Boston Red Sox
“It doesn’t mean that that’s the number one option, but you never know what can happen.”
The Red Sox are one of two MLB teams that have yet to sign a free agent to a major league contract, with the Colorado Rockies being the other.
However, Boston has reportedly shown interest in signing several free agents since the end of its season nearly three months ago. Some players have already signed, such as first baseman Pete Alonso with the Baltimore Orioles. Others the Red Sox have been linked to, like shortstop Bo Bichette, remain available.
This lack of free agency action in recent winters, in contrast with the team’s abundance of trades (e.g. Sonny Gray for two young pitchers), has led fans to coin the Red Sox as “interest kings”: an organization that is consistently linked to top free agents, but often isn’t the team that a player ultimately signs with. Regardless of why the player didn’t end up in Boston (low contract offer, better fit elsewhere, etc.), the “interest kings” nickname persists.
While some fans view this repeated interest without much to show for it as a negative, manager Alex Cora doesn’t seem to feel that way.
“It’s the whole thing about, ‘They show interest.’ We better!” Cora said on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast. “Every team has to talk to players because if you don’t do that, then you’re being irresponsible. It doesn’t mean that that’s the number one option, but you never know what can happen.”
Despite it being the end of December, the league’s free agency period is still quite young. For example, Alex Bregman signed with Boston in mid-February just before spring training began earlier this year. Therefore, the Red Sox’ interest in an impactful free agent should eventually pan out with a contract agreement.
Cora explained that the organization is simply doing its due diligence by at least connecting with a variety of available players. But, he also said that fans shouldn’t equate Boston’s interest with making an offer.
“We’re just being responsible. Everybody’s responsible,” he said. “‘Duh, yeah, of course they talk to that guy,’ but it doesn’t mean that because you talk, you made a huge offer. You’re just learning who they are, meeting them. Not everybody knows each other, and I think it’s a good exercise.”
Last month, MassLive’s Sean McAdam reported that the Red Sox are “fully expecting” to spend past the first luxury tax threshold this winter. As of Friday, the organization has $243.44 million in payroll committed for 2026, per RedSoxPayroll on X. MLB’s 2026 luxury tax is set at $244 million, leaving Boston with $560K of money left to spend before hitting the threshold.
Following Boston’s trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for first baseman Willson Contreras, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said that the “roster is probably incomplete” and he will “continue to look in free agency and look into trade markets for ways to get better.”
Cora said that in the past, he used to be more impatient and worry about potential moves in the offseason. Now, he said, he recognizes his role as manager and its difference from Breslow’s, for example, and “just lets it play out.”
“I don’t want to say I’m less engaged, but in the offseason I just let it play out. The front office, they have a job to do. Obviously, we stay in touch every single day — we text, we email, we talk whenever we have to. But I’m more patient in the offseason,” Cora said. “I understand that you have to make moves for the benefit of the team … for the benefit of the organization in the future. I’m more patient now in the offseason than in the past.”
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