The Boston Red Sox could benefit from adding an elite hitter and more power to their lineup next season. This free agent class has no shortage of elite power bats.
Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suárez are all free agents. All three figure to have plenty of suitors in free agency, but Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer called the Red Sox the perfect fit for Alonso.
“The Red Sox are $40 million in average annual value below the 2026 luxury-tax threshold, so they should be able to afford a nine-figure deal with Alonso,” wrote Rymer on Tuesday. “And the buzz is already there, as Jon Morosi of MLB Network labeled the Red Sox as ‘the strongest contender of anyone’ to sign him away from the Mets.”
Not only would Alonso be a great addition to the lineup, but he would plug in nicely, unlike Schawarber and Suárez. Suárez would create issues as he plays the same position as Alex Bregman. Schwarber is a full-time designated hitter, so he would not provide much lineup flexibility.
Alonso could play first base while Triston Casas recovers from his knee injury. After that, he could be an option at designated hitter, allowing Alex Cora to keep Casas in the lineup regularly as well.
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Alonso has never missed more than 10 games in a season, and has played in all 162 each of the last two years, but he rarely serves as the designated hitter. He has only appeared as a designated hitter 60 times in his career. However, his agent, Scott Boras, recently noted Alonso is open to more designated hitter duties moving forward. That is what makes him a great fit for the Red Sox.
Alonso slashed .272/.347/.524 last season. He hit 38 home runs and notched 126 RBIs. He raised his batting average by 32 points from 2024 and figures to sign a long-term deal this winter. He is a five-time All-Star and has 264 career home runs.
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