Red Sox Viewed As ‘Best Fit’ For Several High-Profile Free Agents

The Red Sox are expected to open up the checkbook this winter… at least if The Athletic’s Jim Bowden is to be believed.

Bowden has spent the last several years analyzing MLB offseason markets, putting together lists of the most high-profile free agents and their potential fits. Boston usually has a heavy presence, and this season was no different as the club was viewed among the “best fits” for 12 of the 45 players listed.

The former big league executive ranked the players as well, and it doesn’t look like he expects Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to go bargain shopping.

The Red Sox were tied to starting pitchers Corbin Burnes (No. 2), Roki Sasaki (No. 3), Max Fried (No. 5), Nate Eovaldi (No. 24), Jordan Montgomery (No. 26), Nick Martinez (No. 32), Luis Severino (No. 36) and Matthew Boyd (No. 44), outfielder Tyler O’Neill (No. 29) and relief pitchers Carlos Estevez (No. 35), Jeff Hoffman (No. 43) and Clay Holmes (No. 45).

Boston’s need for upgraded starting pitching is apparent, and the expectation is that it will make a run at one of the true aces expected to hit the open market this offseason: Burnes, Fried and possibly Sasaki — should the NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines allow him to leave this offseason. The Red Sox could pivot if they miss out on all three, however, adding one or two of the other names listed to join the likes of Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and the returning Lucas Giolito in the rotation.

The Sox have options now that they’ve gotten below the luxury tax threshold, and it sounds like outsiders believe they’re going to take advantage of that.