Christmas came a bit early for Boston Red Sox fans last week when the team was able to pry left-hander Garrett Crochet away from the White Sox for a quality haul of prospects, including catcher Kyle Teel.
This deal comes on the heels of the Sox signing of flame-throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman to add to their bullpen. While both moves have bolstered Boston's pitching staff, the team is still in pursuit of additional pieces to make a playoff run in 2024. So, what's next for the Olde Towne Team?
The Red Sox vowed to spend this offseason and remained in the hunt for Juan Soto until the end before falling short. Despite losing out on the star outfielder, the Sox can turn their attention to two other free-agent sluggers that could bolster their everyday lineup: outfielder Teoscar Hernández and infielder Alex Bregman. Both are playoff-tested and would fill a need in the Red Sox lineup: righthanded power. The question is, if you could only have one, which would you take?
Should the Red Sox sign Teoscar Hernández or Alex Bregman as their righty power bat?
The Case for Teoscar Hernández
Hernández is coming off arguably his best season with the World Champion Dodgers in 2024. He hit a career-high 33 home runs while batting .272 in the middle of the Dodgers lineup. He doubled his previous high in WAR with a 4.3 WAR in 2024.
Hernández is just 32 years of age and could easily slot into the opening left by Tyler O'Neill. He has also expressed an interest in playing for the Red Sox in the past. One reason for his desire to play at Fenway Park is the 14 career home runs that he's hit there, the most in any road park for the former Blue Jay. NBC Sports Boston's John Tomase even suggests that the Sox can get him on a short deal of three years for $69 million.
""[Hernández] might be the most prototypical Fenway Park hitter in baseball. He owns more homers in Fenway (14) than any other road park, and he has made no secret of his love of hitting here. He's coming off a postseason that saw him hit three homers and drive in 12 during L.A.'s run to a title, and he'd supply proven and reliable right-handed thunder alongside Rafael Devers for short years and relatively short dollars.""John Tomase
A move for Hernández would also give the Sox flexibility with their remaining outfielders, including Gold Glove winner Wilyar Abreu. With prospect Roman Anthony looming as a starting outfielder in the short-term future, the Red Sox can use Abreu as trade bait to fill another need, perhaps even another starting pitcher. Hernánez's power from the right side, the ability to get him for short years, and the Sox outfield depth make the former Dodgers' slugger a strong candidate for the BoSox.
The Case for Alex Bregman
Bregman has been a staple of the Astros' recent run of success and has been a part of two World Series title teams in 2017 and 2022. Bregman has hit at least 23 home runs in each of the last three years and had a career-high of 41 back in 2019. Bregman has been nominated for a gold glove three times in his career, winning one this past season. He has also suggested that he would be willing to play either second base or third next season according to his agent, Scott Boras.
At 30 years of age, Bregman is two years younger than Hernández, but his age will require the Red Sox to pony up and give him a longer-term deal. Boras has already hinted at a deal of at least seven years for teams interested in Bregman's services. Bregman brings less power than Hernández but instantly makes the Red Sox infield defense better, whether he plays second base or third base.
And the Verdict is...
The best bet for the Sox, if the choice was between these two players, would be Bregman. While Bregman would cost Boston more years, the team has already shown that they're willing to give long-term deals if the candidate is worthy. Bregman is a bigger need for the Sox currently, thanks to his plus defensive ability. The Red Sox gave away too many games last season, thanks to subpar infield defense. The Red Sox finished 23rd in overall defensive rankings, and third baseman Rafael Devers, in particular, was a liability with the sixth-worst fielding percentage in the league.
Hernández solves a right-handed power void in the Sox lineup but doesn't make them better defensively. Bregman will be a reliable bat in the lineup but, more importantly, will be the infield glove this team lacks.