The Boston Red Sox are in the midst of a heated postseason race, but the front office’s full attention might not be on the play on the field.
The club will have several decisions to make regarding players on the roster. Should they go all in on the youth movement or bring in additional veterans to complement players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer?
Third baseman Alex Bregman has the option to opt out of his three-year, $120 million contract at season’s end, and early reports indicate he is likely to do so and test the open market. How will the Red Sox reallocate Bregman’s money that comes off the books?
Red Sox Predicted to Sign Kyle Schwarber
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is having the best season of his career, leading the National League with 49 home runs and an MLB-high 120 RBIs.
Schwarber is a nightmare for opposing pitchers and should receive a major payday when he enters free agency during the upcoming offseason. The Red Sox should show interest in the left-handed hitter, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote on Tuesday.
The Red Sox still owe Masataka Yoshida $37.2 million over the final two years of his contract, but his DH-only profile and lack of production during an injury-plagued 2025 campaign could lead to a buy-low trade or his outright release,” wrote Reuter. Re-allocating Alex Bregman’s money when he inevitably opts out to sign Kyle Schwarber would bolster the offense while keeping a path open for the young infielders.
Schwarber played 41 games with the Red Sox in 2021 after a midseason trade from the Washington Nationals. He had a .957 OPS in 168 plate appearances, and the fans at Fenway Park quickly learned to love him and his personality.
Boston Should Cut Ties With Masataka Yoshida
The $80 million owed to Bregman over the next two seasons will come off Boston’s payroll if he opts out of his deal. With the offensive season the two-time World Series champion is having despite missing over a month with a right quad strain, he’d be smart to test the open market.
Adding Schwarber would negate the need for Masataka Yoshida, who rarely plays the outfield after recovering from shoulder surgery last October.
For Yoshida, the answer is simple: It’s time the Red Sox find a trade and part ways with him,” Caleb Moody of Just Baseball wrote last November. “His $18.6 million AAV over the next three years makes him a bit difficult to trade, but there could be a bad contract swap out there, or they could accept a minimal return in order to free up that lineup space.”
Potential Contenders for Kyle Schwarber
Aside from the Red Sox, teams that may need a designated hitter for the 2026 season include the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, and Detroit Tigers.
The Braves are likely to let Marcell Ozuna walk in free agency, and the combination of Yordan Alvarez and Schwarber would be deadly. The Tigers have mainly used Colt Keith as their designated hitter this season, so they may need someone with a better pedigree.
Of course, the Phillies could offer Schwarber a contract he cannot refuse, and he and Bryce Harper reunite for the rest of their careers.
Red Sox Predicted to Add $79M MLB All-Star in Free Agency