The Boston Red Sox could shift their focus to the position player market after acquiring Sonny Gray. They could be targeting power hitters after hitting the third-fewest home runs in baseball after the start of August.
Overall, the Red Sox ranked 15th in home runs in the regular season. They have some power in their lineup, but could use some more. Luckily for the Red Sox, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, Eugenio Suárez and Munetaka Murakami are all available this winter. The Red Sox could benefit from adding any one of them, but Alonso may be the best fit.
Bleacher Report’s Erik Beaston predicted on Thursday that the Red Sox would add the New York Mets’ superstar. The first baseman’s agent, Scott Boras, has said he is open to playing more as a designated hitter, which is what may make him the best fit on the Red Sox. He would not lock himself into one spot in the lineup, giving Alex Cora some flexibility. Alonso has not spent much time as a designated hitter in his career, so his willingness to do so is a major development.
The Red Sox have a surplus of talented infielders and outfielders, so having lineup flexibility will be important to get them all on the field. If Alonso can play first base and designated hitter, he can stay in the lineup every day while Cora also gets Triston Casas time at first base, and also uses the designated hitter spot to get all four outfielders adequate at-bats.
Schwarber is a full-time designated hitter, so signing him would make it tougher on Cora to get all of his players in the lineup. He would occupy the designated hitter spot every day, and the Red Sox’s surplus of outfielders or infielders would then be forced to play less. Adding Schwarber would likely mean the Red Sox have to trade one of their young players, which may not be wise.
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Murakami was a phenomenal power hitter in Nippon Professional Baseball, but is unproven at the big league level. Suárez plays third base, where the Red Sox are hoping Alex Bregman will start the year.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden tabbed the Red Sox and Mets as the two most likely landing spots for Alonso. With the winter meetings commencing on Sunday, Alonso’s free agency could heat up.
Alonso is one of the best power hitters in baseball and could change the Red Sox’s lineup for years to come. Since 2019, when he made his debut, he has hit the third-most home runs in baseball. Unlike other options on the market, he would not keep Boston’s young talent from having a meaningful role on the team. He can move around the lineup and does not play the same position as one of Boston’s current stars.
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