The Boston Red Sox are ready to shop this winter and Black Friday is often the best day for holiday shopping and lists of deals.
Given that the big-ticket players will find new homes in December, Boston still has plenty of deals and values to pursue to kick off the holiday season.
Here are four that would make sense for the Red Sox.
NATHAN EOVALDI
His value far exceeds the idea of a Black Friday deal, but the price could be considered a bargain for the Red Sox compared to other top starting pitchers on the market.
There’s a clear pitch for Boston to pursue a reunion with the 2018 World Series champion with the Red Sox. He instantly adds veteran stability to the middle of the rotation to support young arms and eat up innings. Even at 35, he’s still the reliable weapon in the rotation that Boston knew him to be for years and two important playoff runs.
Eovaldi can still be the gift that keeps on giving for the Red Sox.
GARY SANCHEZ
The Red Sox need a new backup catcher for Connor Wong and Kyle Teel will still be a few months away from the majors when the 2025 season begins.
Sanchez is a solid candidate to take that role on a one-year deal. He has pop in his bat from the right side, he has a strong arm behind the plate and holds plenty of experience playing in the American League East after seven seasons with the New York Yankees.
Sanchez also has nine home runs in just 37 career games at Fenway Park. He could learn the benefits of consistently hitting with the Green Monster in front of him.
A.J. MINTER
The Red Sox really should go get Tanner Scott to legitimize their bullpen as their left-handed reliever, but Minter is rather underrated and will come at a lower cost. Why not do both? For this case, we’ll focus on Minter.
The longtime Atlanta Braves reliever is playoff-tested as a 2021 World Series champion. He’s posted a sub-3.00 ERA in two of the last three seasons and sports a 3.28 lifetime ERA.
That’s everything the Red Sox need to retool the bullpen.
LANCE LYNN
Yeah, he’s older, though he did have a solid bounce-back season in his second stint with the St. Louis Cardinals.
He pitched to a 7-4 record and a 3.84 ERA across 23 starts and genuinely kept better control of the game last season after a rough 2023 season and a horrible start for the Los Angeles Dodgers when the Arizona Diamondbacks swept them out of the National League Division Series.
If nothing else, he’s depth, which Black Friday could be all about for the Red Sox.
