sox have a glut of left-handed bats and Guerrero would fill a major void in the middle of their lineup. He is far from an elite first baseman defensively, but Triston Casas is a work in progress there as well.
Casas would have to be part of the deal and the Jays would gladly take him, given that he is under team control for the next few years. The other pieces added to the trade are where it gets interesting. Guerrero is on a walk year so the Jays can’t ask for the world, but they aren’t going to give him away either. The Sox could offer another major league talent like Wilyer Abreu, or perhaps they can offer an arm like Richard Fitts. They may have to sweeten the pot with another prospect, likely Marcelo Mayer. This one goes against the Red Sox's typical trade policy in that Guerrero is not signed long-term, but given their willingness to sign Soto to a long deal, the Red Sox may be able to get something worked out before the start of the year.
Brent Rooker
The A’s are always willing to move on from soon-to-be expensive talent and Rooker fits that description. This move would be contingent upon the Red Sox getting rid of Masataka Yoshida, currently the team’s DH. The Sox might have to get a third team involved in the deal to make this work and will certainly have to pick up the majority of Yoshida’s contract.
All the names above would have to be considered in this deal but perhaps the Sox can hang on to Mayer if they offer the A’s someone like David Hamilton. Hamilton showed that he can man either middle-infield slot and has plus speed. He is also under team control for the next four years. The Sox would have to get creative here, but Rooker absolutely solves the Red Sox's right-handed power needs.
Adolis Garcia
The Rangers have a lot of young outfielders on the roster and can afford to part ways with Garcia, who is owed $9.25 million this season and is arbitration-eligible next year. Garcia has scary power potential at Fenway and will not cost as much as either of the two players above, given his limited on-base percentage and poor defense. He would likely split time at DH and left field in Boston, as right field seems like too tall a task for his limited defensive abilities. The Rangers are always in need of some pitching, and the Sox can offer some young arms. Hamilton would be a tempting option for a Rangers team whose double-play combo has a history of injuries — Corey Seager misses a lot of time and Marcus Semien is 34 years old.
The Red Sox have made some interesting moves this offseason but there is still much work to be done. The team has improved its starting rotation and made steps to strengthen its bullpen. The Red Sox are still in need of a right-handed power bat and could use an upgrade in the infield defensively. The Sox front office doesn't appear in any hurry to jump back into the free-agent pool, so these are just some options to consider to strengthen their lineup and make a run at the Yankees and Orioles atop the AL East.