MLB Insider Ranks Red Sox Among Top Offseason Winners

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been a busy man during Hot Stove season, making no less than 10 trades.

Among his offseason haul are right-handers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, as well as first baseman Willson Contreras.

As a result, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman ranks the Red Sox at No. 8 among the biggest offseason winners.

“They’ve made 10 trades but are one of two teams yet to sign a free agent along with Colorado,” Heyman writes.

“Sonny Gray is the starter they needed, and Willson Contreras is a nice middle-of-the-order add after missing on (Kyle) Schwarber and (Pete) Alonso,” Heyman adds.

“If they can bring back (Alex) Bregman, sign (Bo) Bichette or add Ketel Marte, they catapult up,” Heyman concludes.

Among those ahead of the Red Sox in Heyman’s rankings are the Baltimore Orioles, who came in at No. 1 after signing Alonso to that five-year, $155 million contract.

No. 2 on the list is the Toronto Blue Jays, whose biggest splash to date has been the seven-year, $210 million contract signed by right-hander Dylan Cease.

The Blue Jays remain in the mix for Bichette and Bregman, as well as Kyle Tucker, who is the best all-around player on the free-agent market.

However both Bregman and Bichette are on Boston’s radar as well.

Breslow has made it known the Red Sox want to add a power bat to the lineup, even after trading for Contreras, who has hit at least 20 home runs in four out of the last five seasons.

“It’s a priority for us,” Breslow said after the Contreras trade, according to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey. “We’ve got to make sure that we line up on that target, whether it be a free agency or the trade market, but we’re certainly doing the work to put ourselves in position to do that.

“I think that there’s an opportunity to add another bat to the roster and complement the group that we have right now,” Breslow added.