“These things don’t always line up,” Breslow said before departing Wednesday evening. “We’ve got to make the best decisions that we can for the organization. And players have to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. And now we’ve got to figure out another way to improve our roster.”
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Alonso looked like a perfect match for the Red Sox and what they wanted this offseason: an established middle-of-the-order threat who bats righthanded, is durable and productive, and has long has enjoyed playing in Boston, where he has family in the area.
The Red Sox were wary, however, because of Alonso’s age, sources said. He just turned 31. His new contract will take him through his age-35 season.
Although there are those who maintain elite performance, players’ production generally declines through their 30s, which causes some clubs to hesitate to invest in them.
Whereas long-term extensions with Garrett Crochet (going on 26 when he signed for six years) and Roman Anthony (21 when he signed for nine years) were appealing to the Red Sox in part because of their relative youth, that is harder to pull off in free agency.
Such an approach raises a perhaps daunting question: What does that mean for the Red Sox re-signing Alex Bregman?
Bregman turns 32 in March. The third baseman is seeking a long-term deal. He is coming off a season in which he missed seven weeks because of a right quad strain suffered while running the bases.
Although the Red Sox — especially manager Alex Cora — love the player, and he has been their preference over Alonso in recent weeks, they didn’t want to give him a lengthy contract last year, either.
“That’s part of the decision-making,” Breslow said of players routinely being 30-plus by the time they are free agents. “At the same time, when players reach free agency, you’ve got a body of work that you can evaluate, and you’ve got a pretty good understanding of what that player might be over the next four, five, six, seven years.”
Breslow said of Bregman specifically: “We saw what he was able to bring on the field, in the clubhouse last year. He’s still out there, and he’s a guy that could fit our roster particularly well.”
The next tier of free agent hitters include third baseman Eugenio Suarez, whom the Red Sox have considered, as well as Japanese corner infielders Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto. Middle infielder Bo Bichette, 27, remains a premier free agent. They also have explored possible trades involving infielders, including for the Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte and the Astros’ Isaac Paredes.
The Red Sox have been wanting to add two hitters.
“We remain engaged with any player that we think can help us,” Breslow said. “[Bregman is] certainly one of them.”
Although the Red Sox have been seeking a power hitter, Alonso and Schwarber heading elsewhere “could” cause the Sox to shift to other types of hitters, Breslow said.
“Though I still feel like adding some slug into the lineup is a really good place to start,” he added.
For the Orioles, Alonso provides a veteran presence in a lineup that needed a bat like his. They took a major step back in 2025, finishing 75-87 and last in the division, but appeared determined on adding a high-end hitter. Their reported offer to Schwarber matched what he got from the Phillies, and mere hours later they offered a tick more to secure Alonso.
Alonso’s $31 million average annual value is a record for a first baseman.
“We came in looking to address some specific needs that I’ve talked about,” Breslow said of the Winter Meetings. “As we get ready to leave here, those needs still exist, so we’ve got to figure out a way to fill them.”
Tim Healey can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @timbhealey.
