The Boston Red Sox are firmly in the middle of the offseason goings on so far. In addition to be connected to multiple arms at the top of the starting pitching market, there is the ever-present specter of Juan Soto looming where Boston is a significant player. However, that doesn't mean that the Red Sox weren't going to endure some losses this offseason.
Tyler O'Neill was pretty much as expected with Boston in 2024. When he was on the field, he was a difference-maker with an .847 OPS and 31 homers. However, his familiar injury issues remained with the Red Sox as he only played in 113 games, primarily due to a leg infection he suffered in August.
There was a possibility that the Red Sox would reunite with O'Neill this offseason, but that just went out the window as he just signed with the division rival Orioles on a three-year deal that was very much affordable.
Red Sox lose Tyler O'Neill to Orioles on three-year, $49.5 million contract
Another Scott Boras client signs: This time outfielder Tyler O'Neill signs a 3-year, $49.5 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. It includes an opt-out after the 2025 season, per @JonHeyman
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 7, 2024
Given the Red Sox's very active pursuit of Soto this offseason, the writing was on the wall for O'Neill and his tenure in Boston. He was a productive player, but Soto is on a different level and the financial commitment required to sign him pretty much always meant that O'Neill was headed elsewhere unless the Red Sox missed on Soto and other top options.
Still, it actively stinks that the Orioles, of all teams, was the one to scoop him up. One never wants to lose a good player in free agency to a division rival, let alone Baltimore, who is primed to give Boston fits in the starting pitching market as well. If anyone was wondering if the AL East was going to be a dogfight in 2025 and beyond, that is probably no longer the case as the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox are definitely making a push this offseason with the Rays and Blue Jays hanging around as well.
Now, with O'Neill officially gone, the Red Sox simply have to push all their chips in when it comes to the Soto talks. The expectations this offseason are set, and even if the Red Sox lose out on Soto they have made it clear that they can spend and make a splash. Anything less than that out of the front office should be considered a failure.