The Red Sox finally made their first splash in free agency this winter-but it wasn’t the kind of move many fans were expecting. After watching Alex Bregman land with the Cubs and following a series of pitching-focused trades, the assumption was that Boston’s next big addition would be a bat. Instead, they doubled down on the mound.
Enter Ranger Suárez, the longtime Phillies lefty, who inked a five-year, $130 million deal with Boston. That’s a significant investment, and it signals just how committed the Red Sox are to reshaping their rotation. Suárez slots in as the high-end No. 2 starter the team had been openly pursuing after acquiring Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo earlier in the offseason.
With Suárez in the fold, Boston’s rotation suddenly looks as deep as it’s been in years. Between Gray, Suárez, and a mix of young arms, the Sox now have the kind of rotation depth that gives them real flexibility-not just on the field, but on the trade market as well.
That depth could come at a cost elsewhere, though. Offensively, the lineup still lacks the kind of consistent pop and balance needed to compete with the American League’s heavy hitters.
And while a $130 million deal might seem like it should limit Boston’s spending, it really shouldn’t-especially considering the financial muscle of Fenway Sports Group. Still, if the front office chooses to be selective with its spending, it may turn to the trade market to address those offensive gaps.
And that’s where things get interesting.
With the rotation now well-stocked, Boston could look to move from its surplus of arms. Names like Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Payton Tolle, and Connelly Early-along with other top pitching prospects-could be in play if the right deal comes along. But pitching isn’t the only area where the Sox might deal from strength.
According to reporting from The Athletic, there’s growing chatter inside the organization that the outfield logjam could also be a source of trade capital. That’s a bit of a pivot from what chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said just a week earlier at Fenway Fest, when he downplayed the likelihood of moving an outfielder. But with the roster crunch getting tighter-especially if top prospect Kristian Campbell transitions to the outfield full-time-it’s clear that something has to give.
Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu have both been floated in trade rumors in the past, though things have cooled this winter. That might be because Boston hasn’t shown much urgency to move either player, and for good reason-they’re young, controllable, and have shown flashes of real upside. Masataka Yoshida and Campbell could also be trade candidates, but their contracts and limited MLB track records might make them tougher to move.
Boston’s trade targets this offseason have included some intriguing infield names: Ketel Marte, Isaac Paredes, and Brendan Donovan. Marte brings switch-hitting versatility, Paredes offers power from the right side, and Donovan-though left-handed-fits the mold of a high-OBP, contact-first hitter. That said, Donovan might be the longest shot of the group, despite Boston’s strong ties to Cardinals president of baseball ops Chaim Bloom.
The Diamondbacks reportedly had interest in Duran during earlier trade talks, and the Astros could also be in the market for outfield help. So the pieces are there. It’s just a matter of how aggressively Boston wants to push to round out the roster.
There’s still bullpen work to be done, but adding another infielder seems like the final big move before Opening Day. Whether that comes via trade or a late free-agent signing remains to be seen-but for the first time all offseason, the Red Sox look like a team with options. And that’s a good place to be.