Yankees Should Be Laughing at Red Sox's $58 Million Move

The New York Yankees should definitely be having a good laugh over what the Boston Red Sox just did.

In one of the first major moves of MLB free agency, the Red Sox have signed first baseman Jake Bauers to a four-year, $58 million contract in an attempt to bolster their shaky lineup for next season.

Willson Contreras served as Boston's first baseman in 2026, so Contreras and Bauers will probably spend time alternating at first base and designated hitter, the latter of which should also include Mickey Gasper in the rotation.

Let me just say that this is a considerable overpay by the Red Sox.

I get it: Bauers just had a really good year with the Milwaukee Brewers and played a significant role in their World Series run, slashing .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs and 86 RBI over 578 plate appearances.

But he is also 31 years old with a lifetime .717 OPS since entering the big leagues in 2018.

Yes, some players are very late bloomers, but are we supposed to believe that Bauers suddenly found the secret sauce nearly a decade into his career which has now spanned six teams (including the Yankees in 2023)?

Bauers' peripherals did look pretty good this past season, as he posted a 13.9 percent barrel rate, a 51.9 percent hard-hit rate and and average exit velocity of 92.7 mph.

I also really like Bauers' walk rate, which has always been good (career 12.6 percent).

But he owns a lifetime .391 slugging percentage, and even in 2025 when he showed signs of progression with the Brewers, he slugged .399.

Maybe his 2026 breakout was real, but I'm very skeptical. And it's also worth noting that Bauers is a terrible defensive first baseman, and while he is also capable of playing outfield, he isn't good there, either.

Of course, if Bauers continues his rise, he will represent a terrific pickup for the Red Sox, who are in desperate need of offense. But I think it's comical that Boston gave up on Rafael Devers in 2025 only to fall back on the clearly inferior Bauers a year-and-a-half later.

The Yankees definitely shouldn't be sweating this move by the Red Sox, but they also should get moving themselves.

New York has some holes to fill in its own right, and with the lockout looming, the Yankees may need to act quickly before the top free agents all get scooped up.