Some in Red Sox’ ‘inner circle’ want Alonso over Schwarber

With cash to spend this offseason, the Pink Sox are already linked to a number of high-profile free brokers.

First baseman Pete Alonso and former Pink Sox outfielder Kyle Schwarber have been linked to Boston in rumors courting again to the common season earlier this 12 months. Each of whom are power-hitting bats who would slot into the highest half of the Pink Sox’ lineup if the crew landed one in every of them.

Contemplating Schwarber’s temporary but memorable tenure in Boston through the second half of the 2021 season, which he helped delay by main them to the postseason for the primary time since 2018, his identify has appeared most frequently in studies so far.

Between the Pink Sox “loving” the 32-year-old, based on MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, and Fansided’s Robert Murray anticipating the membership to be a “big player” within the Schwarber sweepstakes, Boston’s curiosity in a reunion together with his bat is clear early this winter. The curiosity is definitely legitimate given Schwarber’s 2025 common season stats: 56 residence runs, 132 RBI, 108 walks, and a .928 OPS by means of 162 video games with the Phillies.

Nevertheless, per reporting by Cotillo, the Pink Sox aren’t set on which participant they wish to prioritize.

“On the outset of the offseason, a well-connected trade supply with information of Boston’s pondering didn’t suppose the Pink Sox can be a serious participant for Alonso. This week, nevertheless, phrase is there are some within the membership’s internal circle that want Alonso to Kyle Schwarber,” Cotillo wrote on Thursday.

Alonso, 30, might not have slugged a staggering 56 residence runs in 2025 like Schwarber did, however his bat is not any stroll within the park to face. This previous season with the Mets, Alonso hit 38 residence runs and drove in 126 runs. He batted .272 with an .871 OPS and didn’t miss a single sport all 12 months, identical to Schwarber.

Place-wise, whereas Boston did play Schwarber at first base 4 years in the past (in 10 video games), he has nearly solely been a chosen hitter the final couple of seasons. He DHed in 144 video games in 2024 and once more in 154 this previous season.

Schwarber has performed left subject simply 13 instances over the past two years. He fielded the place in 103 video games in 2023 and 139 instances in 2022; it appears doable that he might choose up the glove extra steadily if want be with the Pink Sox given his clear invoice of well being in current seasons.

Alonso, alternatively, is a full-time first baseman. He performed 160 video games on the place and DHed twice in 2025.

The Pink Sox have an outfield logjam, so a transfer of some type would possible must be made if Schwarber have been to signal. So far as first base goes, given Triston Casas’s harm and uncertainty about his position within the group shifting ahead, bringing on a participant like Alonso can be a lot less complicated.

Both approach, the addition of both slugger would drastically help Boston within the energy division. Trevor Story led all Pink Sox hitters with 25 residence runs, adopted by Wilyer Abreu (22), Alex Bregman (18), and Jarren Duran (16). Story opted in to his contract and can stay with the crew for the remaining two years of his deal, however Abreu, Bregman, and Duran should not assured to be on the roster in 2026. Abreu and Duran’s names have been talked about in commerce rumors (re: outfield logjam), whereas Bregman opted out of his Pink Sox deal earlier this month to turn out to be a free agent.

Boston anticipates spending large this offseason, based on MassLive’s Sean McAdam, which implies going over the primary aggressive stability tax threshold ($244 million). Signing both Alonso or Schwarber would imply spending large. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel just lately projected Alonso to ink a four-year, $110 million contract ($27.5 million per 12 months) and Schwarber to signal a four-year, $128 million deal ($32 million per 12 months).

Kaley Brown

Sports activities producer

Kaley Brown is a sports activities producer for Boston.com, the place she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox.