May is almost over as the 2025 MLB season nears the summer months. The Boston Red Sox haven't given their fans much to consistently cheer about so far, making it easier to take some time to check in and see how some of the franchise's former players are faring this season.
Several veterans left Boston during the latest offseason, and while some are thriving in their new environments, that hasn't been the case for every ex-Red Sox player. In fact, one can argue that one of the Red Sox's former outfielders only needed two months to rob his new team blind.
Former Red Sox OF Tyler O'Neill is Robbing Orioles Blind
The Red Sox created some offseason buzz when they declined outfielder Tyler O'Neill's $21 million qualifying offer in November. The decision came after the two-time Gold Glove winner tallied 31 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a .241/.336/.511 slash line in 113 games with Boston after being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the previous winter.
The Red Sox's decision to decline O'Neill's contract likely stemmed from a mixture of his concerning injury history and high strikeout rate. Nevertheless, their decision allowed the 29-year-old outfielder to sign a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the AL East rival Baltimore Orioles, giving him plenty of opportunities to exact revenge each year.
While history has proven that players can make their former teams regret letting them go, that hasn't been the case regarding O'Neill.
For starters, the Burnaby, BC, native has been bitten by the injury bug yet again, having suited up in only 24 of Baltimore's first 55 games. He's been on the injured list twice so far, first with a neck injury in April and has since been sidelined with a shoulder issue since the middle of May.
Much to the Orioles' dismay, O'Neill has struggled to live up to his contract whenever he has been healthy. He's only slashing .188/.280/.235 across his first 80 at-bats, picking up two home runs, 10 RBIs, and a pair of stolen bases along the way. He's also struck out in 29.0% of his plate appearances, which is significantly above the MLB average (22.7%).
O'Neill's high point of the season came when he tallied a four-hit performance in the series opener against the Red Sox on March 31. Unfortunately for him, he went 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in the following two games, further proving Boston made the right decision not to bring him back.
With his turning 30 years old next month, it's hard to imagine O'Neill's health improving at this stage of his career. His frequent IL trips will likely continue to hamper his production, meaning there's a good chance the former Red Sox veteran will keep robbing the Orioles blind.