By all outward appearances, the offseason looked like a chance for the Boston Red Sox to stake a claim on power and ambition. With first base uncertainty lingering and a need for serious power in the lineup, Pete Alonso seemed like the perfect fit.
But now the dust has settled, and the Red Sox are finding themselves not with the slugging first baseman but with his landing with a division rival instead. That failure says plenty about what the front office really values (or doesn't).
Alonso accepted a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, a full result of Boston's offer reportedly coming in with less money, which was at $150 million for the same years, via Tim Healey of the Boston Globe. For a club that publicly proclaimed adding a power bat and how much they desperately needed one last year, this miss was a credibility check. Their best shot at injecting proven slugging into the heart of their lineup vanished with a rival AL East team that is also trying to get back to the playoffs.
The AL East is getting stronger. The Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease for seven years, $210 million. The Yankees are looking to get Texas Rangers' shortstop Corey Seager as a possible replacement for Anthony Volpe. Now, the Orioles got their big-name free agent signing, while also looking for a big-name starter as well in free agency. Ranger Suarez has been named in those rumors.
The reality is bleak. While the rivals are actively searching for upgrades, the Red Sox front office (or really Craig Breslow and his posse) consistently seems to hesitate when it comes time to commit to real dollars. Whether it's luxury-tax avoidance or fear of long-term deals, the result is the same. The Red Sox put their tails between their legs, get outmaneuvered, and await doing the same thing over and over again.
Worse yet, Alonso was in their lap. His wife's family is from Quincy, Massachusetts. He was the most sensible, high-floor bat on the market, and he was a perfect match for their lineup and ballpark.
For fans tired of optimistic interviews and promise-laden press conferences, this is yet another moment where words don't match action. It seemed like Breslow was too busy talking to the media and feeding them nonsense rather than actually trying to assemble a team. The franchise talked a big game about aggressively improving the lineup. But when it mattered in the Winter Meetings, with people and money at the table, they folded.
If Boston wants to convince its fan-facing rhetoric reflects actual intent, it has to prove it. Right now, the quiet resignation of letting Alonso walk to a division rival feels less like a strategic choice and more like getting too cute when it matters.
So the message is simple: Get Alex Bregman back, and aggressively trade for Ketel Marte. Breslow must actually follow his words this time. Or he might just be run out of town before February hits. This is a golden opportunity. Act on it.
But scenarios like this are enough to lead any fan to believe that won't happen. Enjoy seeing Eugenio Suarez at third and Triston Casas back at first.