The Boston Red Sox had a mostly quiet offseason but made two significant trades. One, which involved sending Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves, has not aged well, despite seeming like a good decision at the time. The other trade brought Tyler O’Neill to Boston, and it has turned out much better.
O’Neill, a talented player with some durability issues who had fallen out of favor with the St. Louis Cardinals, was acquired for a minimal cost and has since had one of the best seasons of his career.
Given the success of the trade, O’Neill, who will be a free agent after the 2024 season, has made it clear that he wants to stay in Boston for the long term.
Given everything he’s accomplished since the trade, Craig Breslow must take action.
The Red Sox should heed Tyler O’Neill’s wishes and re-sign him as soon as possible. O’Neill has always shown great potential, highlighted by his MVP-caliber season in 2021, but struggled with injuries and consistency during his six years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite missing some time this season due to injury and experiencing a few slumps, he has performed exceptionally well when on the field.
As of Wednesday, the 29-year-old had a .251/.344/.536 batting line with 31 home runs and 61 RBIs over 106 games. Although he missed 45 games and lacks enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, he is tied for 15th in the majors in home runs and ranks in the top 10 in the American League. While he strikes out frequently and hasn’t been the best defensively, his power has been a tremendous asset for the Red Sox.
O’Neill is a strong player who would thrive almost anywhere, but he fits particularly well with Boston due to his right-handed bat. This is especially important for a team that leans heavily left-handed. With stars like Rafael Devers, Triston Casas, and Jarren Duran on the roster, adding O’Neill—who has a 1.188 OPS against lefties this season and a .925 OPS against them for his career—provides valuable balance to the lineup, making it a significant advantage for Alex Cora.
Although the Red Sox boast a deep outfield with players like Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and top prospect Roman Anthony nearing a debut, O’Neill is a standout talent whose departure would be a mistake.
He wants to stay, the team needs him, and they likely have the budget to keep him. It’s time to make it happen, Craig.
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