As soon as Alex Bregman left the Boston Red Sox in free agency to sign with the Chicago Cubs, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow had to pivot in another direction. Boston youngster Marcelo Mayer could fill the void at third base left by Bregman.
There are also free agent and trade options. The easiest way to fill the opening is by signing free agent Eugenio Suárez for a year or two. That doesn’t seem like an avenue that Breslow is going to go down, but things can change quickly this time of year.
The most likely route Breslow may have to go if he replaces Bregman from outside the organization is through a trade. There are a handful of names the Red Sox have been linked to. One name that continues to be mentioned is Isaac Paredes of the Houston Astros. One MLB writer suggested the potential asking price, and it’s an area where Boston can certainly subtract from.
Boston Red Sox Surplus of Outfielders Could Come in Handy
One position group Boston has a surplus of is outfielders. There are four players for three spots. Breslow could afford to subtract from there, but which one? According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic on the “Crush City Territory” podcast, one outfielder might be sticking out over others. That would be Wilyer Abreu.
“There was some scuttlebutt that talks were getting close, or ramping up, and that is not true,” Rome said. “The Red Sox may have re-engaged or checked in once Bregman officially went to Chicago, but there is nothing close. There is nothing imminent. This has not accelerated anything.
“What the Astros are intrigued by, from the Red Sox, is their surplus of young outfielders,” Rome said. “I think Jarren Duran fits, on paper, what the Astros need. I would also offer you Wilyer Abreu. Wilyer Abreu is somebody they know a lot better than Jarren Duran. (He) is also not making any money.”
Jarren Duran certainly fits what the Astros need. He is a player who would inject the left-handed bat into their lineup, which they sorely miss. However, acquiring a two-time Gold Glove winner in Abreu would be hard to pass up. He has four years of club control remaining on his contract.
“I would offer you, Wilyer Abreu, as somebody that maybe intrigues them a little bit more,” Rome said.
Boston Red Sox Have Decisions to Make
The Red Sox could simply turn third base over to Meyer. They could also add power with Suárez. They could also look to trade an outfielder for Paredes. If Houston is going to get either Abreu or Duran, it would likely have to include more for the Red Sox to get along with Paredes.
Make no mistake about it, the Red Sox would like to add some power at third base when replacing Bregman. Suárez would do that, but it would be a step back in defense. As for Paredes, whether or not a deal gets done remains to be seen, but whether it’s with Houston or someone else. Breslow has the outfielders and pitching to make a trade and add a bat and an infielder.
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