The Boston Red Sox have been anything but quiet this offseason, making a flurry of moves aimed at reshaping their roster. With Willson Contreras now anchoring the lineup and Sonny Gray added to the rotation, Boston’s front office has clearly been aggressive in the trade market. But according to insider Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox might be better off pumping the brakes on the trade front and shifting their focus to free agency.
Let’s break it down.
Boston’s first major swing came when they landed Contreras - a proven, power-hitting catcher who instantly boosts the middle of the order. That move alone signaled a desire to compete now. Then came Sonny Gray, a veteran starter with postseason experience, acquired from the Cardinals to help stabilize a rotation that’s been searching for consistency.
But it doesn’t stop there. The Red Sox have reportedly had conversations with St.
Louis about another potential piece: Brendan Donovan. The versatile infielder would bring a high-contact bat and defensive flexibility, but Rosenthal believes that might be a bridge too far - at least in terms of what it would cost.
“You can’t keep trading from your system,” Rosenthal said on Foul Territory, noting that Donovan would likely command a steeper prospect price than either Contreras or Gray. And that’s saying something, considering Boston already shipped top prospect Jhostynxon García to Pittsburgh in the deal for Johan Oviedo, another arm for the starting rotation.
It’s clear the Red Sox are going for it, but Rosenthal’s point is a valid one: there’s a limit to how much prospect capital you can afford to burn before it starts to hurt long-term sustainability. That’s why he believes the next move should come from the open market.
Enter names like Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette - two All-Star caliber infielders who could hit the market and dramatically elevate Boston’s offense. Whether it’s one of those headline names or another bat with impact potential, Rosenthal sees free agency as the more strategic path forward.
“That is the way they should go at this point,” he said. “They’ve traded enough from their system where they would probably be better suited to make a free-agent signing.”
It’s not just about protecting the farm system - it’s about balance. The Red Sox have made a clear statement with their recent trades: they want to win.
But to sustain that push, especially in a competitive AL East, they’ll need to be smart about how they build. Free agency offers a way to add talent without further depleting the pipeline.
The front office reportedly has made it a “priority” to add another big bat. Whether that comes via free agency or one more trade remains to be seen, but the message is clear: Boston isn’t done yet.
The question now is whether they’ll keep dealing from the deck or reach into the free-agent pool for their next move. Either way, the Red Sox are positioning themselves to be a team to watch as the offseason unfolds.