Dec 9, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow speaks with the media at the Hilton Anatole during the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
In the spider web of infinite potential offseason outcomes for the Boston Red Sox, one thing is clear: They need a power bat.
Trevor Story led the Red Sox with 25 home runs this year, and while it was great to see a resurgence from the veteran shortstop, contending teams don’t lack 30-homer bats. The Red Sox also traded away Rafael Devers, who went on to finish the year with 35 blasts, in the middle of the season.
Regardless of what happens with Alex Bregman’s free agency, this offseason should be judged in large part by whether the Red Sox can lock up either Kyle Schwarber or Pete Alonso, two clear 40-homer threats. Will they get the job done?
On Monday, Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly predicted that the Red Sox would acquire Alonso, and projected a five-year, $145 million contract for the New York Mets’ five-time All-Star first baseman.
“At times last winter, it felt like Pete Alonso was more interested in the Mets than they were in him. Ultimately, he did return to Flushing on a two-year, $54 million deal with an opt-out clause after 2025,” wrote. “Alonso used that opt-out to return to the free-agent market, where he might not be inclined to be as patient with the Mets.
“Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is looking for a middle-of-the-order bat for manager Alex Cora’s lineup, and Alonso may be the missing piece for a Boston group already budding with young talent, particularly if they can’t pry Kyle Schwarber away from the Phillies.”
There would be so many questions left to answer if we knew right now that the Red Sox and Alonso were destined to wind up together. What would it mean for Bregman? Could it signify that the Sox were more inclined to trade for a No. 2 pitcher rather than signing one? And what about Triston Casas?
However, adding a guy who never gets hurt and has averaged 42 homers per 162 games in his career would be a huge difference-maker for the Red Sox, so under almost any circumstances, one would have to view it as a win for Breslow and the front office.
Sep 19, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. (56) throws during the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
To tender or not to tender, that is the question facing New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. According to CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson, Cashman has until Friday to tender contracts for the 2026 season to players not already under guaranteed deals.
On the other hand, Cashman can cut ties with those players and make them immediate free agents, which is likely to happen for several arbitration-eligible players.
That could include right-hander Mark Leiter Jr., who went 6-7 with a 4.84 ERA in 59 appearances last season for the Yankees.
“Leiter is a better pitcher than his bloated 4.84 ERA indicates. Need evidence? He ranked in the 92nd percentile in average exit velocity and he struck out roughly a quarter of the batters he faced,” Anderson notes.
“Unfortunately, that lead-in sentiment has applied for most of his career — and that’s not a good sign when you’re talking about a right-handed reliever nearing his age-35 campaign,” Anderson adds. “The Yankees are skilled enough at finding cheap relief arms that I think they part ways here. Prediction: Non-tendered.”
The Yankees acquired Leiter from the Chicago Cubs before the 2024 MLB trade deadline. He made six postseason appearances for New York over the last two seasons, going 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
Leiter, who went to high school in Toms River, N.J. and attended New Jersey Insititute of Technology, comes from a long line of Leiters to take a big-league mound.
His father, Mark Leiter, spent 11 seasons in the majors and pitched for the Yankees in 1990.
His uncle, Al Leiter, was a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, winning titles in 1993 with the Toronto Blue Jays and in 1997 with the Florida Marlins. Leiter made his MLB debut in 1987 with the Yankees and later pitched for the New York Mets from 1998 to 2004. Leiter finished his 19-year career with the Yankees in 2005.
Al Leiter’s son, Jack Leiter , currently is a starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers. Jack Leiter attended Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J. with current Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.
The Yankees selected Jack Leiter in the 20th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, but the right-hander opted to honor his commitment to Vanderbilt University. The Rangers selected Leiter with the No. 2 pick overall in 2021.
Leiter made his MLB debut in 2024 and became a rotation mainstay for Texas in 2025, going 10-10 with a 3.86 ERA in 29 starts.
As for Mark Leiter Jr., MLB Trade Rumors projects he will make $3 million if he goes to arbitration.