MLB Rumors: Red Sox Linked To Under-the-Radar Free-Agent Sluggers

Everybody knows Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will be shopping for a bat in the offseason.

Ideally he re-signs third baseman Alex Bregman and lands one of the top sluggers on the market: Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Scwharber or New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.

But what happens if Breslow whiffs after seeing prices soar (which is a distinct possibility)?

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden says the Red Sox are a best fit for two of the top secondary bats on the open market.

New First Baseman?

Let’s start with first baseman Josh Naylor. Bowden ranks him as the No. 17 free agent overall, and projects the Red Sox and Mets, along with the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians as best fits.

Bowden predicts Naylor will get a four-year, $90 million contract.

“Though his home run total dropped from 31 to 20 in 2025, he improved his contact rate considerably and raised his batting average more than 50 points from 2024,” Bowden notes.

“He also added a ‘speeds element’ to his game, using his smarts on the basepaths to steal a career-high 30 bags despite being among the game’s slowest runners. At 28, Naylor has proven he’s a solid middle-of-the-order bat capable of hitting .300 with 20-plus homers.

“He might not be a superstar, but he’s a solid defender and a winning player who has helped the Guardians and Mariners to playoff berths the last two years,” Bowden concludes.

Naylor was an All-Star in 2024 thanks to those career-best 31 home runs. The Diamondbacks traded him to the Mariners ahead of this year’s July 31 deadline.

Hot Corner Backup Plan?

Then there’s third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who Bowden ranks as the No. 19 free agent on the board.

The former general manager says the Red Sox, Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels are best fits and projects a three-year, $72 million contract for the two-time All-Star.

“Suárez led all third basemen this season with 49 home runs and he drove in 118 runs … but struggled after joining Seattle, hitting just .189 with 13 home runs in 53 games and 220 plate appearances,” Bowden notes.

While praising Suarez’s power, Bowden also says the slugger “struggles with strikeouts and his walk rate has dipped the last two seasons.”

“He’ll play at 34 years old next year, which is why he’ll have to sign a shorter-term deal in free agency,” Bowden concludes about Suarez.

Both Suarez and Naylor were linked to the Red Sox by the rumor mill ahead of the trade deadline.

However Breslow passed, instead opting to acquire starter Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers and reliever Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals.