The Boston Red Sox were never formally linked to righty outfielder Harrison Bader, who signed with the Minnesota Twins on Feb. 5. But maybe they should've been.
Boston has spent its offseason courting top-tier talent in free agency, headlined by Juan Soto and Alex Bregman, a pursuit that continues with just days until pitchers and catchers are slated to report to spring training. However, the Sox haven't spent top-tier free agent money since 2019 at the latest, and they don't appear willing to start now.
The Tigers, Cubs and Blue Jays are still involved in the Bregman sweepstakes, which ticks toward its end soon. After Bader signed with the Twins and potential Red Sox target Randal Grichuk reunited with the Diamondbacks, even the right-handed backup plans are disappearing fast as Boston plays a waiting game.
Here are the best right-handed free agent hitters available, ranked by their fit with the Red Sox, as baseball's return approaches.
Ranking (underwhelming) Red Sox free agent options after Harrison Bader signs with Twins
1. Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso is the first of a few contenders on this list who would require the Red Sox to play Masataka Yoshida in the outfield for the fit to make sense. If Yoshida moves back to the pastures in 2025, as manager Alex Cora stated he would, Alonso could slot in as a righty designated hitter so the Sox can keep Triston Casas' bat in the lineup and his slightly better defense at first base.
Alonso slashed .240/.329/.459 with 31 doubles and 34 homers last season, three more than Tyler O'Neill, the Sox's 2024 home run leader, posted. The 30-year-old is durable and has posted 152 or more games in every one of his major league seasons, besides the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. He's also the youngest player listed here, which would make a one or two-year "prove-it" deal an excellent option for him at this point, especially in Boston, where the Green Monster would be his best friend.
2. J. D. Martinez
J. D. Martinez posted five successful offensive seasons with the Red Sox from 2018-22, with 130 homers in his tenure. He would also need to slot into the lineup as the DH, as he's played just 39 games in the outfield since 2021.
Martinez is fresh off a down season with the Mets, during which he slashed .235/.320/.406 over 120 games. His 16 homers don't hold a candle to Alonso's total, which nearly doubles Martinez's, but the Sox are desperate for any amount of righty pop they can get. Maybe a reunion with Fenway Park would serve the slugger well as he likely nears retirement from MLB.
3. Justin Turner
Justin Turner, who also had a stint with the Red Sox in 2023, could be another candidate for the DH job. He quickly became a fan-favorite in Boston when he slashed .276/.345/.455 with 26 homers and embraced the city off the field.
The 2025 campaign will be Turner's age-40 season, however, and his offense has steadily decreased since 2022. The righty batted .259/.354/.383 with 11 home runs between the Blue Jays and Mariners last season, but he may be able to have better success at Fenway, one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the league. Turner's stats are better than Martinez's on paper, but being three years older is a strike against him here.
4. Kiké Hernández
Kiké Hernández could join the Red Sox in the field in a utility role if he doesn't re-sign with the Dodgers, as he's expected to. He's a better defender than Yoshida and posted just-above-league-average numbers in the outfield last season, which could allow Yoshida to remain in the DH spot.
Hernández batted .229/.281/.373 with 12 homers for the Dodgers last season. He broke out in the postseason, as he tends to do, with a .294/.357/.451 slash line and 15 hits, two of them homers, en route to LA's victory over the Yankees in the World Series.
Alonso, Martinez, Turner and Hernández would be underwhelming righty additions to Boston's roster, especially after the goals the front office listed out at the end of the 2024 slate. But if the Red Sox spent the money they promised earlier in the offseason and targeted worthy candidates while they were still available rather than waiting until the last minute to make critical additions, they wouldn't be in this position.