Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox enter the offseason with some money to spend before entering the luxury tax and could be in play for some top players.
MLB’s offseason will officially commence on Sunday.
Hours after Saturday’s World Series Game 7 ends, MLB free agency will technically open. Even though very few deals have historically been agreed to in the days after the World Series, the ball will start rolling soon on some possible offseason moves.
So, let’s take a look at where the Red Sox stand with their free agent situation, payroll, and possible trade targets with the offseason set to get underway. Here are nine things to know about the Red Sox’ situation entering the offseason, which could be the last before a work stoppage next winter due to the collective bargaining agreement.
Which players are set to become free agents?
A handful of players on the Red Sox’ 40-man roster will become free agents on Sunday due to their contracts expiring, but they’re mostly depth pieces. Outfielder Rob Refsnyder and starting pitcher Dustin May headline the group, while relievers Steven Matz and Justin Wilson will also become free agents.
Alex Bregman also seems poised to join that group. The star third baseman is reportedly expected to opt out of the final two years of his three-year, $120 million deal.
In his first season in Boston, Bregman was arguably the Red Sox’ top hitter in 2025. He hit .273 with a .821 OPS, 18 homers, and 62 RBIs in 114 games.
Refsnyder has played a key role in the Red Sox’ outfield over the last few years, helping spell their lefty-heavy unit. He hit .302 against lefties this past year and has had “informal talks” with the Red Sox about remaining in Boston, The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier reported in October.
May was the Red Sox’ big addition ahead of the trade deadline in July. The former Dodgers pitcher went 1-4 in six outings for the Red Sox, posting a 5.40 ERA before suffering a forearm injury that wound up sidelining him for the remainder of the year.
Which other players have options?
Beyond Bregman, both shortstop Trevor Story and starting pitcher Lucas Giolito have options for the 2026 season. Outfielder Jarren Duran has an $8 million club option as well, which will almost certainly be picked up.
Story can opt out of the two years and $55 million remaining on his six-year contract, but the Red Sox can negate that by adding a seventh year to his deal for an extra $25 million in 2028.
Giolito, meanwhile, has a $19 million mutual option. If the option is declined, there’s a $1.5 million buyout.
Option decisions must be made by Thursday.
Both Story and Giolito had resurgent seasons for the Red Sox in 2025. Story hit .263 with 25 home runs and was arguably Boston’s best hitter over the last few months of the season, with 13 home runs in the last 75 regular-season games. Giolito, meanwhile, went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 145 innings pitched over 26 starts.
Who can the Red Sox give a qualifying offer to?
While the Red Sox have a handful of free agents, Giolito is the only player who seems like a possibility to receive the qualifying offer. Bregman and Story aren’t eligible to receive the qualifying offer, which allows teams to receive draft compensation for losing a player in free agency.
This year’s qualifying offer is worth $22.025 million for the 2026 season. Players who receive the qualifying offer have until Nov. 18 to accept it.
What are the Red Sox’ biggest needs entering the offseason?
Breslow has already outlined some of the positions the Red Sox are interested in upgrading this offseason. He’s said that any addition made to the starting rotation would need to be a needle mover, while also implying that the team could be on the market for first and second basemen. The Red Sox swapped players in and out at those two positions for the majority of last season.
Of course, if Bregman and Story opt out and leave, the Red Sox will also need to address third base and shortstop. The Red Sox might have a couple of answers to their infield needs in their organization with Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell.
Even if Bregman and Story remain in Boston, the Red Sox could use another right-handed bat. Their lineup was lefty-dominant last season, with Carlos Narvaez and Ceddanne Rafaela being their other two regular right-handed hitters in the lineup.
What’s the Red Sox’ salary situation?
The Red Sox have $218.92 million committed in salary for the next season, per Red Sox payroll. That’s roughly $25 million shy of the first luxury tax payroll.
That number doesn’t account for Bregman’s previously expected salary for the 2026 season, but it does account for Story’s current salary for next year and Giolito’s salary if he were to accept the qualifying offer. It also includes Nathaniel Lowe’s $13.5 million projected arbitration number, which the Red Sox could negate if they don’t tender him.
Still, nearly any major signing would likely put the Red Sox into the luxury tax for next season before any additional moves. Trading Masataka Yoshida ($18 million) or Jordan Hicks ($12.5 million) could be the easiest way for the Red Sox to shed some payroll.
Who are the top free agents, and which ones have the Red Sox been linked to?
Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker is the consensus top free agent this offseason, with some speculating he could receive a deal over $400 million. Some of the other top hitter free agents include Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Japanese corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez, and Bregman.
As for pitchers, Astros left Framber Valdez, Padres righty Dylan Cease, Padres righty Michael King, and Phillies lefty Ranger Suarez headline the group.
Most of the top hitting free agents have already been linked to the Red Sox in some form, including Tucker, Schwarber, Alonso, Murakami, Suarez, and Bregman. Just about all of them would be natural fits, with Tucker possibly being the lone exception. The Red Sox would likely have to trade at least one, if not two, outfielders if they signed him.
Among the pitchers, Cease was rumored to be a possible target for the Red Sox ahead of the trade deadline in July. He went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA this past season, but had two top-five Cy Young finishes in the three seasons prior to 2025.
What do the Red Sox have at their disposal for trade chips?
The Red Sox’ outfield logjam might have to be solved this offseason. With Roman Anthony emerging as one of the top hitters in the American League following his call-up in June, Duran and Wilyer Abreu have been the most commonly speculated players who could get dealt to help make room in the outfield.
Beyond that, the Red Sox still have a good amount of young talent that might be expendable due to the talent on the big league roster. They have four players (Franklin Arias, Jhostynxon Garcia, Payton Tolle, Kyson Witherspoon) ranked in MLB.com’s top 100 prospect list. Mayer and Campbell also recently graduated as prospects after being ranked in the top 20 this past year.
Who could be trade targets?
Considering the Red Sox’ lineup situation, most of the speculated potential trade targets for them this offseason are pitchers.
Twins righty Joe Ryan might be the most notable name of the group. The Red Sox reportedly made an attempt to acquire Ryan ahead of the trade deadline, offering numerous prospect packages, but those efforts fell short.
As Ryan has two years remaining of team control, it’s possible that he could get moved this offseason, similar to how the White Sox traded Garrett Crochet last offseason.
Beyond Ryan, The Athletic‘s Jim Bowden recently listed the Red Sox as a fit for Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal, Brewers righty Freddy Peralta, Reds righty Hunter Greene, Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore, and Marlins righty Sandy Alcantara if they were to become available this offseason.
How does the Red Sox’ lineup and rotation look entering the offseason?
To help paint the picture of where the Red Sox are at, let’s look at the Red Sox’ current 40-man roster and take into account recent reporting to see where the lineup and rotation stand ahead of free agency.
Lineup projection
C: Carlos Narvaez
1B: Nathaniel Lowe
2B: Romy Gonzalez
3B: Marcelo Mayer
SS: Trevor Story
LF: Roman Anthony
CF: Ceddanne Rafaela
RF: Wilyer Abreu
DH: Jarren Duran
Starting rotation projection
1. Garrett Crochet
2. Brayan Bello
3. Lucas Giolito
4. Connelly Early
5. Kyle Harrison
Notable injuries: RHP Tanner Houck (Tommy John surgery), first baseman Triston Casas (torn patellar tendon)
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
