The Red Sox entered the offseason with what looked like a pretty straightforward plan. Re-sign Alex Bregman.
Add a frontline starter. Maybe bring in another big bat to round things out - names like Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso were getting tossed around.
It wasn’t exactly a wild wish list, but it was a logical one.
Fast forward six weeks, and that blueprint has been crumpled up and tossed in the trash. The Red Sox have taken a left turn into unpredictability.
The Sonny Gray trade caught just about everyone off guard. Schwarber and Alonso?
Off the board. And Bregman?
Still unsigned, with no clear indication of where things stand.
Now, Boston’s search for an infield bat feels less like a calculated pursuit and more like a game of musical chairs - and the music’s speeding up. If Bregman doesn’t sign, the fallback options start getting interesting.
Ketel Marte’s name has surfaced. Kazuma Okamoto is reportedly on the radar, with the Sox ready to make an offer.
And if those dominoes don’t fall? Don’t rule out a call to Nick Castellanos - glove or no glove at third base.
But here’s the curveball: Bo Bichette.
Six weeks ago, Bichette in a Red Sox uniform wasn’t even a thought. He was widely expected to return to Toronto - a key piece of the Blue Jays’ core and a player many assumed would be locked up by now.
But that hasn’t happened. In fact, the Jays have been shelling out cash elsewhere and are rumored to be eyeing a massive deal for Kyle Tucker.
If that happens before Bichette gets paid, things could get real interesting.
And now, Bichette’s camp is reportedly letting teams know he’s open to moving off shortstop - even to second base. That opens up a whole new world of possibilities for teams like Boston, who are trying to get creative with their infield puzzle.
If Bregman had already inked a deal with the Sox, this conversation wouldn’t even be happening. But with each passing day, the idea of Bo Bichette launching balls over the Green Monster becomes a little more real.
Let’s be clear: Bichette isn’t the defender Bregman is. Not close.
But at the plate? He’s arguably the better hitter - and four years younger.
That combo has some Red Sox fans whispering about the upside of a Bichette signing. And it’s not just fans.
League insiders are talking, too.
Jim Bowden recently listed the Red Sox as one of three potential landing spots for Bichette, along with the Giants and the Blue Jays. His reasoning?
Bichette is 27, can play multiple infield positions, and has already led the American League in hits twice. He’s known as a grinder - focused, hard-working, and the kind of guy who could quickly become a fan favorite in Boston.
And then there’s Fenway Park. With its quirky dimensions - the towering Green Monster in left and the short porch in right - it’s tailor-made for a hitter like Bichette, who sprays the ball to all fields. He wouldn’t just fit in Boston’s lineup; he could thrive in it.
Bowden also noted that if the Jays don’t land Tucker, Bichette might still circle back to Toronto. But if Tucker signs first? That door could swing wide open for the Sox or Giants to make a serious push.
So here we are: mid-December, and the Red Sox offseason has taken a sharp turn into uncharted territory. The original plan might be out the window, but the opportunity to land a 27-year-old All-Star-caliber bat who’s open to switching positions? That’s not a bad place to be - especially after a few weeks of curveballs.
Whether it’s Bregman, Bichette, or someone else entirely, Boston’s front office still has a chance to make a splash. And if that splash includes Bo Bichette in red and white, Fenway might have a new fan favorite on the horizon.