After months of speculation and fans screaming for the Red Sox organization to make a move, the Boston Red Sox finally made a splash, signing All-Star left-hander Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130 million contract. A major statement of intent from an organization that's been criticized for caution in free agency.
This move instantly reshapes Boston's rotation, and nearly everyone around the league believes it's just the first of a few significant moves to come. Suarez gives Boston a clear top-end arm, slotting in nicely at the No. 2 slot behind Garrett Crochet. The projected rotation now looks like this:
- Garrett Crochet
- Ranger Suarez
- Sonny Gray
- Brayan Bello
- Johan Oviedo
Behind them sit a crowded list of hopefuls: Kutter Crawford, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Kyle Harrison, Patrick Sandoval, and Jake Bennett. All of these men are competing for depth at this point. With five spots essentially locked, Boston's front office now has both the flexibility and need to convert surplus pitching into lineup upgrades, specifically within the infield.
That is where the buzz really starts to heat up. An inevitable trade would help solve the offensive hole left by losing Alex Bregman to the Cubs in free agency. Across social platforms and insider rumormills everywhere, there are position players who are flooding the list. The best fit, however, is Isaac Paredes.
Parades have been rumored to be on the trade block for the Astros since Framber Valdez elected free agency. Long story short: Houston needs pitching and is willing to sacrifice a position player to get it done.
Isaac Paredes could do amazingly well playing at Fenway Park. With his pull power? Especially at either Daikan Park or Fenway? The only reason he hit only 20 home runs last season was that he suffered a severe hamstring strain in July.
Over his career since he broke out with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022, he's hit 90 home runs, 80 doubles, and 276 RBIs, with a slugging percentage of .442 and an OPS+ of 120. His best season so far was in 2023, where he hit 31 home runs with a .488 slugging percentage, an OPS of .840, and an OPS+ of 130. He also drove in 98 runs that season, as well.
For the people who would automatically assume his power numbers cause him to strike out more, his strikeout percentage since 2022 has only been 17.3%, which is less than the norm of 20% for hitters. Specifically in 2025, his strikeout percentage was 17.4%, which was far lower than the league average of 22.2 percent.
If anything is going to scare Breslow about getting Paredes, it's the injury he suffered after 2025. But he's only 26 years old and has a whole career ahead of him. He's also under team control until after the 2027 season, and his annual value is just $10 million. Sounds like a valuable player, and if the Red Sox do acquire him, he'll do very well.
Conclusion
As for the Red Sox getting Ranger Suarez, it's a great deal, and it solidifies their rotation. With the Astros needing some pitching to keep their playoff window open, Paredes is the meal ticket out. Now it's time for Breslow to get back on the phone and make some calls.
Put on your Sunday best, Craig. It's time to go shopping...