The Boston Red Sox have already been active this winter, and the possibility of another major swing is starting to take shape.
Monday matters because free agency officially opens, but Boston has not exactly been sitting still before that. The club has already made trades with the Athletics and the Detroit Tigers, and Craig Breslow has made it clear he’s willing to keep moving pieces around. With the Red Sox in a solid spot and positioned to add, the rumor mill has naturally started circling one of the biggest names out there: Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz.
MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo pushed that buzz a step further with a prediction that would send shockwaves through the American League if it comes true.
"Elly De La Cruz. The Red Sox need offense yet don’t have many clear positions where an upgrade makes sense," Cotillo wrote.
"Shortstop is clearly one of them with Trevor Story entering the final year of his contract. Dealing for De La Cruz would represent a clear blockbuster and “go-for-it” move from Craig Breslow, and that’s exactly what the Red Sox need.
Franklin Arias would headline any package. At the deadline, the Reds were willing to at least listen.
Now, expect them to truly consider dealing the two-time All-Star."
Cotillo’s name carries weight in Boston circles, which is part of why the prediction has landed with so much force. WEEI’s Rob Bradford and Jim Bowden of The Athletic have also discussed the idea of De La Cruz ending up in Boston, adding more smoke to the conversation.
And it’s not hard to see why this idea has grabbed attention. The Red Sox already look like one of the stronger teams in the American League, and the roster is in better shape than it was at this point a year ago. Still, De La Cruz would be the kind of addition that changes the entire conversation.
He’s 24 years old, coming off a 30-30 season in 2026, and drove in 79 runs. He has shown power growth year after year and is just two seasons removed from swiping 67 bases in 2024. On top of that, he comes with three seasons of team control left.
The offseason is just getting going, and Boston is already one of the teams to watch. If this prediction ends up becoming reality, the Red Sox would look like the class of the American League in 2027.
In Other News...
Red Sox May Be Losing Sonny Gray For A Reason Fans Feared
Sonny Grays time in Boston now looks like it may have ended with more friction than closure. After the Red Sox declined his $30 million mutual option following the 2026 season, the veteran right-hander hit free agency, and the backdrop matters here: Gray finished the year on a contentious note with manager Chad Tracy, a finish that did little to make a reunion feel inevitable.
There is still a path for the Red Sox to bring him back, but it does not sound like a simple one. Gray has not indicated interest in returning, and the market could complicate matters further, with the Braves, Cubs and Blue Jays all mentioned as possible suitors who might be willing to go beyond what Boston wants to spend. For a club that could use stability on the mound, the question now is whether this is a clean break or just the start of a bidding war it may not want to win. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Defense Just Sent A Powerful Message About This Roster
The Red Sox got a clear reminder of how much value they can squeeze out of run prevention when Caleb Durbin, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu were all recognized for their work in the field. Durbin picked up the first Gold Glove of his career at third base, while Rafaela continued to establish himself as one of the leagues steadiest center fielders with a second straight award.
Abreus latest honor was just as notable, giving him three Gold Gloves in a row in right field and reinforcing what Boston already knew about its outfield defense. Put together, the three awards say plenty about the shape of this roster, with the Red Sox now able to point to elite gloves across the diamond as a real part of their identity. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Just Made An Important Garrett Whitlock Decision
The Red Sox have made one of their more important offseason decisions already, exercising Garrett Whitlocks club option for the 2027 season and keeping a versatile arm in the organization for the long haul. It is the kind of move that signals confidence in a pitcher who has been a valuable piece for Boston, especially at a time when the club is sorting through its pitching plans for the years ahead.
The deadline for these calls came right after the World Series, and Boston also had a notable decision on the other side of the ledger, declining Sonny Grays $30 million mutual option and sending him into free agency. For the Red Sox, Whitlocks return gives them certainty in a key spot, while the Gray move underscores how quickly the roster picture can shift once the offseason starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]