Ranking 5 best complementary free-agent hitters for Red Sox

Within the early weeks of MLB free company, a lot of the dialogue surrounding the Purple Sox has been targeted on which big-name hitters they are going to go after. Nevertheless it seems they’ll search so as to add one other hitter past the top-tier group of free brokers, too.

The Purple Sox are “open” to including a complementary hitter in free company, The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier reported Saturday.

After all, the definition of complementary is as much as anybody’s interpretation. However for the sake of argument, let’s assume that the likes of Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, Bo Bichette, Munetaka Murakami, and Eugenio Suarez are thought-about to be in one of many higher tiers of free-agent hitters.

Which hitters does that go away? Nicely, let’s rank the 5 very best “complementary” hitters the Purple Sox might purchase in free company this offseason.

5. Rhys Hoskins

If the Purple Sox really feel snug transferring ahead with Triston Casas at first base for the 2026 season, Hoskins would make sense as an possibility to assist spell him and use as a delegated hitter.

Hoskins, who’ll flip 33 in March, had a nice yr on the plate for the Brewers in 2025. He hit .237 with a .748 OPS and 12 residence runs in 90 video games. He put up a decent .332 on-base share as properly, which might’ve ranked thirty sixth within the Nationwide League if he had sufficient at-bats to qualify. He’s been one of many higher hitters within the league by way of drawing walks as properly, rating towards the highest of the league in stroll fee throughout his time with the Phillies.

Hoskins positively isn’t the identical participant he was just some years in the past in Philadelphia, although. He missed the 2023 season resulting from an ACL tear, and he missed a number of months in 2025 resulting from a thumb harm.

4. Ryan O’Hearn

O’Hearn, 32, doesn’t match the precise mildew the Purple Sox are reportedly searching for in free company this offseason. Nonetheless, he could be a fail-safe possibility for the Purple Sox in the event that they’re in a position to re-sign Bregman, however fail to land Alonso and if Casas’s future seems to be unsure.

The veteran first baseman is a left-handed hitter who doesn’t hit for an amazing quantity of energy. O’Hearn was a dependable hitter, although, on the plate for the Orioles and Padres this previous season, which was arguably a profession yr. He hit .281 with a .803 OPS and 17 residence runs over 144 video games with the Orioles and Padres.

These numbers are in step with what O’Hearn’s put up on the plate since he was traded from the Royals to the Orioles forward of the 2023 season. He’s hit .277 with a .788 OPS over the past three years.

Contemplating O’Hearn’s age and relative lack of long-term manufacturing, he isn’t anticipated to get an enormous contract in free company. Each MLB Trade Rumors and The Athletic venture that he’ll get a two-year deal price lower than $40 million in complete worth. So, he could possibly be a stopgap possibility for the Purple Sox at first base.

3. J.T. Realmuto

Realmuto’s identify surprisingly emerged as a risk for the Purple Sox this previous week. The veteran is the highest catcher on the open market this offseason, and Boston doesn’t have a urgent have to get assist behind the plate.

However Realmuto might quickly make the transition to first base, like many catchers do later of their careers. So, the Purple Sox might theoretically have him cut up time at first base, catcher, and designated hitter all year long.

And, in fact, Realmuto is an effective presence on the plate. The 34-year-old right-handed hitter posted a .257 batting common with a .700 OPS and 12 homers in 134 video games with the Phillies final yr. His numbers have been truly stronger in opposition to righties (.277 batting common) than lefties (.213). Realmuto had a top-10 MVP end in 2022 as properly, nevertheless it appears unlikely he’ll have a yr like that once more.

Identical to O’Hearn and Hoskins, Realmuto is anticipated to get a shorter-term take care of a comparatively smaller common annual worth. Each The Athletic and MLB Commerce Rumors venture he’ll land a contract price $15 million per yr.

2. Kazuma Okamoto

Okamoto is one other identify that’s begun to emerge as a attainable goal for the Purple Sox in current days. The 30-year-old Japanese star is extensively considered because the second-best worldwide free-agent hitter this offseason behind Munetaka Murakami.

Okamoto, a right-handed hitter, doesn’t possess the facility that Murakami, nicknamed the “Japanese Babe Ruth,” does. However he nonetheless has some good pop, hitting 15 homers in 77 video games for NPB’s Yomiuri Giants in 2025. He’s additionally hit 113 residence runs over the past 4 seasons, logging a batting common north of .275 in every of the final years.

The Athletic‘s Tim Britton compared Okamoto’s hitting profile to the one that Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki had in his worldwide profession. So, that’s promising as Suzuki has grow to be a significant piece for Chicago.

By way of positional match, Okamoto spent most of his NPB profession at third base, though evaluators venture that he’ll be a primary baseman within the MLB.

All in all, Okamoto has the make-up to be the No. 1 participant on this listing, however there’s nonetheless a little bit of projecting that you want to account for when signing him. Each The Athletic and MLB Commerce Rumors venture that Okamoto will obtain a four-year deal within the $64-$76 million vary.

1. Jorge Polanco

If you issue age, current manufacturing, upside, and positional versatility, Polanco needs to be the highest participant on this listing.

Polanco, 32, is coming off one among his greatest seasons in no less than a number of years. The switch-hitter posted a .265 batting common with a .821 OPS, 26 residence runs, and 78 RBIs in 138 video games with the Mariners this previous season, proving to be a key piece for Seattle on its run to the ALCS.

The season Polanco had was extra in step with the numbers he put up with the Twins between the 2019-21 seasons earlier than accidents started to sideline him from 2022-24. The 2019 All-Star hit .279 with 59 residence runs and a .808 OPS in 360 video games over that three-year peak he had in Minnesota.

Polanco has largely performed second base, the place he’s had some struggles, and has stuffed in at third base in current seasons. Nonetheless, he’s additionally proven a willingness to play first base, in keeping with The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier.

Each The Athletic and MLB Trade Rumors each anticipate Polanco to obtain a two- or three-year take care of a mean annual worth shy of $20 million.