The Boston Red Sox enter the final stretch before Spring Training still searching for one crucial piece.
Despite a busy offseason that included both departures and notable additions, there remains a lingering sense that the roster is incomplete.
Specifically, Boston still appears to need one more impact bat.
Over the last several weeks, the Red Sox have been linked to a variety of names across both the trade and free-agent markets.
These rumors intensified following the loss of Alex Bregman and the signing of Ranger SuĂĄrez.
While SuĂĄrez addresses rotation stability, Bregmanâs departure left a noticeable void in offensive production.
That hole has yet to be fully filled.
Among the names circulating in league conversations are Isaac Paredes of the Houston Astros, Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs, Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, and free-agent slugger Eugenio SuĂĄrez.
Each player offers a different skill set.
None offers a perfect solution.
At this stage of the offseason, perfection may no longer be realistic.
With Spring Training just weeks away, teams are forced to choose between compromise and patience.
For Boston, patience has its limits.
Isaac Paredes and Eugenio SuĂĄrez represent the most obvious power upgrades.
Both are capable of adding legitimate home-run production to the middle of the lineup.
However, defense is not their calling card.
That tradeoff matters for a Red Sox team already juggling positional flexibility.
Nico Hoerner presents the opposite profile.
He is an elite defender and an on-base machine.
But acquiring Hoerner would come at a steep cost in prospects.
Worse yet, he would only be under team control for one season before reaching free agency.
That type of investment carries significant risk for a club still balancing short-term contention with long-term sustainability.
Brendan Donovan also fits Bostonâs contact-oriented philosophy, but he introduces a different complication.
Donovan is a left-handed hitter.
Boston already has a surplus of left-handed bats.
Adding another could further skew lineup balance, particularly against left-handed pitching.
Why Isaac Paredes Stands Out
Among all available options, Isaac Paredes arguably represents the closest thing to an ideal fit.
At just 26 years old, Paredes is entering his physical prime.
He brings legitimate 30-plus home run power.
He also offers positional versatility, with the ability to play multiple infield spots.
Defensively, Paredes is not elite.
In 2025, he posted minus-three Outs Above Average.
That number is below average.
But it is not catastrophic.
More importantly, his defensive metrics tell a more nuanced story.
In 2022, Paredes recorded six Outs Above Average.
In 2023, he was neutral at zero.
In 2024, he slipped slightly to minus-one.
Those fluctuations suggest inconsistency rather than permanent deficiency.
At times, he has shown the ability to be a capable defender.
At others, he has struggled.
Youth remains on his side.
Unlike Hoerner, Paredes also comes with two years of remaining team control.
That additional year significantly enhances his value.
It allows Boston to justify a meaningful prospect package without feeling rushed by an expiring contract.
If the Red Sox are going to add one more slugger before Opening Day, Paredes may represent the best blend of power, age, and control currently available.
Where the Deal Stands
Despite the logical fit, progress has been slow.
Chandler Rome of The Athletic poured cold water on speculation of an imminent trade.
Rome reported that âno deal is believed to be close.â
âThe Boston Red Sox are among multiple teams interested in Paredes, according to multiple league sources,â Rome wrote.
âNo deal is believed to be close â and [Dana Brown] did not address Paredesâ availability on Saturday.â
âBut Brownâs desire for balance only amplifies a potential fit between Boston and Houston.â
That final line is the most intriguing.
Houstonâs lineup skews heavily right-handed.
Bostonâs roster features an abundance of left-handed hitters.
On paper, the two organizations appear naturally aligned for a trade.
The lack of momentum is not ideal.
But it is not fatal.
There is still time.
The Bigger Picture in Boston
The Red Sox are not desperate.
But they are unfinished.
Losing Alex Bregman removed a stabilizing presence from the lineup.
Replacing that production with internal options alone is a risky proposition.
Boston has shown a willingness to be aggressive when the right opportunity presents itself.
However, the front office has also demonstrated restraint when valuations do not align.
That balance is being tested now.
The fanbase understandably wants resolution.
Uncertainty is uncomfortable, particularly with Spring Training looming.
Yet the market itself is constricted.
Most teams have finalized their rosters.
Sellers hold leverage.
In that environment, patience can sometimes be the smarter play.
But patience must eventually give way to action.
Hope, If Not Certainty
The fact that no deal is close is not the news fans want to hear.
But it is not entirely discouraging either.
The acknowledgment of mutual fit between Boston and Houston keeps the door open.
Negotiations can accelerate quickly when deadlines approach.
As pitchers and catchers prepare to report, urgency will increase across the league.
Front offices will reassess priorities.
Prices may soften.
If Boston is going to land one more bat, it will likely happen soon.
Isaac Paredes remains firmly on the radar.
He is not perfect.
But in a market defined by imperfections, he may be the best option available.
For now, Red Sox fans are left with cautious optimism.
There is hope.
There is logic.
There is time.
Whether that time leads to a deal remains the final unanswered question of Bostonâs offseason.
