No Red Sox Return For Tyler O’Neill; Reportedly Joins AL East Rival
Tyler O’Neill’s stint with the Boston Red Sox lasted for only one season.
O’Neill decided to move on from the Red Sox this offseason and squashed any potential return when he reportedly found his next MLB home Saturday night.
The right-handed slugger will still see plenty of the Red Sox as he agreed to a three-year, $49.5 million deal to join the Baltimore Orioles, as first reported by the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Heyman noted O’Neill has an opt-out clause following the 2025 season.
O’Neill battled various injuries to bat .241 with a team-leading 31 home runs and 61 RBIs in 113 games. It was just the second time in his career the 29-year-old outfielder played over 100 games in a season. O’Neill also had seven multi-home run games for Boston in 2024.
The Red Sox acquired the two-time Gold Glove Award winner last offseason for two minor league pitchers in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.
He will now slot into the open spot in right field for the Orioles as O’Neill’s signing makes it incredibly likely that left-handed slugger Anthony Santander doesn’t return to Baltimore.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow expressed some interest at the beginning of the offseason in bringing O’Neill back. Boston is in search of a right-handed power bat to add to its lineup, but will have to look elsewhere now.
O’Neill leaving for the Orioles creates a hole in left field for the Red Sox, one they could fill in a gigantic way if they end up signing Juan Soto.