The Boston Red Sox will have a chance to build on some early offseason momentum when the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings begin.
The team has already fortified its rotation with two significant additions by acquiring Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals and Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now it seems the focus will shift to the infield, with holes at both first base and third base, following the departure of star veteran Alex Bregman back to free agency.
The Red Sox could look to fill their infield with another trade, or they could turn to the options on the free agent market. Internally, the team has debated the merits of reigning Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Bo Bichette as a replacement for Bregman, according to multiple reports.
“Retaining free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman is a priority for the Boston Red Sox,” Ken Rosenthal reported for The Athletic. “But some with the club view Bo Bichette, previously a division rival with the Toronto Blue Jays, as an intriguing alternative.”
If Bregman agrees to a contract with another team or if the Red Sox determine he will fall outside of their price range, Bichette could make a compelling replacement at third base even though he has played shortstop up to this point. That defensive fit was emphasized in another report about the Red Sox’s thinking on Bichette.
“The Red Sox have shown interest in the 27-year-old free agent infielder, who would certainly fit the bill when it comes to an impactful right-handed bat that can hit in the top four spots of the Sox’s batting order,” according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “Not only would Bichette’s bat be a fit for the Red Sox, but his defensive skillset would also be a match. Many in baseball don’t view him as a reliable shortstop, but there would be confidence in his abilities at both second and third base.”
From the plate, Bichette could be considered an upgrade over Bregman depending on how much one values the most recent season. Bichette slashed .311/.357/.483 for the Blue Jays while Bregman slashed .273/.360/.462, though Bregman has been more consistent over his career. Bichette is also four years younger than Bregman, so the Red Sox might be more comfortable committing to a long-term deal for their recent American League East division rival.
With the Red Sox eyeing Bregman or Bichette as his replacement, fans of the team would have reason to celebrate the addition of either.
