Red Sox Picked As Best Landing Spot For Free-Agent Slugger

MLB’s free-agent market has thinned out, but one masher remains an intriguing option for the Boston Red Sox.

MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds and Matt Vasgersian each identified Boston as the top landing spot for Eugenio Suárez. Reynolds feels Suárez would meet a clear need after hitting 49 home runs last season, and the right-handed slugger’s swing would work well at Fenway Park.

“They need that power,” Reynolds said of the Red Sox. “They need a third baseman who can hit the ball over that wall.”

Vasgersian called Suárez a “nice 1A” alternative to the Red Sox acquiring corner infielder Isaac Paredes from the Houston Astros. Boston has reportedly checked on the two-time All-Star, but the teams aren’t close to reaching a deal.

Suárez batted .228 with 196 strikeouts this season, but Vasgersian believes Boston’s offense can withstand that issue.

“You can survive the strikeouts there, because that’s a pretty good contact-hitting lineup,” Vasgersian said.

“And he’s tailor-made for pulling the ball off the (Green) Monster,” Reynolds added.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden also named Boston as one of Suárez’s best fits on Monday’s “Foul Territory.” The MLB insider called the 34-year-old’s weak free-agent market “puzzling.”

“It’s not like he’s waiting for a better offer,” Bowden said. “He’s got people kicking the tires, but they are not pursuing him, for whatever reason.”

Boston could capitalize and add an elite power hitter to a lineup that ranked 15th with 186 home runs last season. However, Bleacher Report’s Jon Heyman named the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds as his top candidates to sign Suárez.