After finishing a .500 season at 81-81, the Boston Red Sox are hoping that a successful offseason will help them reach the postseason for the second time since 2018. The team already has a solid core, but strengthening around it will be key to their success. While it’s unlikely they’ll be major players in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Red Sox don’t have much excuse left not to spend big after holding back in recent years despite being a big-market team. Recently, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand linked them to Teoscar Hernández, one of the top outfielders available.

The Red Sox’s interest in Hernández isn’t new, as they were reportedly after him last offseason before he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Given their need for right-handed bats and Hernández’s solid track record at Fenway Park, adding him would make perfect sense. It’s a move that should be a priority for the Red Sox, and if they do sign him, it would be a tough blow to the Toronto Blue Jays.

For the Blue Jays, trading Hernández to the Seattle Mariners for Erik Swanson and others seemed like a reasonable move at the time, especially since Hernández was set to be a free agent. While Swanson initially had a strong 2023, his poor 2024 season has made the trade look worse in hindsight. Meanwhile, Hernández went on to sign a one-year deal with the Dodgers and posted career-best numbers, including 33 home runs and 84 runs scored, earning his second All-Star selection. He played a crucial role for the eventual World Series champions.

If the Blue Jays want to recover from their disappointing 2024 season, signing a player like Hernández could help, provided he’s willing to return to Toronto. But if he ends up with the Red Sox, their AL East rivals who have already seen him perform well at Fenway Park, it would be a painful blow. It would sting even more to watch Hernández excel against them for years to come in their division. If he doesn’t come back to Toronto, Blue Jays fans can at least hope he stays out of the AL East.