Boston Red Sox
“What would he do to Roman Anthony? … What would he do for the center of that lineup? Take all of the strain off.”
Craig Breslow and the Purple Sox have plenty of work to do this offseason.
And whereas two of essentially the most urgent duties for Boston’s high brass is to re-sign Alex Bregman and add a No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet, the Purple Sox have to flex their fiscal muscular tissues a bit this summer season in the case of including extra pop into their lineup.
And even when the Purple Sox both balk at Bregman’s asking value or lose out on a bidding battle on the veteran third baseman, former MLB GM and The Athletic employees author Jim Bowden believes Boston ought to nonetheless have the means so as to add two bats in free company — headlined by Toronto’s Bo Bichette and the Mets’ Pete Alonso.
Whereas Bichette has primarily performed shortstop throughout his profession with the Blue Jays, his lackluster defensive metrics might immediate a shift to both second or third base along with his subsequent staff, which might make him a viable goal for a staff that might use a right-handed slugger like Boston.
“If I have been them, and this isn’t coming from them. That is simply me. I might need Bo Bichette to play third base,” Bowden said on “Foul Territory” on Monday. “That’s my first purpose. I like the bat. I like the hitter. I like the child. I like him at third base or second base. You’ll be able to put him at second and Marcelo Meyer at third base with [Trevor] Sory at shortstop.”
Bichette is coming off a robust 2025 season with a Blue Jays staff that made all of it the best way to Recreation 7 of the World Collection. The 27-year-old infielder batted .311 with 18 house runs, 44 doubles, and 94 RBI over 139 video games.
Past the potential domino impact of Bregman’s free-agency choice, the Purple Sox additionally want to deal with a urgent want at first base.
Given the uncertainty concerning Triston Casas’ well being after one other misplaced season resulting from damage, Bowden believes that the Purple Sox ought to goal Alonso — who has averaged 42 house runs and 114 RBI throughout his seven-year MLB profession with the Mets.
“By way of first base — I believe Pete Alonso can be phenomenal there,” Bowden stated. “I do know he doesn’t match what they need, as a result of they wish to enhance protection, run prevention is essential to Craig Breslow. However think about Alonso — as a result of he performs each day, 162 video games every of the final two years … averages 35 house runs a 12 months.
“Nice clubhouse man. Can deal with the large market. Are you able to think about what number of dents he put within the Inexperienced Monster? They most likely have to switch the Inexperienced Monster by the top of the 12 months.”
Past the added influence of getting two extra energy bats within the lineup, Bowden pressured that Breslow and the Purple Sox want to search out methods so as to add safety within the batting order for Roman Anthony — who can have loads of expectations positioned on his shoulders after a breakout rookie marketing campaign in 2025.
“And what would he do to Roman Anthony? What would he do for [Wilyer] Abreu? What would he do for the center of that lineup? Take all of the strain off,” Bowden stated of Alonso. “I believe it could be an awesome match for them. I do know they don’t love [Alonso] defensively, however look, even when he finally ends up being a DH in three or 4 years, you’re gonna have the DH spot open. So I believe that makes a number of sense.
“And if not, you carry Bregman again. So whether or not it’s Bichette, Alsonso or Bregman, I like any a type of three decisions for them, however they’re gonna get that quantity two starter. That’s the one factor I’m completely satisfied of.”
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