One thing that is likely to be repeatedly highlighted this winter is the idea that the Red Sox aren’t far away from contending in the American League. Boston did a terrific job taking a step in the right direction in 2024 and now needs to build on it.
If the current playoffs are any indication, anything can happen. Both the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers progressed to the American League Division Series after taking down the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles. Anything may happen, and all you have to do is get in.
Boston needs to add some additional right-handed pop to the middle of the lineup this winter. Milwaukee Brewers standout shortstop Willy Adames arguably will be the greatest right-handed bat available this winter. He is just 29 years old and is coming off a season when he hit 32 home runs and drove in 112 RBIs.
He will be one of the top free agents this winter and is anticipated to obtain a deal worth $188 million over seven seasons. Adames will be a terrific pickup for whichever team acquires him, and FanSided’s Zach Pressnell surprisingly cited the Red Sox as a possible landing destination.
“This generation is blessed with a ton of talented shortstops that it isn’t an insult to be labeled the sixth, seventh, or eighth-best shortstop in the league,” Pressnell said. “Willy Adames is one of the more underrated shortstops in baseball.
“He’s bound to get paid this offseason. The Brewers have the opportunity to pay him, but they have also had the ability to extend him, and they haven’t done so. Teams like the (San Diego Padres), (New York Mets), (New York Yankees), and (Toronto Blue Jays) all have shortstops, so this one comes down to the Red Sox and (Los Angeles Dodgers), in my mind.”
Adames’ bat makes sense, but the Red Sox don’t really need to add at shortstop right now. Boston has Trevor Story manning the position and top prospect Marcelo Mayer approaching his big league debut. Landing Adames would block Mayer. The only way a deal with Adames makes sense is if the Red Sox were to trade Mayer.
