I don't want him back at the price he's going to be asking. He was already an overpay, though one that made sense for a team in need of veteran leadership and in desperate need of a player to pair with.....
< cough > Rafael Devers < cough >
while waiting for Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer to develop into confident big leaguers.
Assuming Mayer returns, the Red Sox are set, or pretty much set, for 2026 at:
C
SS
3b
OF
even if they trade Duran away. The team needs to find someone for 1b and 2b, it needs another top 2 starting pitcher, and it needs another bullpen arm.
And, if it plays its cards right, and John Henry is finally willing to spend again, it can do the above, and still open up the space and finances needed to also add someone like Schwarber at DH by making moves involving the likes of Duran (as mentioned above), Yoshida, Hicks, etc...