The Boston Red Sox finally made a splash in free agency by bringing in lefty Ranger Suárez, a move that gave fans something to cheer about after the sting of losing Alex Bregman. But while Suárez helps shore up the rotation, the departure of Bregman leaves a glaring hole at third base - and that’s a problem Boston can’t ignore if it wants to stay competitive in the AL East.
One name that’s starting to surface as a potential solution? Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes.
Paredes, a two-time All-Star, checks a lot of boxes for what the Red Sox need right now. He’s not going to win any Gold Gloves or lead the league in stolen bases, but what he does bring is power - and plenty of it.
He’s a right-handed bat who loves to pull the ball in the air, which makes Fenway Park an ideal fit. That short left field and the Green Monster?
Yeah, that’s tailor-made for a hitter like Paredes.
In 2025, Paredes posted a .254/.352/.458 slash line with 15 doubles, 20 home runs, and 53 RBIs over 102 games. Solid numbers that could get even better in Boston’s hitter-friendly home park. Right-handed power hitters who can pepper the Monster tend to thrive in Fenway, and Paredes has the kind of swing that could turn doubles into homers in a hurry.
Beyond the bat, there’s another reason Paredes is an intriguing option: his contract. He’s set to make just $6.625 million this season and remains under team control through 2027. For a Red Sox front office that’s trying to balance building a young, sustainable core with financial flexibility, that’s a big-time value play.
The Red Sox have been flirting with the idea of a youth movement, and if they’re serious about constructing a roster that can contend over the next five to ten years, this is the kind of move that aligns with that vision. Paredes is still just entering his prime, and plugging him into the middle of the lineup would give Boston a much-needed right-handed threat to complement the pieces already in place.
There’s no official word on trade talks yet, but the fit is hard to ignore. Boston has a need.
Paredes has the profile. And the cost - both in dollars and years of control - makes this an opportunity worth exploring.
Now, it’s up to the Red Sox front office to decide if they’re ready to pull the trigger. Because if they are, Isaac Paredes might just be the next piece of the puzzle in Boston’s long-term plan.