Despite entering the second consecutive offseason with trade rumors swirling around their outfield, the Boston Red Sox didn't deal from their logjam over the winter. The Red Sox will begin the 2026 season with a stacked group on the grass, with Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela (plus more) in the mix.
Boston's chief baseball officer Craig Breslow surprised fans by saying that he had no plans of trading from the outfield group over the offseason. A logjam is just a different word for "depth," after all.
Duran and Abreu have been the two most popular trade candidates in the Sox's outfield group. Duran has had clubs like the San Diego Padres chasing him since his dominant 2024 season while Abreu has been a lower profile target — probably because the Red Sox announced they had no intention of trading him at any point.
That could be because they see Abreu as a fixture of Boston's roster for years to come. According to a report from Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox tried to extend Abreu before his rookie year in 2024 (subscription required). He declined, betting on himself, and his bet could still pay off.
Red Sox approached Wilyer Abreu about an extension before the 2024 season but haven't returned to negotiations since
Healey wrote that Abreu and the Red Sox were "operating at different price points" during their last extension discussion, and Abreu's price has certainly increased since then. He's won two Gold Gloves for his defensive work in right field, despite playing half his games in, arguably, the toughest right field in the league, and he hit the second-most home runs on the Red Sox's roster in 2025.
Boston hasn't approached Abreu about another extension. Breslow mentioned his hope to get more of the Sox's young players under contract long-term and Abreu would be a great candidate for such a contract.
The Red Sox's defense has been inconsistent in recent years, especially in the infield, and Abreu and Rafaela are possibly the best possible outfield duo to back them up in the event of an error or misplay. Abreu has also shown he can be one of the most impactful bats on the team — his 22 home runs came in just 115 games, and the Red Sox will give him more playing time this coming season so he can leave the yard even more.
An elite defender and above-average hitter won't come cheap for Boston, and if it hopes to sign Abreu for as little money as possible, it should approach him with another extension offer before he possibly improves again this coming season. Abreu's skillset makes him a special player, and hopefully any future extension pursuits from the Red Sox reflect that.