Eugenio Suárez isn’t the answer for the Red Sox if Alex Bregman walks
Suárez’s power numbers alone won’t fix Boston’s infield defense, contact issues, or long-term roster flexibility.
If the Red Sox fail to bring back Alex Bregman and aren’t willing to pony up for Bo Bichette, a glaring question remains unanswered: how exactly do they plan to add a legitimate right-handed power bat to the lineup?
Bregman remains one of the top free agents on the board, with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Tigers, and Cubs all connected to the veteran third baseman throughout the winter. According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the market may finally be shifting.
“Sources believe the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks may be the two most aggressive clubs in the hunt for Bregman, though a Red Sox reunion remains a possibility.”
At the same time, Feinsand reported that Boston’s interest in Bichette could be impacting how aggressively the club is pursuing Bregman.
“Last month, Bichette’s camp let clubs know that he would be willing to move to second base, news that potentially opened his market to more suitors… Bichette’s future may be tied directly to what happens with Bregman, as the Blue Jays and Red Sox are in on both players.”
ESPN insider Buster Olney added another wrinkle, suggesting that Boston hasn’t backed off Bregman at all.
“I think Alex Bregman is going to go back to the Red Sox. They valued him last summer.”
But if Bregman leaves and Bichette either returns to Toronto or signs elsewhere, the Red Sox suddenly find themselves without a clear path to addressing their most obvious roster flaw.
One potential alternative is Eugenio Suárez, who would unquestionably add thump to the middle of the order. Suárez split last season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, launching 49 home runs with 118 RBIs — tying his career high from 2019.
Offensively, that production plays anywhere. Defensively, it’s another story.
Suárez would represent a significant downgrade from Bregman at third base for a Red Sox team that has already been among the league leaders in errors over the past two seasons. In 2025, Suárez posted -6 Defensive Runs Saved and -3 Outs Above Average, continuing a multi-year trend of average-to-below-average defense.
Boston could stomach defensive limitations if the bat were truly elite and consistent — similar to the calculus with Pete Alonso at first base. But Suárez also comes with swing-and-miss concerns, ranking in the 5th percentile in strikeout rate (29.8%), numbers uncomfortably reminiscent of Bobby Dalbec.
Power alone isn’t enough if it further destabilizes an already shaky infield.
If the Red Sox miss on both Bregman and Bichette, the most logical — and arguably cleanest — pivot may be a trade for Ketel Marte.
Boston has cycled through second basemen for years, and Marte would end that immediately. Since 2023, the 11-year veteran has been one of baseball’s most complete offensive players, earning back-to-back All-Star nods in 2024 and 2025 while slashing .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs last season.
His contract — six years, $116.5 million — is widely viewed as team-friendly, especially when stacked against what Bregman could command on the open market. Defensively, Marte remains reliable, ranking in the 74th percentile in range among second basemen.
Acquiring Marte would instantly reshape the roster. It would provide insurance if Bregman walks, stabilize second base for the foreseeable future, and create flexibility to slide Marcelo Mayer over to third base.
At this point, the offseason continues to crawl along at a snail’s pace. Fans are restless, starving for legitimate baseball news, and left dissecting every rumor from a national reporter with a fine-tooth comb.
For now, it’s all what-ifs and contingency plans.
The good news? Pitchers and catchers report next month. The bad news? Until then, the Red Sox still haven’t shown their hand — and the plan for adding another right-handed power remains very much up in the air.
You speak TRUTH! Eugenio Suarez is NOT the answer to make this team better other than adding HRs. He's likeable and good in the locker room, but so are a lot of players at this level. The poor defense and poor contact percentages don't really work for what the Red Sox need. Again, stellar article and Happy New year to you 💪🏼