From the moment the offseason began, the Boston Red Sox made one thing clear: bringing back Alex Bregman was priority number one. But with spring training fast approaching and Bregman now off the board, that plan has officially fallen through. Now, the Sox find themselves in scramble mode - still searching for a viable answer at third base.
The good news? This free-agent market has moved at a snail’s pace, and that’s left Boston with more options than they probably expected to have this late in the offseason.
Names like Bo Bichette have been loosely connected to the Sox, even if only through speculation. Eugenio Suárez is another name floating around.
And don’t forget, Craig Breslow has shown he’s not afraid to work the trade market. That route might be back in play as well.
But here’s the thing: Red Sox fans have heard this song before. After a winter filled with lofty promises and few big splashes, the trust between the front office and the fanbase is wearing thin. And now, with the Bregman dream dead, attention has turned to a different kind of target - one that would be more about plugging a hole than making a statement.
Enter Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
At first glance, IKF checks a lot of boxes. He’s versatile, capable of playing all over the infield.
He’s a right-handed bat. He brings speed and can swipe a base - he’s had double-digit steals every season since 2021.
And defensively, he’s at least serviceable across multiple positions. For a team that could use depth behind guys like Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, and whoever ultimately takes over third base, there’s a case to be made for Kiner-Falefa as a bench piece.
But if Boston is seriously considering him as their everyday answer at third? That’s a different conversation entirely - and not one that would sit well with Red Sox Nation.
Let’s talk numbers. In 2025, Kiner-Falefa struggled mightily at the plate.
His expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) sat at .262 - deep in the bottom 2% of all MLB hitters. His barrel rate (1.4%) and walk rate (3.7%) weren’t much better.
His OPS? Just .631.
He hit two home runs all year and posted a negative Outs Above Average (-1) defensively. In short, he didn’t impact the game at the plate or in the field in a meaningful way.
Now, to be fair, IKF did rank in the 91st percentile in whiff rate and 77th percentile in strikeout rate. He makes contact and avoids strikeouts, which is valuable in the right role. But that role is not as a middle-of-the-order bat - or even an everyday starter - for a team with playoff aspirations.
The Red Sox came into the offseason talking about adding two big bats. Fans reasonably assumed that meant Bregman and another impact hitter.
As of now, the only notable addition is Willson Contreras. If Kiner-Falefa ends up being the second piece in that equation, it’s not just a downgrade - it’s a signal that the team has shifted expectations.
At this stage of his career, IKF is best suited as a utility option off the bench. He can fill in around the infield, pinch run, and give you quality at-bats in limited doses. But if Boston turns to him as a stopgap starter after missing on Bregman, it would be hard to view that as anything other than settling.
The Red Sox still have time to make a move - and with the market still full of possibilities, there’s no reason to rush into a decision that feels more like damage control than a step forward. But if Kiner-Falefa becomes the answer at third base, it won’t just be about roster construction. It’ll be a clear sign that Boston’s ambitions this winter never quite matched the message they were sending.