Red Sox Predicted To Make Another Bold Move Before Season

The Boston Red Sox have been active this offseason, but the team may not be done.

Boston has acquired starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo in trades, and also signed Ranger Suarez. The Red Sox also acquired Willson Contreras in a trade to bolster their lineup. Yet, the team did lose Alex Bregman in free agency, so the Red Sox could use another bat.

ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney believes the Red Sox will add another bat before the season starts.

“The Red Sox devoted a lot of resources this winter to bolstering their pitching quality and depth, from the trade of Sonny Gray to the $130 million signing of Ranger Suarez,” Olney wrote in an article published on Friday. “But they’ve been stuck in place with their everyday lineup, adding Willson Contreras before being surprised by the Cubs’ deal with Alex Bregman.

“After Roman Anthony got hurt at the end of 2025, the Red Sox looked two bats short — their series against the Yankees was like a middleweight boxer facing a heavyweight — and if Boston’s lineup isn’t upgraded, they will be incredibly reliant on Anthony and Contreras, in a division that includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Aaron Judge, Junior Caminero, Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson.”

If Boston is going to explore the free agent market for a bat, the top hitters available are Starling Marte, Rhys Hoskins, Michael Conforto, and Marcell Ozuna.

So, with the market thinned out, if the Red Sox do add another bat as Olney predicts, it could very well come through a trade.

Boston will open its 2026 MLB season on March 26 on the road against the Cincinnati Reds.