Signing or trading for an infielder or two seems to be the name of the Boston Red Sox's game for the rest of the offseason. Connections to players like Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, Ketel Marte and Bo Bichette suggest at least one big move is coming (possibly long after the Winter Meetings).
Many fans have championed the idea of a reunion with Bregman and signing Alonso to address to positions of need at the infield corners. The Red Sox haven't spent on a long-term deal on a top-tier free agent in recent years, and some reporters and fans are hesitant to believe that they'll meet even Bregman's asking price.
Still, reuniting with Bregman is Boston's main focus for the offseason, according to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. After they traded for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo as their early starting pitching reinforcements, it was widely reported that the Sox would shift their attention to bats, and it seems at least one of them will be Bregman, who's market is seemingly colder than last year.
In Abraham's report, he questioned whether the Red Sox would sign Bregman as well as another bat, and noted Alonso as a potential option. He also said Alonso has "great interest" in playing at Fenway Park.
As Red Sox refocus on Alex Bregman, signing Pete Alonso should remain a priority
Not only would Alonso allegedly love to play for the Red Sox, the other big threat in his market, his longtime team the New York Mets, may only be willing to offer him a three-year deal. Alonso has played first base for the Mets for the entirety of his seven-year career, but New York may be hesitant to commit to him because he profiles as a designated hitter in the future.
The Red Sox will need to sign at least two capable bats to field a better team than last year — reuniting with Bregman only helps them field the same team with different pitching. Alonso is an ideal second bat, as he'd add another righty to the lefty-heavy lineup, he routinely hits 30-40 home runs a year and the Green Monster would be his best friend.
Alonso won't come cheap, and the Red Sox know it. But they're out of time to be conservative with their spending. Boston's top young stars are signed for the next five or six years, the division rival Yankees and Blue Jays have made the World Series in back-to-back years and the Red Sox are routinely one of the most profitable teams in the league. They have the money to spend on both Alonso and Bregman, and they'll need both (or two different top bats entirely) to improve on last year.