From the court of the ‘Interest Kings’: Here’s the latest word on the Red Sox’ off-season
New year, same old Red Sox.
Despite making a few notable moves this off-season, particularly to bolster a pitching staff in desperate need of high-end talent, the Red Sox remain the undisputed Interest Kings of baseball. It’s usually ALL interest, no action, but this year, call it 75% interest.
It appears that the area where the Red Sox could give in to mere INTEREST! is on offense. They still need a legitimate everyday right-handed power hitter. Options remain out there. But will they actually, truly go beyond INTEREST! and actually slap a Boston uniform on said options? Or will they hit us with the ol’ “We tried!” once again?
That remains to be seen. Player availability is on the Red Sox’ side, but as always, we’ll believe they’re going to actually pull the trigger on a move when they actually pull the trigger. Here’s what baseball insiders are saying this week…
INTEREST! In Alonso
If the Red Sox are dead-set on adding right-handed power in free agency, there are few better options than Pete Alonso. According to Bob Nightengale at USA Today, the Red Sox and Blue Jays are two of eight teams showing at least some INTEREST! in Alonso’s services.
Nightengale noted that a reunion with the New York Mets “seems to be the likely outcome.” Alonso clearly has his share of suitors and can go to the highest bidder if he so pleases. Would the Mets be that team, after dropping $765 million to land Juan Soto?
But more importantly, for Boston, would the Red Sox be willing to outspend everyone else for Alonso? Seems more likely they’ll leave it at the INTEREST! stage.
But Alonso would definitely fill the righty power void in Boston. He’s averaged 43 home runs per 162 games in his career, and would almost certainly launch plenty of high-angle shots over the Green Monster. Like everything with the Red Sox these days, we’ll believe it when we see it.
Arenado To Boston?
Baseball sources are telling MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam that the Red Sox are a “preferred destination” for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. However, Cotillo and McAdam seem unsure whether the Red Sox themselves have a strong level of INTEREST! in the “widely available” Arenado.
Once one of baseball’s most feared hitters and best all-around players, Arenado is now 33 years old and facing a rapid decline in production. He led the National League in WAR among position players in 2022 (7.7), but over the past two seasons has averaged 23 home runs and a 2.7 WAR per 162 games. He can still provide strong defense at third base – his 10.3 runs saved above average ranked third among everyone at the position in 2024, per Fangraphs – but Arenado certainly isn’t the same player he was in his prime years in Colorado.
That said, Arenado’s bat could still get a boost by simply playing at Fenway Park, where he’s smacked six home runs with a 1.066 OPS in 13 career games. Parking him at third base would also facilitate a move for Rafael Devers to first base or designated hitter, improving the Sox both offensively and defensively. But it comes down to the Red Sox’ level of INTEREST! And how much they’d have to give up in a trade to get him.
Casas On The Block
Say the Red Sox actually wanted to swing a trade for Arenado, and then move Devers to first base. That would make Triston Casas expendable.
Well, according to Cotillo, Casas is “very much available” as of this past Sunday. Casas, 24, is coming off a season in which he played only 63 games, but when on the field, he did hit 13 home runs and manage an .800 OPS. His hitting is certainly for real.
The problem with Casas seems to be more his personality, something to do with how he’s viewed in the clubhouse, by his teammates, by the organization. He’s definitely a “different cat,” so to speak, and perhaps the Red Sox have decided that he’s not worth the trouble.
Hopefully, the next Red Sox update here at 985TheSportsHub.com is about a move they actually made, and not about their purported INTEREST!!!
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
