8 gamers Crimson Sox might goal after shedding Devers’ contract

The Crimson Sox now have over $250 million coming off the books after buying and selling Devers.

Dylan Stop may very well be an interesting free-agent goal for the Crimson Sox. AP Photograph/Tony Ding

The Crimson Sox’s lineup took a success final weekend when Boston made the choice to commerce star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.

However although the return by San Francisco could not essentially impress Crimson Sox followers, Boston now does have some added flexibility shifting ahead if it intends so as to add to the roster.

As a part of the Devers’ deal, the Giants are taking up the whole thing of Devers’ 10-year, $313.5 million extension — which now equates to $254 million at this stage of his contract.

These financial savings of roughly $27-31 million a 12 months by means of 2033 might give Boston the liberty to reinvest that money elsewhere throughout the roster — be it throughout the upcoming MLB commerce deadline or free company.

Listed below are eight gamers Crimson Sox followers ought to be keyed in on this 12 months if Boston opts to allocate that cash instantly.

Kyle Tucker, RF, Chicago Cubs

At first look, Tucker doesn’t precisely look like a super offseason goal for Boston.

Tucker would undoubtedly add to the glut of outfield choices that the Crimson Sox are already coping with between Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela.

And on the open market, it’s all however a lock that Tucker will earn a contract will past the $313.5 million Devers secured from Boston in January 2023.

However Tucker can also be the perfect place participant obtainable this offseason, with the 28-year-old placing collectively an MVP-caliber season to this point with the Cubs. The three-time All-Star is at the moment batting .283 with Chicago and is at the moment on tempo for over 30 house runs, 95 RBI, and over 30 stolen bases.

Tucker could be a franchise fixture within the coronary heart of Boston’s lineup for the subsequent seven-plus years, whereas additionally giving the Crimson Sox the flexibleness to commerce an outfielder or two to handle wants elsewhere.

The New York Publish’s Jon Heyman listed Tucker as a possible match for the Crimson Sox earlier this week.

Dylan Stop, SP, San Diego Padres

The Crimson Sox have their ace in place with Garrett Crochet.

However Boston would considerably increase their viability as a high contender in the event that they add a reputable No. 2 possibility behind Crochet of their beginning rotation shifting ahead.

As such, it wouldn’t come as a lot of a shock if the Crimson Sox are one the groups prepared to throw the bag at Stop out on the open market this winter.

The 29-year-old righty has had a lackluster season to this point with San Diego (4.43 ERA) forward of his free-agent 12 months. However, Stop has been among the best starters in baseball for a gentle stretch, ending second in AL Cy Younger Award voting in 2022 with Chicago earlier than inserting fourth in NL Cy Younger voting in 2024 with San Diego.

Stop, who’s on tempo to strike out 232 batters over 185 innings of labor this season, has posted 200+ strikeouts every season since 2021.

He would match the invoice as an elite No. 2 for a group just like the Crimson Sox, however would Boston as soon as once more go towards the grain and provides an enormous contract to a starter who turns 30 on the finish of December?

Michael King, SP, San Diego Padres

King is older than Stop (turned 30 on Might 25) and doesn’t have the identical monitor file as his Padres teammate.

However King was cash in 2024 with San Diego, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts over 173.2 innings of labor. He was additionally sturdy out of the gate this season (4-2, 2.59 ERA) earlier than touchdown on the IL with a pinched nerve in Might.

It’s unclear if the Crimson Sox will prioritize signing an older righty in King who now has some damage issues this season. Granted, his price ticket additionally might not be as excessive as Stop now on the open market — even when his ceiling may be comparable.

Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

If the Crimson Sox are searching for methods to duplicate Devers’ pure pop on the plate, a slugger like Alonso makes loads of sense.

Alonso will seemingly choose out of his contract with New York this winter after teeing off towards pitching this season. He’s at the moment batting .293 and is on tempo for 38 house runs and a whopping 135 RBI with the Mets in 2025.

The 30-year-old righty may very well be a lock to swat 30-plus house runs over the Inexperienced Monster if he indicators with the Crimson Sox. And with Boston’s first-base scenario now in flux shifting ahead following Triston Casas’ knee damage, the Crimson Sox might safe for some stability (and confirmed manufacturing) there with an influence hitter like Alonso.

Josh Naylor, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

A less expensive different to Alonso, Naylor has established himself as one of many extra underrated hitters in baseball over the previous couple of seasons.

In 2023, he batted .308 with 17 house runs and 97 RBI with the Guardians, following that up with 31 house runs and 108 RBI in 2024 with Cleveland. To date in 2025 with Arizona, Naylor is batting .300 and is on tempo for 19 house runs and 104 RBI.

Even when his protection at first isn’t sturdy, the 28-year-old Naylor could be a robust addition to the lineup — particularly at an space of weak spot on the roster.

Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

One of many extra productive starters within the league over the previous couple of years, Gallen is having a season to neglect to this point in 2025 — going 5-8 with a 5.60 ERA throughout 16 begins to this point. The 29-year-old righty’s stroll price has additionally elevated this season, however he additionally has two top-five finishes for the NL Cy Younger in 2022 and 2023.

Gallen’s numbers may be trending within the improper course over the past two years, however he might additionally may very well be due for a change of surroundings after spending seven seasons with Arizona. Nonetheless, groups may be weary about giving him a large contract given these current tendencies.

Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies

If the Crimson Sox intend on including 30-40 homers to their lineup with out a lot trouble, giving Schwarber a contract this winter could be the perfect path ahead.

Letting Schwarber stroll after his transient stint with Boston in 2021 was a miscalculation, contemplating that the slugger has gone on to membership 154 house runs over his 4 seasons to this point with the Phillies. He’s on tempo for 48 house runs and 114 RBI this 12 months.

Schwarber may be a defensive legal responsibility, however the 32-year-old is a longtime veteran who would add some pop to Boston’s lineup.

Munetaka Murakami, 1B/3B, Tokyo Yakult Swallows (NPB)

All indicators level to this being the ultimate season in Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball for the 25-year-old Murakami — who has been one of many extra feared sluggers in that league for years now.

Over his eight-year profession in Japan, Murakami has hit 30 or extra house runs throughout 5 seasons — and set the NPB file in 2022 by hitting 56 house runs. Even when his stats dip in MLB, Murakami tasks as a 30-homer infielder who’s simply getting into his prime.

He may very well be a smart funding for a group just like the Crimson Sox in want of some energy in the course of their lineup, though anticipate different deep-pocketed groups just like the Yankees and Dodgers to be concerned within the bidding.