The Boston Red Sox have not been able to find a permanent answer at the second base position since a serious knee injury effectively cut short Dustin Pedroia’s career in 2017. Pedroia was arguably his way to a Hall of Fame career when he hurt his knee in April of that year. He played 105 games in 2017 anyway, but just three the following year and six in 2019 before making his retirement official in 2021. Since then, the Red Sox have seen a carousel of players take the second base slot. Now, however, free agent Alex Bregman, who won a Gold Glove at third base for the Houston Astros and has publicly expressed that he is open to moving to second, remains available on the market. And yet the Red Sox have not made a significant effort to sign him, at least not one that has been reported.

On Tuesday, USA Today baseball columnist Bob Nightengale suggested a possible reason why the Boston front office has been “hesitant” to commit to Bregman at what is believed to be a price tag of $200 million. The Red Sox may be playing a long game, believing that they can get their hands on an even bigger, but considerably more expensive, prize – if they can just wait one year. According to Nightengale, Toronto Blue Jays four-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may have his sights set on joining the Red Sox after the 2025 season.

“If Guerrero doesn’t receive an extension by spring training, he’ll test free agency,” Nightengale wrote. “He would love to be with the Red Sox, friends say, which may be why the Red Sox are hesitant in their pursuit of Bregman.” More MLB: Red Sox ‘Favorite’ to Nab Nolan Arenado If Triston Casas Also Dealt, Per Report Guerrero is believed to be seeking a deal worth at least $450 million.

Red Sox beat reporter Chris Cotillo of the Boston-area media group MassLive added that “There would seem to be mutual interest” between Guerrero Jr. and the Boston organization and that Guerrero – the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero who played half of his 16-year career in Canada with the former Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) – may indeed be available to the Red Sox in a year, “But a lot can change in that time.”

One thing is certain. Guerrero Jr. enjoys hitting in Fenway Park. His OPS there of 1.054 is higher than in any other American League ballpark outside of his home field in Toronto. His 10 home runs at Fenway are more than he has hit in any other away park except for Yankee Stadium where he has belted 14.