The Milwaukee Brewers ended the Los Angeles Dodgers' quest for a three-peat, completing a sweep of the defending back-to-back World Series Champion Dodgers in the National League Championship Series with a 6-4 win on Thursday night. The Brewers were powered by an impressive performance from first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers, who was named NLCS Most Valuable. Could Bauers, set to become a free agent at the end of the year, be the power source the Boston Red Sox desperately need? 

A 2013 seventh-round pick of the San Diego Padres, Bauers spent the first three seasons of his major league career between the Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians, and Seattle Mariners, where he hit .213/.307/.348/.655 with 27 home runs in 328 games. After spending the start of the 2022 season with the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A affiliate in Louisville, Bauers' contract was purchased by the New York Yankees. Despite the Yankees purchasing his contract, Bauers spent all of 2022 in the minor leagues. When he returned to the majors in 2023, his struggles at the plate continued: he hit .202/.279/.413/.693 with 12 home runs in 84 games for New York. 

Ahead of the 2024 season, Bauers was traded to Milwaukee, where he posted a slash line of .199/.301/.361/.662 with 12 home runs in 116 games. The disappointing season led Bauers to consider retirement. However, he returned to Milwaukee after his wife found out she was pregnant and his family needed health insurance. 

Then, at 29, Bauers began to turn his career around in 2025, posting what was, at the time, a career year with a .235/.353/.399/.752 in 85 games. He was able to build off that strong season in 2026, hitting .266/.389/.484/.874 with a team-leading 26 home runs, 22 doubles, and also driving in 86 runs in 144 games.

After the best regular season of his career, the 30-year-old left-hander became a legend in Milwaukee as the Brewers punched their ticket to the second World Series in franchise history, hitting .286/.412/.571/.983 in the sweep of the Dodgers. His series was highlighted by an 11-pitch at-bat in the top of the seventh inning of Wednesday's Game 3 that ended in a go-ahead two-run home run. In eight postseason games, Bauer is hitting .269/.441/.423/.864 with one home run, one double, and six RBI.

While the 30-year-old has certainly made a lot of money with his postseason performance, he still isn't one of the premier bats heading to the free-agent market. If the Red Sox aren't willing to shell out the dollars or years needed to land a bigger-name bat, Bauers could fall into a secondary tier of names that could interest Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. 

Under Breslow, the Red Sox have shown a tendency to gamble on late-blooming players who break out. Most recently, they acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals after the 25-year-old broke out in his fourth major league season. 

Like Mead, Bauers' under-the-hood metrics suggest his breakout is sustainable, including quality-of-contact metrics that rank among the best in baseball. Bauers ranks in the 90th percentile or higher in average exit velocity (92.1 mph, 91st percentile), barrel percentage (14 percent, 92nd percentile), and hard-hit rate (51.9 percent, 94th percentile). In addition to strong contact metrics, Bauers also has impressive bat speed, which the Red Sox have coveted under Breslow, and an ability to hit the ball in the air to the opposite field, which would play well at Fenway Park with the Green Monster in left field. 

Defensively, Bauers can play corner outfield and first base, with left field being his strongest position, posting 2 defensive runs saved in 87 innings in 2026. However, he's much better suited as a designated hitter, though he can still fill in at left field or first as needed. 

According to Spotrac's MLB Market Value calculations, Bauers could be in line for a four-year, $57.8 million deal. A strong World Series performance could raise his value further. Regardless, the 30-year-old slugger should be on the Red Sox radar as the offseason approaches. 

Looking for more on the Red Sox needs heading into the offseason? Zach Coe and David Azer are back on the 'Entering Kenmore' Podcast discussing how close Boston is to winning a World Series, whether the 2026 season was a success, and if fans should have faith in Craig Breslow's ability to build a World Series contender. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts, or in the YouTube player below: