For the second year in a row, the Boston Red Sox's search for the final piece of their lineup, an infielder, has drawn out into February. Boston signed Alex Bregman in spring training last offseason, but no free agents capable of such an impact remain.
The last remaining option signed a reunion deal with the Cincinnati Reds on February 1. The Red Sox were also connected to veteran third baseman Eugenio Suárez, but the front office feels its needs don't align with his skillset to the point that it didn't even make him an offer.
After Bregman officially signed with the Chicago Cubs, Boston pivoted on its infield plan. Improved offense was formerly of top concern, and the Red Sox's early playoff elimination was partly blamed on a lack of home run power. Now, the men in charge expect quality pitching and defense to somehow get them farther this coming season, despite the best defensive option available being Bregman.
The Red Sox lost 27 of the 50 one-run games they played in 2025 — had they won six of them, they would've finished first in the American League East. Their struggles can be attributed to streakiness, high strikeout totals (especially with runners in scoring position) and poor defense giving runs away for free.
Red Sox missing out on Eugenio Suárez is a mistake for the offense, even if his defense is poor
Trevor Story's defense took a serious backslide last season, Boston didn't have an everyday first baseman after Triston Casas' injury and second base was a revolving door again. Story could step up and Willson Contreras could have another year of solid defense at first base, but Marcelo Mayer is still young and frequently injured, and second base is still wide open with no solution in sight.
Suárez wouldn't have helped the Red Sox much defensively (despite posting above league average defensive metrics in 2023-24), but he would've made their lineup longer. The phrase "a good offense is the best defense" comes to mind — while Suárez strikes out quite a bit (196 times last season) no Red Sox player came close to the 49 home runs and 118 RBI he posted last season. Story was the closest with 25 homers and 96 RBI, then Wilyer Abreu fell off quite a bit with 22 home runs and 69 RBI.
Preventing runs doesn't guarantee you'll get them back at the plate, as Boston learned well last season with its RISP struggles. The Red Sox's roster is young, and while they should expect steps forward from Mayer, Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Roman Anthony, banking on serious, sustained improvement from all of them is irresponsible. A team with as much resources as the Red Sox should have more room for error. Assuming Mayer and Story will be healthy for an entire season is even less advised.
Suárez strikes out often and isn't the best defender, but he produces in a way the Red Sox still desperately need — playing in front of the Green Monster would've made him even more deadly. Once the best all-around infield option came off the free agent market and Boston realized it wouldn't be able to trade for Ketel Marte, it should've prioritized the best offensive option in Suárez. Now, the Red Sox will have to deplete even more of their farm system to trade for Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw from the Cubs, which isn't even guaranteed to happen, when they could've signed the experienced slugger they've needed all winter.