The Boston Red Sox could pursue free-agent outfielder Seiya Suzuki this offseason to add right-handed power and create more lineup flexibility around their young core.
Suzuki finished the 2026 season with a .270 batting average, .368 on-base percentage and .473 slugging percentage. He hit 26 home runs and drove in 86 runs in 143 games for the Chicago Cubs, according to Baseball Savant.
Those numbers give Boston a clear offensive target. He also logged 111 games in right field and roughly 30 as the designated hitter, per FanGraphs playing-time data.
That split could matter when planning around Roman Anthony. The 22-year-old played only 55 games last season because of a hand injury and posted a .245 average with five home runs and a .735 OPS.
Wilyer Abreu handled the bulk of right-field duty for Boston and delivered a strong year of his own. He hit .248 with 24 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .773 OPS while posting elite defensive numbers.
Abreu’s 28 defensive runs saved ranked among the highest marks in the majors, according to Fielding Bible data. His presence already gives the Red Sox a reliable glove in Fenway’s difficult right field.
Bringing in a player who has recent experience in both the outfield and at designated hitter would give the club more ways to rotate Anthony without forcing Abreu into a reduced role every day.
Suzuki’s defense took a clear step forward in 2026. He recorded +5 outs above average, +8 fielding run value and +14 defensive runs saved, reversing the negative marks from earlier seasons.
At 32, contract length remains a key question. A multi-year deal could look less attractive if more of his playing time shifts toward designated hitter as he ages and his range declines.
Boston already lists Anthony, Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran among its outfield options. Any addition would require the front office to decide whether to keep that group intact or move one piece.
A signing would help most if it improved the lineup’s choices across a full week rather than creating the same tough decisions game after game. Simply adding another bat does not automatically create extra plate appearances.
Fenway Park can boost right-handed power, yet Suzuki’s production would still depend on health, daily matchups and workload. Park factors alone do not guarantee a career year.
Suzuki is entering free agency after the final season of a five-year, $85 million contract with the Cubs. He is expected to receive a qualifying offer of approximately $23.15 million and is widely projected to reject it in favor of a longer deal.
Boston has not confirmed interest or opened formal talks. The combination of power production and positional flexibility simply puts his name on the early evaluation list.
The club’s approach would start with identifying available at-bats, setting a realistic defensive workload and deciding what that combined role is worth before any bidding starts.
Any plan would also need to protect Abreu’s defensive value in right field while keeping Anthony’s long-term role as a centerpiece intact.
