Wilyer Abreu has already stacked up the hardware this offseason, and now he’s in position to add another trophy to the shelf.
The Boston Red Sox outfielder, fresh off his third straight Gold Glove Award, is a finalist for a Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award after a career-best offensive season. Abreu led all players with 28 defensive runs saved and two outs above average in right field, then followed that with a strong enough year at the plate to land among the finalists.
Randy Arozarena, Cody Bellinger, Jac Caglianone, Chase DeLauter, Riley Greene, Tristan Peters, Chandler Simpson and Mike Trout are the others in the mix. FanSided has partnered with Louisville Slugger to announce the finalists and winners of this year’s Silver Slugger Awards.
Abreu has a real shot at winning it, too. He hit more home runs than every finalist except Arozarena, and he finished second in MLB in doubles. If he takes home the award, though, it could sting the Red Sox in more than one way.
Boston has made a habit of locking up its young talent early, with Roman Anthony, Garrett Crochet, Ceddanne Rafaela, Kristan Campbell and Brayan Bello all getting extensions. That approach hasn’t worked out perfectly across the board - Campbell has been in Triple-A since last June and Bello couldn’t keep it together as a starter this year - which may help explain why the Sox didn’t hand out any long-term deals in 2026.
Abreu, meanwhile, has gotten better every year since reaching the majors, and each full season has ended with a Gold Glove in his hands. He’s become a premium defender and, now, a legitimate threat in the middle of the lineup. The problem for Boston is simple: it missed the cheapest window to extend him.
This is Abreu’s first offseason of arbitration eligibility. If he wins a Silver Slugger, that only strengthens his case as an offensive force and pushes his price tag higher. Had the Red Sox extended him earlier, they wouldn’t be staring down arbitration salaries now.
The award would also boost his trade value, which is already significant. Boston needs to sort out its crowded outfield this offseason in order to make room for the power bat it badly needs.
After Jarren Duran’s trade value dropped this year, Abreu may be the most movable player on the roster. Even so, with the Red Sox still searching for power, dealing their second-best home run hitter only makes sense if they can land a 30-40 homer bat in return - and those don’t grow on trees.
In Other News...
Red Sox Power Problem Could Force A Painful Offseason Decision
Bostons lack of pop was one of the defining issues of the 2026 season, with the Red Sox finishing near the bottom of the league in home runs and runs scored. That kind of offensive shortage has a way of reshaping an offseason, and it is already pushing the front office toward a familiar but uncomfortable idea: if the lineup needs a true middle-of-the-order force, the answer may have to come from outside the organization.
Craig Breslow does not have an easy path to get there. The clubs supply of young pitching prospects has thinned after recent trades, which limits the kinds of packages Boston can put together, and the most attractive chips left are Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela. Moving either one would be a serious call, especially for a player who can realistically bring 35 to 40 homers a year, because that sort of power is hard to find and even harder to pry loose. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Could Solve Two Offseason Needs With One Bold Trade
The Red Sox are still shopping for a right-handed starter and a power bat this offseason, and that has put a familiar name into the center of the conversation. Jarren Duran has been floated as a possible trade chip, and one of the more intriguing fits would send him to Texas, where the Rangers suddenly have a need for outfield help after Evan Carters hip surgery and are also working under payroll pressure.
Nathan Eovaldi is the kind of arm Boston could use to check one box in a hurry, while Duran would give the Rangers a ready-made answer in the outfield. It is the sort of one-move solution that makes sense on paper for both clubs, but for now it remains only a possibility as the Red Sox weigh how aggressively they want to attack two offseason needs at once. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox May Be Eyeing A Risky Rotation Bet
The Red Sox are being linked to another rotation gamble, this time in the form of Casey Mize. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report floated the idea of Boston bringing in the free-agent right-hander on a short-term deal after a 2026 season that showed both sides of his profile, with strong work for the Detroit Tigers before a rougher stretch following his trade to the San Diego Padres.
For Boston, the appeal is obvious enough. Mize has the kind of track record that can tempt a team looking for starting-pitching help without making a long commitment, and the fit becomes even more interesting with Sonny Gray potentially out of the picture. It is the sort of move that could stabilize the rotation if it clicks, but it also carries the kind of risk the Red Sox have to weigh carefully this winter. [Read more 🡒]