The Boston Red Sox have been active this offseason, but activity alone does not equal completeness.
Despite several notable transactions, one glaring weakness remains unresolved as the 2026 season approaches.
Third base.
Boston made waves earlier in the winter by trading for Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals.
They followed that move by acquiring veteran pitcher Sonny Gray in a separate deal with the same organization.
The most impactful signing came when the Red Sox landed left-hander Ranger Suárez away from the Philadelphia Phillies.
As a result, Boston’s rotation now looks deeper and more formidable than it has in years.
With Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suárez, Brayan Bello, and Sonny Gray anchoring the staff, the Red Sox finally appear capable of matching up with elite pitching across the American League.
But pitching alone does not win championships.
While the rotation has been fortified, the infield tells a far more troubling story.
The Red Sox head into 2026 with a massive void at third base.
That void did not appear overnight.
It is the result of a series of miscalculations that continue to haunt the organization.
Less than a year ago, Boston had both Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman under contract.
Now, they have neither.
The Red Sox believed Bregman would deliver elite defense, veteran leadership, and a right-handed swing tailor-made for Fenway Park.
On the field, that belief proved largely correct.
Bregman performed as advertised, with the lone exception being a quad injury that sidelined him for nearly a quarter of the season.
However, after the season ended, Bregman opted out of his contract.
He quickly signed a new deal with the Chicago Cubs.
Boston was left empty-handed.
The Devers situation was even more damaging.
The Red Sox assumed Devers would seamlessly transition to designated hitter.
They advised him to, in their words, “throw your glove away.”
General manager Craig Breslow either underestimated or ignored the impact of that message.
In doing so, Boston alienated its best player.
What followed was a public and private breakdown in trust.
The situation escalated further when Devers refused to play first base after an injury to the struggling Triston Casas.
Owner John Henry personally attempted to smooth things over.
His intervention failed.
Ultimately, the Red Sox traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants.
The return was widely viewed as underwhelming.
Boston had gone from having two elite third basemen to having none.
Why Eugenio Suárez Fits Boston’s Immediate Needs
As the 2026 season looms, the solution is clear.
The Red Sox must pursue free agent Eugenio Suárez.
Boston needs right-handed power.
Boston needs stability at third base.
Boston needs a veteran who can handle pressure, expectations, and Fenway Park.
Suárez checks all three boxes.
Suárez is 34 years old, but his bat remains as dangerous as ever.
Last season, split between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners, he blasted a combined 49 home runs.
That total alone would instantly reshape Boston’s lineup.
Earlier in his career, Suárez was a more balanced hitter, regularly batting between .250 and .280.
That version of Suárez is gone.
What remains is a pure, all-or-nothing slugger.
In 2025, Suárez slashed .228/.298/.526.
He drove in 118 runs.
He also struck out 196 times.
In 2023, he struck out 214 times.
For some teams, that profile is unappealing.
For Boston, it is intriguing.
The Red Sox front office is heavily analytics-driven.
They value power, run creation, and lineup impact.
A player capable of hitting 40-plus home runs at Fenway Park is hard to ignore.
Suárez has also demonstrated an ability to handle Boston’s unique environment.
In 44 career plate appearances at Fenway Park, he has hit .425.
He has launched four home runs.
He has driven in 14 runs.
The sample size is small.
But the results are impossible to dismiss.
Defensively, Suárez is solid.
He is not elite like Bregman was.
But he is far more reliable at third base than Devers ever proved to be.
The Internal Alternative and Its Risks
If Boston does not sign Suárez, the responsibility will likely fall to Marcelo Mayer.
Mayer is just 22 years old.
He flashed excellent defense and promising offensive potential last season before suffering an injury.
The talent is real.
The upside is enticing.
The experience is not.
Relying on Mayer as the primary third baseman would be a gamble.
For a team attempting to contend, that gamble may be too large.
Other Teams That Should Pursue Suárez
Boston is not alone in its interest.
Two other organizations stand out as logical fits for Suárez.
The Seattle Mariners saw firsthand what Suárez can provide.
After acquiring him at the trade deadline, Seattle got exactly what it expected.
In 53 games, Suárez hit 13 home runs and drove in 31 runs.
However, his slash line raised concerns.
He batted .189/.255/.428.
He struck out 79 times in 220 plate appearances.
Despite those numbers, Suárez delivered when it mattered most.
In the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he slashed .308/.379/.577.
He added two home runs and seven RBI.
That postseason performance reinforced his value as a big-moment hitter.
The Pittsburgh Pirates also make sense as a dark-horse suitor.
The Pirates rarely engage in free-agent bidding wars.
But this offseason has been different.
They have already added Brandon Lowe via trade.
They signed Ryan O’Hearn in free agency.
With a young, talented pitching staff in place, Pittsburgh could surprise in 2026.
Adding a power bat like Suárez would significantly elevate that ceiling.
Final Assessment
The Red Sox cannot enter the 2026 season without addressing third base.
They have already paid the price for mismanagement at the position.
They cannot afford to repeat that mistake.
Eugenio Suárez is not perfect.
He strikes out too much.
He is on the wrong side of 30.
But he offers exactly what Boston needs right now.
Power.
Experience.
Stability.
If the Red Sox are serious about contending in 2026, pursuing Suárez is not optional.
It is necessary.
And if Boston hesitates, other teams will not.
