After reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the Boston Red Sox appear to be on the verge of taking a big step in the American League hierarchy in 2026.

That said, they do have questions in front of them.

Will Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer stay healthy - and contribute - for an entire season? Will Jarren Duran still be on the roster come Opening Day? Can the Sox find another elite pitcher to pair with Garrett Crochet?

And what happens with their third base situation?

The Alex Bregman question

Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million contract before the 2025 season, but each of the first two years contained an opt-out that he's expected to take.

The Red Sox would like to have him back for many reasons, and it's a great possibility that he returns to Boston, but he will have plenty of suitors, even at the age of 31 (32 in March).

He hit .273 with 18 homers, 62 RBIs and a .360 on-base percentage, posting an OPS+ of 128. He's also a great clubhouse presence.

However, if he doesn't return to Boston, what are the other options?

Eugenio Suarez

Now 34, and turning 35 in July, Suarez is older, and therefore cheaper than Bregman. He also comes with more raw power, hitting 49 home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. He's extremely streaky, but when he's hot, he's very hot. His 118 RBIs would pair well with Anthony, Duran, Carlos Narvaez and Wilyer Abreu in the middle of the order, and he could really wear out the Green Monster in left field.

He is no longer great defensively, but his offense should more than make up for it.

What the experts are saying

Red Sox Insider Tom Caron was a recent guest on our sister Mariners sites 'Refuse to Lose' podcast, and had this to say about the fit and interest level:

I ​think ​there's ​definitely ​interest. ​Again, ​Bregman ​is ​option ​A, ​I ​think ​for ​this ​team. ​He ​meant ​a ​lot ​to ​the ​clubhouse. ​If ​it's ​not ​Bregman, ​I ​think ​Suarez ​is ​a ​little ​bit ​down ​the ​list ​of ​priorities ​like ​that. ​Pete ​Alonso ​is ​a ​guy ​who ​makes ​a ​lot ​of ​sense ​in ​Boston. ​Right-​hand ​power, ​obviously ​could ​play ​first ​base, ​be ​a ​DH ​​and ​has ​kind ​of ​quietly ​said ​he ​really ​likes ​Fenway ​and ​likes ​Boston. ​​Kyle ​Tucker ​is ​a ​guy ​who ​I've ​heard ​a ​lot ​about ​as ​a ​guy ​who ​can ​be ​more ​of ​a ​a ​base-hit, ​average ​type ​of ​hitter. ​Bo Bichette is ​a ​really ​interesting ​name. If ​you're ​going ​to ​lose ​Bregman, ​Bo Bichette ​comes ​in ​as ​a ​guy ​who ​can ​be ​around ​for ​a ​while. ​Younger. ​Obviously ​going ​to ​cost ​you ​a ​lot ​of ​money...So ​I ​think ​Suarez ​is ​in ​the ​mix. ​I ​just ​don't ​think ​he's ​at ​the ​top ​of ​the ​list.

You can listen to the full commentary in the player below:

Will the Jays Change Mariners Offense + Bo Bichette Thoughts + How the M's Can Turn Heartbreak into Happiness Refuse to Lose - a Seattle Mariners Podcast · Episode

Another option

Another option is just playing Mayer at third and Campbell at second, though that's putting an awful lot of stock in a pair of players who didn't have much playing time at the big-league level in 2025.

Related Red Sox stories

TWO NAMES to WATCH: As the Red Sox look for that pitcher to pair with Garrett Crochet, Lou Merloni has an idea on who they could go after. CLICK HERE: 

OFFENSIVE NEED: As the Red Sox build out their offense in 2026, what kind of qualities should they prioritize? CLICK HERE: 

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