BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox have quickly checked off one of their major offseason boxes by trading for veteran starter Sonny Gray, but the front office is now aggressively “shifting” its attention to the middle of the lineup. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow is under a mandate to secure at least one “impact bat,” and the team is reportedly in the mix for three of the market’s biggest sluggers: Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and Alex Bregman.
The trade for Gray, who slots in behind ace Garrett Crochet, signals the end of the team’s top-tier starting pitching pursuit. As Breslow acknowledged, the focus must now turn to bolstering an offense that struggled for consistency last season.
The Big Three: Who Fits Fenway Best?
Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reported Wednesday that all three players remain firm targets for the Red Sox, though Breslow described the free-agent talks as “still pretty early.”
| Slugger | Position | Boston Connection | Why the Red Sox Need Him |
| Alex Bregman | 3B/2B | Spent 2025 season with Red Sox; opted out of contract. | Priority #1: Elite corner infield defense and consistent bat. Reunion is high on the team’s list to fill the corner infield void. |
| Pete Alonso | 1B/DH | Spent entire career with Mets; coming off 38 HR, 126 RBI season. | Righty Power: Provides a massive right-handed power bat (38 HR in 2025) and can play first base, filling a potential hole left by Triston Casas’ injury. |
| Kyle Schwarber | DH/OF | Briefly played for Red Sox in 2021; led NL with 56 HR in 2025. | Left-Handed Pop: A massive left-handed power source ideally suited for the short right-field porch at Fenway. A strong candidate for the Designated Hitter role. |
The “Two Bat” Mandate
Landing any one of the three players would be a significant win for the Red Sox. However, multiple reports suggest that the optimal scenario involves securing a combination of two of these three sluggers—a move that would immediately transform the team’s offensive profile.
The Red Sox’s payroll flexibility suggests they have the resources to commit heavily, potentially exceeding the luxury tax threshold if necessary. Insiders believe the addition of Sonny Gray allows the team to focus its full financial might on either re-signing Bregman or pursuing a star like Alonso or Schwarber.
The debate rages among the fanbase: should the team prioritize a reunion with Bregman for defense and consistency, or make an all-out run at a pure power source like Alonso or Schwarber? The answer will define the Red Sox’s competitiveness in the fierce American League East.
