This past season was very productive for the Blue Jays and Sox. After winning just 74 games and finishing dead last in the division, Toronto was the American League champion and was just outs away from dethroning the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Red Sox traded away their top star, Rafael Devers, early in the season and were better for it. They finished with 89 wins, showed growth as a team, and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Both teams will be playoff contenders again in 2026, but if they lose a couple of key players in MLB free agency this winter, it will severely damage those hopes. Both third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Bo Bichette are important parts of both clubs, and they will get a lot of interest on the open market — for different reasons.
Jorge Polanco on Red Sox and Blue Jays radar?
Boston and Toronto have the money to bring them back, but based on the other suitors in the chase, the asking price could get to levels they are uncomfortable matching. So they must prepare for the possibility of losing Bregman and Bichette and have replacement options in mind. Well, on Tuesday, The Athletic’s MLB insiders Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon pointed to one player who will likely be at the top of both clubs’ wish list.
“Jorge Polanco, according to major-league sources, wants to play out the market,” they report. “The Boston Red Sox might want him if they lose third baseman Alex Bregman, the Toronto Blue Jays might if they lose Bo Bichette. And those are just two possibilities.”
The Seattle Mariners star had a big bounce-back season in 2025. After a bad season a year ago where many thought the 32-year-old was in a steep decline, he smashed 26 homers and 78 RBIs and posted a slashline of .265/.326/.495/.821. He is a decent defender, but he is versatile and can play multiple positions on the infield.
