The departures of free agents and upcoming needs for next season have left the Boston Red Sox with gaps in their roster that they need to address.
Fortunately for the Sox, they can draw offseason ideas from the postseason. Numerous impending free agents are delivering impressive performances for their teams in the playoffs.
This winter, Boston will prioritize finding starting pitchers, right-handed hitters, and bullpen support, and some players have stood out during this postseason. Here are several free agents the Red Sox might consider to address their most urgent needs—and potentially a few additional ones.
Juan Soto
Let’s start with the most ambitious option: Juan Soto would be an incredible addition to the Red Sox’s outfield—or really any outfield, for that matter. It wasn’t always far-fetched to think Boston could be a leading contender for top free agents, and Red Sox Nation is hoping the front office returns to that era.
This season with the Yankees, Soto had an impressive .288 batting average, .419 on-base percentage, and .569 slugging percentage, resulting in a .988 OPS over 157 games. He recorded 31 doubles, four triples, 41 home runs, 128 runs, 109 RBIs, and an extraordinary 129 walks.
While adding another lefty to Boston’s already left-handed roster might seem concerning, Soto’s exceptional on-base skills would greatly outweigh any drawbacks. He is expected to command one of the largest contracts in MLB history, and he would be worth every dollar.
Corbin Burnes
Boston needs a top-tier pitcher to elevate its 2024 rotation from good to great. Free agent right-hander Corbin Burnes has already been mentioned as a potential fit for the Red Sox, making him an ideal addition to their pitching lineup.
Burnes had a strong season with a 2.92 ERA, racking up 181 strikeouts over 194.1 innings with the Orioles. Although they were eliminated early in the 2024 postseason, he performed impressively in his sole playoff appearance, pitching eight innings of one-run ball against the Royals, with one walk and three strikeouts during the Wild Card round.
Burnes has expressed a desire to help “elevate” a young pitching staff that shows promise for the future. Tanner Houck had a breakout season for the Sox, and Brayan Bello significantly improved toward the end of the year. The Red Sox could be a perfect match for Burnes, just as he would be for them.
Teoscar Hernández
The Red Sox tried to sign outfielder Teoscar Hernández before the 2024 season. But, as has happened multiple times, the Dodgers swooped in and signed him after Boston made an embarrassingly low offer. The Sox’s need for righty bats could drive them to try and sign Hernández again this winter.
Hernández batted .272/.339/.501 with 32 doubles, three triples and 33 homers in 154 games for LA. He’s come through in big spots in the postseason for the Dodgers, including a grand slam in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres.
Kyle Higashioka
Reese McGuire has recently opted for free agency, and Danny Jansen is expected to do the same after the postseason wraps up. This leaves the Red Sox with Connor Wong as their most seasoned catcher, while there’s uncertainty about whether catching prospect Kyle Teel will be ready for the MLB by Opening Day. As Teel transitions to the majors, free agent Kyle Higashioka could be a suitable addition for Boston.
Higashioka, a former Yankee, enjoyed one of the best seasons of his eight-year career with the Padres this year, recording a .220/.263/.476 batting line, with 10 doubles, one triple, and a career-high 17 home runs across 84 games. He kicked off the postseason with two home runs, helping the Padres defeat the Braves in the Wild Card round.
Tanner Scott
The Red Sox aimed to strengthen their bullpen with top-tier relief pitching ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, but their efforts fell short. They missed out on former Marlin Tanner Scott, who was picked up by the Padres, possibly due to Boston not meeting the likely high asking price. Now, Scott is excelling in the postseason.
This season, Scott posted a 1.75 ERA with 84 strikeouts, 36 walks, and 22 saves over 72 innings. In the postseason, he has thrown four scoreless innings with six strikeouts for San Diego.
As a left-handed pitcher, Scott would help balance a Red Sox pitching staff that currently lacks lefties, especially in contrast to their batting lineup. Signing him would instantly strengthen the back end of the bullpen and position him as a potential closer following Kenley Jansen’s exit.
Be the first to comment