The Boston Red Sox have been one of the busiest teams this offseason, though most of their activity has come via trades. That focus could shift at the upcoming Winter Meetings.
So far, the Red Sox have bolstered their pitching staff with trades for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, but attention may now turn to the position player market. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently suggested that the team could pursue Pete Alonso at the Winter Meetings.
Since his MLB debut in 2019, Alonso has hit the third-most home runs in the league, making his bat extremely appealing. However, his defense has been a persistent concern. At first base, Alonso ranks among the league’s worst defenders, with minus-34 outs above average since 2019—a weakness that may factor into the New York Mets’ willingness to let him walk.
Following the season, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns emphasized a desire to improve the team’s defense and run prevention. Committing a large sum to Alonso might not align with that strategy.
For the Red Sox, adding Alonso would significantly boost their lineup, but managing his defensive limitations would be key. One potential solution is to use him more frequently as a designated hitter.
In 1,008 career games, Alonso has only served as a DH 60 times. Yet his agent, Scott Boras, indicated this winter that Alonso is open to taking on that role more often. Doing so would reduce the impact of his defensive shortcomings while allowing Triston Casas to continue getting reps at first base.