9 things to know about Red Sox’ situation entering MLB offseason

MLB’s offseason will formally begin on Sunday.

Hours after Saturday’s World Sequence Sport 7 ends, MLB free company will technically open. Despite the fact that only a few offers have traditionally been agreed to within the days after the World Sequence, the ball will begin rolling quickly on some attainable offseason strikes.

So, let’s check out the place the Pink Sox stand with their free agent scenario, payroll, and attainable commerce targets with the offseason set to get underway. Listed below are 9 issues to know in regards to the Pink Sox’ scenario coming into the offseason, which may very well be the final earlier than a piece stoppage subsequent winter as a result of collective bargaining settlement.

Which gamers are set to grow to be free brokers?

A handful of gamers on the Pink Sox’ 40-man roster will grow to be free brokers on Sunday as a consequence of their contracts expiring, however they’re largely depth items. Outfielder Rob Refsnyder and beginning pitcher Dustin Might headline the group, whereas relievers Steven Matz and Justin Wilson may even grow to be free brokers.

Alex Bregman additionally appears poised to affix that group. The star third baseman is reportedly anticipated to choose out of the ultimate two years of his three-year, $120 million deal.

In his first season in Boston, Bregman was arguably the Pink Sox’ prime hitter in 2025. He hit .273 with a .821 OPS, 18 homers, and 62 RBIs in 114 video games.

Refsnyder has performed a key function within the Pink Sox’ outfield over the previous couple of years, serving to spell their lefty-heavy unit. He hit .302 in opposition to lefties this previous yr and has had “casual talks” with the Pink Sox about remaining in Boston, The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier reported in October.

Might was the Pink Sox’ massive addition forward of the commerce deadline in July. The previous Dodgers pitcher went 1-4 in six outings for the Pink Sox, posting a 5.40 ERA earlier than struggling a forearm harm that wound up sidelining him for the rest of the yr.

Which different gamers have choices?

Past Bregman, each shortstop Trevor Story and beginning pitcher Lucas Giolito have choices for the 2026 season. Outfielder Jarren Duran has an $8 million membership possibility as effectively, which can virtually actually be picked up.

Story can choose out of the 2 years and $55 million remaining on his six-year contract, however the Pink Sox can negate that by including a seventh yr to his deal for an additional $25 million in 2028.

Giolito, in the meantime, has a $19 million mutual possibility. If the choice is declined, there’s a $1.5 million buyout.

Possibility selections have to be made by Thursday.

Each Story and Giolito had resurgent seasons for the Pink Sox in 2025. Story hit .263 with 25 residence runs and was arguably Boston’s greatest hitter over the previous couple of months of the season, with 13 residence runs within the final 75 regular-season video games. Giolito, in the meantime, went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 145 innings pitched over 26 begins.

Who can the Pink Sox give a qualifying provide to?

Whereas the Pink Sox have a handful of free brokers, Giolito is the one participant who looks like a risk to obtain the qualifying provide. Bregman and Story aren’t eligible to obtain the qualifying provide, which permits groups to obtain draft compensation for shedding a participant in free company.

This yr’s qualifying provide is price $22.025 million for the 2026 season. Gamers who obtain the qualifying provide have till Nov. 18 to simply accept it.

What are the Pink Sox’ largest wants coming into the offseason?

Breslow has already outlined a number of the positions the Pink Sox are enthusiastic about upgrading this offseason. He’s mentioned that any addition made to the beginning rotation would need to be a needle mover, whereas additionally implying that the group could be on the market for first and second basemen. The Pink Sox swapped gamers out and in at these two positions for almost all of final season.

In fact, if Bregman and Story choose out and go away, the Pink Sox may even want to handle third base and shortstop. The Pink Sox may need a few solutions to their infield wants of their group with Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell.

Even when Bregman and Story stay in Boston, the Pink Sox might use one other right-handed bat. Their lineup was lefty-dominant final season, with Carlos Narvaez and Ceddanne Rafaela being their different two common right-handed hitters within the lineup.

What’s the Pink Sox’ wage scenario?

The Pink Sox have $218.92 million dedicated in wage for the subsequent season, per Red Sox payroll. That’s roughly $25 million shy of the primary luxurious tax payroll.

That quantity doesn’t account for Bregman’s beforehand anticipated wage for the 2026 season, but it surely does account for Story’s present wage for subsequent yr and Giolito’s wage if he had been to simply accept the qualifying provide. It additionally contains Nathaniel Lowe’s $13.5 million projected arbitration quantity, which the Pink Sox might negate in the event that they don’t tender him.

Nonetheless, practically any main signing would doubtless put the Pink Sox into the posh tax for subsequent season earlier than any extra strikes. Buying and selling Masataka Yoshida ($18 million) or Jordan Hicks ($12.5 million) may very well be the best means for the Pink Sox to shed some payroll.

Who’re the highest free brokers, and which of them have the Pink Sox been linked to?

Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker is the consensus prime free agent this offseason, with some speculating he might obtain a deal over $400 million. A number of the different prime hitter free brokers embody Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Japanese nook infielder Munetaka Murakami, Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez, and Bregman.

As for pitchers, Astros left Framber Valdez, Padres righty Dylan Stop, Padres righty Michael King, and Phillies lefty Ranger Suarez headline the group.

Many of the prime hitting free brokers have already been linked to the Pink Sox in some type, together with Tucker, Schwarber, Alonso, Murakami, Suarez, and Bregman. Nearly all of them can be pure suits, with Tucker presumably being the lone exception. The Pink Sox would doubtless must commerce no less than one, if not two, outfielders in the event that they signed him.

Among the many pitchers, Stop was rumored to be a attainable goal for the Pink Sox forward of the commerce deadline in July. He went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA this previous season, however had two top-five Cy Younger finishes within the three seasons previous to 2025.

What do the Pink Sox have at their disposal for commerce chips?

The Pink Sox’ outfield logjam may need to be solved this offseason. With Roman Anthony rising as one of many prime hitters within the American League following his call-up in June, Duran and Wilyer Abreu have been probably the most generally speculated gamers who might get dealt to assist make room within the outfield.

Past that, the Pink Sox nonetheless have a very good quantity of younger expertise that is likely to be expendable as a result of expertise on the massive league roster. They’ve 4 gamers (Franklin Arias, Jhostynxon Garcia, Payton Tolle, Kyson Witherspoon) ranked in MLB.com’s top 100 prospect list. Mayer and Campbell additionally lately graduated as prospects after being ranked within the prime 20 this previous yr.

Who may very well be commerce targets?

Contemplating the Pink Sox’ lineup scenario, many of the speculated potential commerce targets for them this offseason are pitchers.

Twins righty Joe Ryan is likely to be probably the most notable identify of the group. The Pink Sox reportedly made an try to amass Ryan forward of the commerce deadline, providing quite a few prospect packages, however these efforts fell quick.

As Ryan has two years remaining of group management, it’s attainable that he might get moved this offseason, much like how the White Sox traded Garrett Crochet final offseason.

Past Ryan, The Athletic‘s Jim Bowden recently listed the Red Sox as a fit for Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal, Brewers righty Freddy Peralta, Reds righty Hunter Greene, Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore, and Marlins righty Sandy Alcantara in the event that they had been to grow to be out there this offseason.

How does the Pink Sox’ lineup and rotation look coming into the offseason?

To assist paint the image of the place the Pink Sox are at, let’s take a look at the Pink Sox’ present 40-man roster and bear in mind current reporting to see the place the lineup and rotation stand forward of free company.

Lineup projection

C: Carlos Narvaez
1B: Nathaniel Lowe
2B: Romy Gonzalez
3B: Marcelo Mayer
SS: Trevor Story
LF: Roman Anthony
CF: Ceddanne Rafaela
RF: Wilyer Abreu
DH: Jarren Duran

Beginning rotation projection

1. Garrett Crochet
2. Brayan Bello
3. Lucas Giolito
4. Connelly Early
5. Kyle Harrison

Notable accidents: RHP Tanner Houck (Tommy John surgical procedure), first baseman Triston Casas (torn patellar tendon)