The Boston Red Sox have bolstered their pitching staff this offseason with several key additions. They strengthened their starting rotation by acquiring former Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet and Los Angeles Dodgers World Series standout Walker Buehler.
Additionally, the team anticipates the return of right-hander Lucas Giolito, another former White Sox pitcher, who was sidelined for all of 2024 with an elbow injury after signing with Boston as a free agent in 2023.
In the bullpen, the Red Sox added experienced left-handed arms, signing veteran flamethrower Aroldis Chapman and 12-year pro Justin Wilson.
Red Sox Still in Market for a Big Bat
The Red Sox are reportedly still in pursuit of 23-year-old Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki, known for his blazing fastball clocked at 102 mph. However, they are now seen as long shots to sign the young right-hander. This suggests Boston may have wrapped up its offseason efforts on pitching.
On the offensive side, the team has yet to make a significant move. With a lineup heavily reliant on left-handed hitters and the departure of last season’s home run leader (31) Tyler O’Neill in free agency, the Red Sox are still searching for a right-handed power hitter.
A switch-hitting power bat could be an even better fit, which may explain why, according to New York Post MLB columnist and baseball insider Jon Heyman, the Red Sox are among the top contenders for Baltimore Orioles switch-hitting outfielder Anthony Santander. Santander, a free agent who hit 44 home runs last season (third in the American League), is also being heavily pursued by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Santander is reportedly seeking a contract worth over $100 million.
“Power hitters, even excellent ones like Santander, are still waiting for their market to take shape,” Heyman noted in his Thursday column on remaining free agents. “It’s understandable that he’s aiming for a nine-figure deal. The Jays are widely seen as the favorites, with Boston as a close second.”
Santander Below Average in Getting on Base
One potential reason for the Red Sox’s hesitancy in pursuing Anthony Santander is his “all or nothing” approach at the plate. While his impressive home run totals stand out, the 30-year-old Venezuelan’s ability to get on base falls below the MLB average. In 2024, his 58 walks contributed to a .308 on-base percentage, slightly below the league average of .312.
However, Santander’s power is undeniable, as evidenced by his .506 slugging percentage, which far surpassed the MLB average of .399. Despite this, his career on-base percentage of just .307 has been highlighted by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal as a key factor slowing down his free agency. This, along with his defensive shortcomings and lack of speed, has likely impacted his market value.
Rosenthal noted that Santander’s sprint speed ranked in the bottom 18 percent of the league last season and pointed to his subpar defensive metrics, despite Orioles manager Brandon Hyde commending his efforts in right field.
According to the sports business site Spotrac, Santander’s projected market value is $88.7 million over a five-year deal, though these factors may drive his price lower than anticipated.
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