The Red Sox need more punch this winter, and the name that keeps making sense is not the priciest one on the board. George Springer looks like the cleaner fit.
Boston will have plenty of attention on the biggest bats in free agency, including Randy Arozarena and Seiya Suzuki, but both are expected to come at a steep cost. Springer, by contrast, gives the Red Sox a way to add offense without diving into the deepest part of the market.
The 37-year-old still has something left in the tank. In 2026, Springer played 126 games for the Toronto Blue Jays and finished with 15 home runs, 54 RBI and a .249/.321/.405 slash line.
That alone would help Boston at designated hitter. A year earlier, in 2025, he was much louder at the plate, hitting 32 home runs, driving in 84 runs and posting a .309/.399/.560 line in 140 games.
That season also came with a 4.8 WAR total.
There’s also the money angle. Spotrac projects Springer at a little over $10 million on a one-year deal.
Arozarena, meanwhile, is projected at more than $81 million over four seasons. That gap matters, especially for a Red Sox club trying to address more than one need.
Springer would bring 13 years of big-league experience, World Series credentials and a track record of success in the American League East. He also has a tie to the area from his college days at UConn. Boston has been linked to him before, and the fit still feels natural.
If the Red Sox go the Springer route, they’d preserve the flexibility to attack other parts of the roster later. One name to keep in mind there is Adley Rutschman, who is expected to be in line for an extension this offseason. Signing Springer could leave Boston with enough room to pursue a deal for the All-Star backstop.
Arozarena and Suzuki will cost a lot this winter. Springer should cost less. For Boston, that might be the smarter swing.
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