The Boston Red Sox have been active on the trade front this offseason, but when it comes to free agency, they've yet to make a headline-grabbing move. That could change soon.
While the top tier of the market has slowed to a crawl, Boston remains in the mix for some big names - including reported interest in Alex Bregman. One name that hasn’t been tied closely to the Red Sox, however, is Cody Bellinger - and there’s a good reason for that.
Boston’s outfield is already a crowded room. With Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, and Ceddanne Rafaela all in the fold, adding another outfielder - even one with Bellinger’s pedigree - doesn’t make immediate sense on paper.
But Bellinger isn’t just an outfielder. He’s also capable of playing first base, which is where things get interesting.
The Red Sox have already shown they’re open to upgrading at first. They reportedly made a run at Pete Alonso before he landed with the Orioles.
That pursuit tells us something important: Boston is looking to add offensive firepower, and they’re willing to be flexible with positional fits to get it. Bellinger, a former MVP who had a strong bounce-back season with the Yankees, certainly fits that mold.
Now, it’s unlikely Bellinger would sign somewhere just to be a full-time first baseman. That’s not how teams typically maximize his value.
His elite outfield defense is a big part of what makes him such a well-rounded player. While he’s a capable - even above-average - defender at first, that’s not where he shines brightest.
For context, he’s a better glove at first than Alonso, but Boston’s hesitation with Alonso was reportedly tied to his limited defensive value.
Alonso and Bellinger are two very different players. Alonso is all about the bat - a pure power hitter whose value is almost entirely offensive.
Bellinger, on the other hand, brings a more complete package: a productive bat, plus defensive versatility and Gold Glove-caliber play in the outfield. That’s what teams are paying for when they enter the Bellinger sweepstakes.
In Boston, though, it’s hard to see a clear path for Bellinger to regularly patrol the outfield. With the aforementioned young core already competing for time, any Bellinger signing would likely mean reps at first base or designated hitter - roles that wouldn’t fully leverage his defensive upside.
And here’s the kicker: Bellinger’s price tag isn’t going down just because a team wants to limit his role. He’s not taking a discount to play out of position. Whether he’s roaming center field or stationed at first, he’s going to command top dollar - and rightfully so.
So while the Red Sox could still surprise us with a big swing in free agency, Bellinger doesn’t appear to be the cleanest fit. That’s not a knock on the player - it’s a reflection of Boston’s current roster makeup.
If they didn’t already have a logjam in the outfield, the conversation might be very different. But as it stands, unless something changes, Bellinger-to-Boston feels more like a long shot than a looming possibility.