The Boston Red Sox lost Alex Bregman in free agency, but did manage to add a great bat in Willson Contreras.
Contreras was not the only bat the Red Sox pursued in the offseason. They reportedly went after Pete Alonso, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles on a five-year, $155 million deal. The Red Sox reportedly offered him fewer years and significantly less money.
The team likely had concerns about committing that much money to Alonso at age 31, fearing his power numbers would decline and he would not be able to maintain hitting for a high average. Contreras was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals and has had a career year. Looking back, it's worth asking if the team made the right move.
Contreras is making nearly $5 million less than Alonso, but is older and was acquired with three seasons of club control. Long-term, Alonso may be the better option, but Contreras has had the better year this year. Contreras has a higher bWAR, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
Alonso does have three more homers, but has played in 15 more games.
Alonso has not had a bad year by any means, and the Red Sox, in hindsight, may have been wrong to worry about how he would age. He is hitting .267, which is not far off from his career high. He has played in every game and has maintained strong home run numbers in a more difficult venue for right-handed hitters to hit homers.
All in all, the Red Sox got something in Contreras that perhaps they could not have in Alonso, which is an a fiery competitor and leader. The Red Sox needed a personality like that in their clubhouse, and it's hard to imagine them salvaging their season the way they have without Contreras' leadership.