Red Sox’ 2024 home run leader reportedly signs three-year deal with Orioles
Tyler O’Neill hit a team-high 31 home runs during his lone season in Boston.
MORE RED SOX
The Red Sox’ most powerful hitter this past season has landed with an American League East foe in free agency.
Tyler O’Neill reportedly agreed to a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. The 29-year-old outfielder hit a team-high 31 home runs in his first and only season with Boston in 2024.
O’Neill was a candidate to receive MLB’s one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Red Sox this offseason, but the club opted not to extend it to him. Boston still could have re-signed the 29-year-old to a different contract, but it appears the two sides ultimately chose to move in different directions.
The Red Sox and O’Neill had a mutual interest in a reunion. The 29-year-old said publicly that he wanted to remain in Boston back in September, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said in September that the organization would be compelled to bring O’Neill back.
“We’ll obviously have to see how this process plays out. But I anticipate we’ll be in communication,” Breslow said at the time. “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.”
Given O’Neill’s decision to sign elsewhere, the Red Sox will have to remain on the hunt for another, or multiple, right-handed bats to balance their lineup. O’Neill played in 113 games for Boston last season and hit primarily in the middle of the lineup. His power often kept their lineup afloat when other players didn’t produce, so the team has hefty shoes to fill in that regard.
One righty who Boston was interested in this offseason also signed elsewhere on Saturday in shortstop Willy Adames. The Red Sox were reportedly quite interested in signing the slugger who’s coming off a career year.
The team is acutely aware of its need for productive right-handed bats. Breslow emphasized that after this past season’s end.
“Whether it’s Tyler or someone else, replacing that type of production in the middle of the lineup is going to be a priority,” he said at Boston’s end-of-season press conference in September, as transcribed by MassLive’s Christopher Smith.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com