The Red Sox are in the hunt for a front-line starter, but that doesn’t mean they’re ignoring the rest of the market.
Of course, Juan Soto is the biggest prize of free agency. Boston will have a chance to pry the star outfielder away from the New York Yankees, but there’s not a high chance of that happening.
Willy Adames arguably is the second-best position player on the market. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi on Friday reported that the Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves were teams “in the mix” for the star shortstop.
Boston’s tried to solidify the middle infield since Xander Boagaerts signed with the San Diego Padres in 2023. Morosi questioned the fit with Boston due to Trevor Story. However, the veteran switched to second base when Bogaerts was with the Red Sox. Story was solid generating a plus-6 defensive runs saved in 2022.
Adames said he’s open to switching positions; the 29-year-old last played second base in 2018. Story’s always been a team-first player, so if the Red Sox signed Adames and he needed to move to second, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he did.
That would leave little questions in the infield and provide Boston a much-desired right-handed bat in the lineup.