The Boston Red Sox need more power, and that hasn’t changed.
That reality has been hanging over the club for a while now, and with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire after the World Series, the rumor mill is only going to get louder about which hitters could eventually fit in Boston. Seiya Suzuki came up as one possible match on Friday. Then The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal took the conversation somewhere much bigger.
While discussing the Philadelphia Phillies’ struggles and early exit, Rosenthal raised the possibility that Philadelphia could consider moving a player like Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber. In that same discussion, he mentioned the Red Sox as one of the teams that could come into play.
"Since joining the Phillies, he and his wife, Kayla, have become the parents of four children," Rosenthal wrote. "Convincing him to leave would not be easy.
For Harper to join, say, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox or in a long shot, the Athletics, who will play one more season in West Sacramento before moving to his hometown of Las Vegas in 2028, he likely would require a contract extension. Interested teams could view Harper as either a first baseman or right fielder."
That doesn’t mean Boston is in on Harper, or that a move is anywhere close. But when a respected insider puts the Red Sox in the same breath as a two-time MVP, it’s worth paying attention.
Harper checks just about every box. He’s a two-time MVP, nine-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and he has 60 games of playoff experience.
In those postseason games, he’s hit .271 with 18 home runs and 36 RBIs. He can also move around defensively, with the ability to play the outfield, first base or even serve as a designated hitter.
If Philadelphia ever decides to listen, Harper would be right near the top of Boston’s wish list, no matter where he ends up playing. He also has a no-trade clause, and if he were to waive it, he has five years left on his contract.
For now, this is still more dream than reality. But if the Phillies really do blow things up this offseason and Harper somehow becomes available, he’s the kind of player Boston would have to chase and sort the rest out later.
Harper’s 2026 season only reinforces the appeal. He hit 29 homers, drove in 87 runs and posted a .269/.380/.485 line over 162 games. He’s a veteran presence, a proven star and, as the source of this buzz makes clear, still missing only one thing: a championship.
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