We were told one of the Boston Red Sox's top offseason priorities was to add a true power bat to the lineup. Alongside a legitimate No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet, there was no bigger need.
Two options that were head-and-shoulders above the rest existed: Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso. Snagging Schwarber for a second tour of duty in Boston might have delighted fans, but the positional fit was questionable. While the Red Sox gave him some run at first base once before, it didn't work out well, and despite being a massive upgrade over Masataka Yoshida, the latter's inability to play the field and negative trade value made it hard to envision how the pieces could fit.