The Red Sox spent the entire offseason looking for an answer in the middle of the order. The one question going into it was “Are they going to spend?” While they spent $130M on pitcher Ranger Suarez, they failed to spend on a bat, choosing to go the trade route, adding the likes of Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras. Despite the rumors of being interested in many of the big free agent bats available, the Red Sox were unable to come away with one. Today, we take a look at how those Red Sox offseason targets are doing so far this season.
How the Red Sox Missed Offseason Targets are Doing in 2026
Alex Bregman
The Red Sox were tasked immediately with trying to keep one of their own bats after the 2025 season when Alex Bregman opted out after the first year of his three-year $120 million deal. In his first season with Boston, Bregman was as advertised, hitting .273 on the year with a .360 on-base percentage to go along with 18 home runs in 114 games, and a much-needed upgrade to the third base position defensively.
Bregman was at the top of the Red Sox’s offseason targets, with early rumors stating they were close on the finances and years, but Boston refused to give Bregman the no-trade clause he was looking for. Bregman would later sign a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, including a full no-trade clause.
So far in 2026 it seems the Red Sox may have been wise to look a different direction instead of coughing up $35 million per season. In 60 games with the Cubs, Bregman is hitting .255 with a .336 on-base percentage, along with five home runs. The numbers are far down from his one year in Boston. Bregman also hasn’t been the slugging bat the Red Sox need. This season, Bregman is slugging just .358, which is well below his 2025 season with the Red Sox, when he slugged .462 on the year. Though the defense is still there, it doesn’t seem Bregman is living up to his contract so far in his first of five seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso was every Red Sox fan’s dream. A middle-of-the-order power bat who has hit 34 or more home runs every season of his career, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020. Alonso is one of the league’s elite power hitters, slugging over .500 in five of his eight big league seasons.
Alonso was coming off a year with the Mets in which he hit .272 with a .524 slugging percentage, hitting 38 home runs and driving in 126 runs. Everyone knew that if the Red Sox were going to be in on Alonso, it would cost them a pretty penny, but it was an upgrade the Red Sox have needed for quite some time.
Not only did the Red Sox not sign Pete Alonso, but they lost him to their American League East rival, the Baltimore Orioles. Alonso and the Orioles would agree to a five-year deal worth $155 million, making Alonso the highest-paid first baseman in MLB history in per-year value.
This season with Baltimore, Alonso has statistically had the worst season of his career, but he has still posted 12 home runs with the slugging potential the Red Sox need. Despite the slow start to the season, Alonso has picked it up as of late. Over the last 30 games, Alonso is hitting .284 with a .534 slugging percentage, along with eight home runs, proving he is still an elite bat.
Bo Bichette
Bo Bichette was not originally on the list of Red Sox offseason targets. After losing out on the likes of Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso, the Red Sox were looking to do anything they could to fill the void in this lineup.
Bichette was coming off arguably the best season of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2025, Bichette hit .311 with a .357 on-base and a .483 slugging percentage, swatting 18 home runs on the way to an American League Championship and a World Series appearance.
The Mets signed Bichette to a massive three-year deal worth $126 million. Bichette, like Bregman, also has a no-trade clause, giving him full control over his guaranteed deal. The Mets would also agree to forfeit their second and fifth highest draft picks after Bichette was offered a qualifying deal with the Blue Jays that he rejected.
The deal so far for the Mets has been a total nightmare. Bichette has been the worst hitter on the Mets this season, posting an OPS of just .570. Things do not appear to be getting any better for Bichette offensively. Over his last 30 games, he is batting just .195 with three home runs, proving to be one of the league’s worst hitters, all while getting paid $42 million per season.
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
