Red Sox free agent slugger projected to receive $90 million deal
The Red Sox are interested in bringing back outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who will become a free agent at the conclusion of the MLB postseason.
Both the Sox and O’Neill have expressed mutual interest in returning to Boston. O’Neill slugged 31 homers in 113 games this past season, and if he were to leave in free agency, it would create a hole in the lineup already lacking right-handed power.
"It was an awesome year getting to experience Boston," O'Neill said of his first year in Boston. "Calling Fenway my home ballpark for a season. Getting to know my teammates. I wouldn't want to change it for anything. I think we accomplished a lot of good things this season, both in good stretches and bad stretches. We did it together."
"They got something good cooking over here in the Boston organization," O'Neill added. "We'll see what happens."
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been open publicly on how he will attempt to approach the offseason. One of those ways is addressing the lack of right-handed pop to balance the Sox’ left-handed heavy lineup.
“Whether it’s Tyler or someone else, replacing that type of production in the middle of the lineup is going to be a priority,” Breslow said to MassLive.com. “We’ll obviously have to see how this process plays out. But I anticipate we’ll be in communication. He’s earned the right to get to free agency. But I think the right-handed power hitter that can pop 30 and change a game with one swing is definitely a pretty desirable asset here.
“Obviously our lineup is pretty imbalanced in terms of being left-handed heavy,” Breslow said. “Figuring out how to balance that out, take advantage of the short left field wall. We saw the effect of a guy like Tyler and 30-plus home runs as a right-handed power hitter in the middle of the lineup.”
Following his breakout year power wise, O’Neill hit .241, knocked in 61 RBI, and posted an .847 OPS; he could be in line for a big payday as a free agent. According to Spotrac, O’Neill is projected to receive a five-year, $90 million deal.
Boston will do their due diligence looking around the league and in free agency in adding more right-handed power. O’Neill’s power aligns with what their lineup needs, however, injuries hampered him on and off all season, and he’s an incredibly streaky hitter. Whether the Red Sox want to give him five years remains to be seen.
Top prospect Roman Anthony is expected to land with the Red Sox at some point in 2025. Boston has more left-handed hitting prospects in Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer that will impact their lineup in the future. If the Red Sox keep O'Neill, there would still be a logjam in the outfield. With the emergence of Jarren Duran and the potential shoulder surgery for Masataka Yoshida, someone will need to be the odd man out. It’s possible outfielder Wilyer Abreu will be dealt; if so, O’Neill could slot into right field.
If the Red Sox can get O’Neill on a good deal with fewer years than the Spotrac projection, Boston could have a spot for him. One name to keep an eye out for is potential free agent slugger Teoscar Hernandez, whom the Sox had interest in last winter.
