5 non-top tier free agents who could make sense for Red Sox ahead of Winter Meetings
The Red Sox are in the mix for several of the top free agents, but they might need to add some second- or third-tier free agents, too.
Juan Soto has taken up much of the air in MLB free agency rumors so far this offseason. If the discussion hasn’t been about Soto, then it’s been about Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, Willy Adames, and Teoscar Hernandez.
Well, the next tiers of free agents might be getting attention soon. The baseball world is set to descend upon Dallas for the Winter Meetings, which run from Sunday through Thursday.
The Red Sox have been in the mix with nearly each of those aforementioned players. But even if they sign Soto or one of the top free agents, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow will have other moves to make in order to help round out the roster.
So, let’s take a look at five possible fallback options or non-top-tier free agents that could make sense for the Red Sox to sign.
LHP Sean Manaea
In an unideal world where the Red Sox aren’t able to sign Fried or Burnes or even trade for Garret Crochet, Manaea would likely be the next available pitching option for the Red Sox.
Manaea, who turns 33 in February, arguably had the best season of his nine-year career in 2024. After signing a two-year deal with a player option with the Mets last winter, Manaea went 12-6 as he posted career highs in ERA (3.47) and innings pitched (181 2/3 innings) to go with a 1.084 WHIP and 184 strikeouts in 32 starts. He also stepped up in a major way for the Mets in the postseason, allowing one run in seven innings in their Game 3 win over the Phillies in the NLDS.
The lefty also has some experience working with Red Sox pitching coach Andy Bailey in the past. Manaea pitched under Bailey’s guidance when the two were with the Giants in 2023. His pitching repertoire could also fit the methodology Bailey employed for much of last season, rarely using his fastball late in the year as his sinker was his primary pitch.
Manaea received a qualifying offer from the Mets and rejected it, meaning the Red Sox would have to forfeit a draft pick if they were to sign him. If the Red Sox were to theoretically trade multiple prospects and young players for Crochet, signing Manaea might not make as much sense. But he’s still a solid option for the Red Sox.
RHP Nathan Eovaldi
If Boston wanted to double up on pitching help this offseason, Eovaldi would make sense.
Eovaldi remained a pretty reliable pitcher for the Rangers after three strong seasons with the Red Sox at the end of his stint in Boston. He was an All-Star in 2023, helping the Rangers win the World Series behind a 12-5 record and a 3.63 ERA in the regular season before posting a 5-0 record with a 2.95 ERA in the postseason.
This past season, Eovaldi was arguably better than he was in 2023. He went 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA, a 1.107 WHIP, and 166 strikeouts over 170 2/3 innings pitched in 29 starts. His K rate (23.9 percent) and walk rate (six percent) also improved.
To make Eovaldi even more appealing for the Red Sox, he was ineligible to receive the qualifying offer this offseason, so there would be no draft pick penalty to sign him. As he turns 35 in February, Eovaldi could make sense as a middle-to-end of the rotation option for Boston, who has already shown interest in him.
RHP Walker Buehler
If the Red Sox add a top-of-the-rotation arm and seek to add a second starter, Buehler could be a reasonable option.
Buehler might have the highest upside of the non-Burnes, Fried, and Crochet group of starting pitchers who could be next on the move this offseason. The 30-year-old was one of the best pitchers in the National League from his first full season through 2021 before he had to undergo Tommy John surgery in the middle of the 2022 season.
After being sidelined for nearly two seasons, Buehler returned in the middle of the 2024 season, but he wasn’t too effective. He went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA, a 1.553 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings pitched over 16 starts.
Buehler was a bit better in the postseason, though. He pitched four shutout innings against the Mets in the lone start he made in the NLCS and had a five-inning shutout performance against the Yankees in the World Series. He only allowed five hits over those two starts and pitched the ninth inning in the Dodgers’ Game 5 championship-clinching win over the Yankees.
Still, the Dodgers didn’t give Buehler a qualifying offer at the start of free agency. Los Angeles also signed Blake Snell in November, possibly making it difficult for it to keep Buehler around.
The Red Sox were reportedly interested in Shane Bieber before he re-signed with the Guardians on Friday. Considering that Bieber is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, it makes sense to wonder if the Red Sox would be in on another reclamation project in Buehler.
OF Jurickson Profar
Profar had a career year with the Padres in 2024, hitting .280 to go with 24 homers, 85 RBIs, and a .839 OPS. He could help fill the hole left by Tyler O’Neill in left field after he agreed to a deal with the Orioles on Saturday as he has multiple 20-plus home run seasons. He also has experience playing first base, which could allow the Red Sox to be versatile with their lineup when they face lefties.
Signing Profar would likely only make sense, though, if the Red Sox lost out on Soto and Hernandez, even if a player like Wilyer Abreu was moved in a trade for a top-end starting pitcher. Profar was a subpar left fielder with the Padres last season, posting a minus-4 Outs Above Average. He’s also barely played center field in his 11-year career, which is almost a prerequisite to play right field for the Red Sox considering the size of the outfield at Fenway Park.
But if the Red Sox opted to make multiple pricey starting pitching signings, Profar would be a smaller investment that could help serve as a bridge to the future in Boston’s outfield. MLB Trade Rumors projected him to receive a three-year, $45 million contract at the start of the offseason.
C Elias Diaz
Breslow told reporters at the GM Meetings in November that the team would explore adding a catcher this offseason. Well, they lost one of their catchers on Friday and Kyle Teel might not be ready for the majors when the 2025 season opens.
If so, Diaz could make sense as a platoon option with Connor Wong. The 34-year-old catcher was actually an All-Star with the Rockies in 2023, hitting .267 with 14 homers and a .725 OPS. But Colorado released him in August as he had some struggles due to a calf injury, with San Diego signing him to close out the season.
Diaz’s defensive metrics actually ranked among the higher percentiles of catchers in 2024 after some unspectacular years behind the plate. Diaz would be an intriguing buy-low option for the Red Sox as they wait for Teel to make his way up to the majors.
(Editor’s note: Tyler O’Neill was included in an earlier version of this story. O’Neill reportedly agreed to a contract with the Orioles on Saturday evening, after this story was initially published.)
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