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MLB insider Jeff Passan provided brief update on status of Red Sox, MLB offseason
"There will be deals aplenty coming soon."
Jeff Passan’s current take on the Red Sox: Having entered an offseason that seemed destined to be consequential, Red Sox fans have been left to look around with only a week to go before Christmas and grapple with the reality that their team is yet to sign a player.
True, Boston has completed a series of trades — including the additions of pitchers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo — but is yet to make a splash in free agency.
According to the latest from ESPN’s senior MLB insider Jeff Passan, the lack of activity goes beyond just Boston (though the Red Sox are a particularly conspicuous example). As he noted in his recent column, MLB teams had spent $2.1 billion by this time in 2024, compared with $1.4 billion in 2025.
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Still, more activity is likely approaching.
“Considering the Boston Red Sox haven’t signed a player, the New York Yankees have spent just $5 million on free agents and the bottom 20 teams have spent less combined ($207 million) than the top team (Toronto Blue Jays, $277 million), there will be deals aplenty coming soon,” wrote Passan.
Zooming in on the Red Sox, specifically, Passan pointed at the obvious unanswered question: the status of third baseman Alex Bregman. The 31-year-old signed with Boston during the last offseason, but opted out of his multiyear deal and is now once again a free agent.
“Boston needs a big bat badly, whether it’s Bregman or a replacement,” Passan wrote. He pointed to Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger and Bo Bichette as the other available elite bats.
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On the team’s other expected move (trading an outfielder, possibly 2024 All-Star Jarren Duran), he explained the situation.
“The Red Sox will want value for Duran, even if their outfield glut is untenable so long as Masataka Yoshida is in Boston.”
Duran has reportedly been the subject of trade talks, according to The Athletic, but whether Boston has serious intent to complete a deal remains to be seen.
Trivia: Can you name the Red Sox top-10 career home run leaders?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: Their initials are TW, DO, CY, JR, DE, MR, MV, BD, JF, RD.
Scores and schedules:
The Boston Fleet defeated the New York Sirens 2-0 on Wednesday. Boston will travel to play the Minnesota Frost on Friday at 8 p.m.
Tonight, the Bruins host the Oilers at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Celtics host the Heat at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, the Patriots travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens at 8:20 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Patriots defense takes a major hit in first injury report ahead of Ravens game
- Stefon Diggs admits to ‘adjusting’ to varying playing time with Patriots
- What Brad Stevens said of Celtics’ trade deadline plans
- Brad Stevens gives update on ‘long progression’ ahead of potential Jayson Tatum return
- Vladislav Kolyachonok looking to find a regular home on Bruins’ blue line
- Tom Brady offered Patrick Mahomes advice on how to handle ACL recovery
- Devin McCourty’s prediction on Patriots’ response after loss to Bills
The latest Tom Brady power ranking: The former New England QB bumped his old team down a few spots following the loss to the Bills.
On this day: In 2014, the Celtics traded Rajon Rondo (along with Dwight Powell) to the Mavericks in a high-profile deal, with Dallas sending Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, a 2016 1st round draft pick, a 2016 2nd round draft pick, and a $13-million trade exception.
Daily highlight: Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 center for Florida, became the tallest player to ever score in college basketball.
Trivia answer: Ted Williams, David Ortiz, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Manny Ramirez, Mo Vaughn, Bobby Doerr, Jimmie Foxx, Rafael Devers
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