The Red Sox have had a fascinating offseason-one that’s been equal parts bold and puzzling. On the one hand, Boston has made some high-impact moves via trade, shoring up the rotation with the additions of Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo.
They also brought in Willson Contreras, who’s expected to take over at first base. That’s a trio of proven talent, and it signals a front office that’s clearly trying to push this team back into contention.
But when it comes to free agency, things haven’t gone quite as smoothly. The loss of Alex Bregman to the Cubs stung, though the Red Sox did respond by landing Ranger Suárez on a hefty $130 million deal.
That’s a strong pivot, and Suárez brings a level of stability and upside to the pitching staff. Still, as the roster mostly takes shape-with just one infield spot left to figure out-it’s the outfield that’s suddenly raising eyebrows.
Why? Because despite already having one of the most promising and dynamic outfield groups in the league, Boston is reportedly exploring the idea of adding a right-handed hitting outfielder. That’s according to league sources cited by The Athletic’s Katie Woo and Will Sammon, who note that while the Red Sox are prioritizing a right-handed infielder, they’re also keeping tabs on potential outfield additions.
And that’s where things get tricky.
Right now, the Red Sox outfield is stacked. Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela form a unit that’s not only young and electric, but also well-balanced on both sides of the ball.
Rafaela is a Gold Glove-caliber defender in center field, Duran is coming off a breakout campaign, and both Abreu and Anthony bring serious offensive upside with improving defensive chops. This is the kind of outfield you want to build around, not tinker with unnecessarily.
Last year, the Red Sox used Rob Refsnyder as a right-handed bat off the bench, occasionally platooning him in the outfield. That made sense in 2025.
But doing the same in 2026? That’s a tougher sell.
All four of Boston’s young outfielders have earned everyday roles. They’re not just placeholders-they’re potential cornerstones.
If the team is simply looking to add a veteran right-handed bat for depth, especially one who’s comfortable coming off the bench and doesn’t expect regular playing time, that’s a reasonable move. Injuries happen, slumps happen, and having a reliable option in reserve is never a bad idea. But if the intention is to bring in someone who would cut into the playing time of Duran, Abreu, Anthony, or Rafaela, that’s where the logic starts to break down.
These are players who need reps-not just to develop, but because they’re already producing. Limiting their at-bats to accommodate a veteran platoon option would be counterproductive, especially when you consider that any of them could rotate through the DH spot if rest is needed.
Unless Boston is eyeing a true difference-maker-a star-level outfielder who forces your hand with elite production-there’s little justification for shaking up what’s already a strength. The outfield isn’t just deep; it’s talented, athletic, and under team control for years to come. That’s the kind of core you build around, not bench.
So while adding a right-handed bat for depth could make sense on paper, anything more than that would be a head-scratcher. The Red Sox have a good thing going in the outfield. Now it’s up to the front office to make sure they don’t overthink it.