The Boston Red Sox aren’t done tinkering with their 2026 roster just yet - and with good reason. After losing Alex Bregman to the Cubs, the front office is still on the hunt for a right-handed-hitting infielder to help round out the lineup. But with spring training creeping closer, the market for that kind of player has thinned out considerably.
Earlier in the offseason, the Red Sox had a handful of intriguing options on the board. Bo Bichette, Ketel Marte, and Isaac Paredes were all in the mix at one point, but one by one, those doors closed.
Bichette inked a big deal with the Mets, Marte is staying put in Arizona, and trade talks with Houston over Paredes have dragged on with no clear end in sight. As for Chicago, they’re holding onto Nico Hoerner, so that’s another potential avenue that’s dried up.
Boston’s front office has been aggressive in exploring the market, but they’re running into a familiar wall: teams aren’t eager to part with their righty bats, and the ones who are willing to talk have set steep asking prices. It’s a seller’s market, and the Sox are feeling the squeeze.
That scarcity isn’t just a Boston problem - it’s shaping up to be a league-wide trend. According to early trade deadline projections, the pool of available right-handed impact hitters is expected to be shallow all season long. That’s a tough break for a Red Sox team that not only needs another bat, but specifically one that can handle the hot corner or second base and hit from the right side.
The ideal fit? A righty who can defend at a high level and bring some pop to the middle of the order.
But players like that are few and far between, and the ones who might be available - think Yandy Díaz or Alec Bohm - won’t come cheap. There’s been chatter around both for a while now.
Díaz could be on the move if the Rays decide to sell, especially with the AL East looking more competitive than ever. Bohm, meanwhile, is part of a crowded Phillies infield, which could open the door for a deal.
But again, with demand for right-handed bats this high, any trade involving those names is going to require a significant return.
That’s the dilemma for Boston right now. Wait too long, and the market could dry up completely.
But overpaying for a player who doesn’t quite fit the bill isn’t the answer either. The Red Sox aren’t looking for a superstar - they’re looking for balance.
Someone who can lengthen the lineup, provide some stability on the infield, and give them a better shot at competing in what’s shaping up to be a brutal AL East.
The urgency is real. Boston’s 2025 campaign left plenty of room for improvement, and while there’s been progress this winter, the roster still feels one piece short.
The perfect fit may no longer be out there, but that doesn’t mean the Sox can afford to stand pat. If they want to avoid scrambling at the deadline - when prices could be even higher - now might be the time to make a move, even if it means settling for “good enough” instead of “perfect.”
One thing’s clear: the Red Sox know what they need. The challenge is finding it before someone else does.