The Red Sox didn’t waste time regrouping after missing out on Alex Bregman. Instead of landing the veteran third baseman, they pivoted quickly and brought in left-handed starter Ranger Suárez to bolster what’s shaping up to be a quietly formidable rotation.
But Boston’s front office isn’t done yet - not by a long shot. The infield remains a work in progress, and comments from chief baseball officer Craig Breslow at Suárez’s introductory press conference gave us a clearer sense of where things might be headed next.
“I don’t think there’s a question anymore that the identity of our team and the strength of our team is going to be our pitching and our ability to prevent runs,” Breslow said.
That’s a pretty telling statement. It’s not just about what the Red Sox are doing - it’s about who they’re becoming. This is a team leaning into run prevention as a core identity, and that shapes everything: from who they target in free agency to who they’re willing to move in a trade.
Breslow didn’t tip his hand on whether another deal is imminent, but he did acknowledge that teams are calling about Boston’s pitching depth - a good problem to have. Still, he cautioned that the offseason can turn on a dime.
One minute you’re deep in talks, the next minute it’s all off the table. That’s just the nature of the market.
As for internal options, there’s some clarity - and a bit of intrigue - around where top prospect Marcelo Mayer fits into the picture. According to reports, the Sox currently prefer Mayer at third base rather than second.
That’s not a hard-and-fast rule, though. If the right opportunity opened up at third, Boston would consider sliding Mayer to second.
But it’s clear the team is focused on finding the right defensive fit, not just plugging holes with bats.
That emphasis on defense could be bad news for a name that’s been loosely linked to Boston: Eugenio Suárez. The 34-year-old slugger has drawn interest from the Red Sox, Pirates, and Mariners, and he certainly checks the power box.
He’s coming off a 49-homer season - the kind of pop that doesn’t grow on trees. But Breslow’s comments suggest Boston is prioritizing glove work over slugging, and Suárez struggled in the field last season, posting below-average metrics in both Defensive Runs Saved (-6) and Outs Above Average (-3).
If the Red Sox are truly leaning into defense-first infielders, then it makes sense that Nico Hoerner’s name is surfacing more frequently. The Cubs second baseman is arguably the best defensive player at his position in the league.
He’s in the final year of his deal at $12 million and just wrapped up a season where he hit .297 with 29 steals and a minuscule 7.6% strikeout rate. That’s elite bat-to-ball ability paired with Gold Glove-caliber defense.
The Cubs have reportedly been willing to listen on Hoerner - especially after their addition of Bregman - but they’re not giving him away. Any deal would likely require MLB-ready pitching in return, which Boston might be able to offer given their current surplus. There’s also the possibility that the Cubs could make young infielder Matt Shaw available, though his six years of team control would come with a high asking price.
Another name to watch: Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals. A trade with St.
Louis would be the third in recent memory between the two clubs - a rarity, but not out of the question. Donovan doesn’t have Hoerner’s defensive chops, but he offers versatility and two years of club control.
He’s a left-handed bat who can handle second, third, or even left field, depending on how the roster shakes out. That kind of flexibility is valuable, especially for a team still figuring out its infield puzzle.
Financially, the Red Sox still have room to maneuver - with a few caveats. Their actual payroll sits around $197 million, which is below last year’s figure and well under their franchise Opening Day record of $236 million.
But the luxury tax ledger tells a different story. Thanks to backloaded deals for players like Suárez, Roman Anthony, Brayan Bello, Kristian Campbell, and Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston’s CBT number is around $265 million.
That puts them in the second tax tier, meaning they’re paying a 42% penalty on any further spending up to the next threshold.
If they go beyond that - adding another $20 million or more - the penalty jumps to 75%, and even more significantly, they’d lose 10 spots in the 2026 draft. That’s the kind of long-term cost that can make front offices think twice. Still, most of the infield options under discussion - with the possible exception of Suárez - wouldn’t push Boston into that third tier of punishment.
So here’s where things stand: the Red Sox are leaning into run prevention, they’re prioritizing defense up the middle, and they’ve got enough financial flexibility - and pitching depth - to make a move if the right fit presents itself. Whether that’s Hoerner, Donovan, or someone else entirely remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: Boston’s offseason isn’t over, and the next move could say a lot about how this team plans to win in 2026.