There is no secret that the Boston Red Sox want to upgrade their infield ahead of the 2026 season. The club has been linked with several moves in this particular area throughout the offseason. Bringing back third baseman Alex Bregman was the team’s top priority of the winter. Nevertheless, the star opted to join the Chicago Cubs instead.
The Red Sox were then linked with trades involving Ketel Marte, Nico Hoerner, and Isaac Paredes. None of these deals, however, has materialized as of now. Former free agent Eugenio Suarez was linked with Boston as well before signing with the Cincinnati Reds. While a trade involving one of the aforementioned trio is still somewhat feasible, there is another area of concern in the team’s lineup.
According to The Athletic, Red Sox execs are pushing to acquire a right-handed hitting outfielder. At the moment, Boston’s group of outfielders is extremely left-handed heavy. Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, and Masataka Yoshida all bat from the left side. Ceddanne Rafaela, the club’s starting center fielder, is the only right-handed outfielder on the roster.
The situation could, however, soon change. The Red Sox have been linked with trading away one of their left-handed outfielders practically all winter. Abreu and Duran, despite their high ceilings, are the most likely candidates to be moved. Anthony, a former top prospect, is widely considered to be the future of Boston’s outfield. Yoshida is also more considered a designated hitter and would not bring back a very high return if traded.
Boston Red Sox Could Acquire Target via Trade or Free Agency
GettyJarren Duran could be traded away from Boston in the coming weeks.
Trading either Abreu or Duran would help bring in a quality return. Boston’s chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, could dangle one of the budding stars to fill a hole in the infield. This scenario has been discussed throughout the offseason. Nevertheless, a trade could be used to bring in a righty outfielder to replace one of the outgoing left-handed hitters.
If a deal involves a new infielder, the Red Sox could turn to free agency to sign a right-handed outfielder. As The Athletic points out, the club has options. Randal Grichuk, Starling Marte, and Tommy Pham are all possibilities for Boston. Over the last three combined campaigns, Grichuk posted the highest OPS of the trio at .857. The outfielder split his time with four different teams during this timeframe.
These right-handers, however, would likely be brought in to mostly hit against lefties during the 2026 season. If this is the case, Marte might be the best option. The veteran slugger had the best OPS (.733) against left-handed pitchers last season compared to Grichuk and Pham.
Red Sox Lost Their Previous Right-Handed Outfield Bat
While Boston’s interest in yet another outfielder may be puzzling to some fans, a move to acquire a righty makes sense. The Red Sox recently lost the right-handed Rob Refsnyder in free agency. Although he only played 70 games for Boston in 2025, Refsnyder raked against lefty pitchers. In the situation, he posted a .302 batting average, seven home runs, and 25 RBIs in 138 plate appearances on the season.
Boston may not be targeting a superstar right-handed outfielder at the moment. Yet, a relatively minor move to address the situation would be beneficial for the club.
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