Entering the offseasonRed Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and CEO Sam Kennedy said they “intend to be aggressive” in taking action this winter because they have a “burning urgency to return to the postseason “. Breslow reaffirmed his commitment to this position when he met with reporters at the general manager’s meetings.

“I think we have to do it,” Breslow said The Boston Globeby Alex Speier when asked if the team would pursue a pitcher at the top of the rotation. “We have ambitious goals. We know we need to raise the rotation ceiling. I think there are many ways to do this, but we’re going to be really, really open-minded.

Of course, the Red Sox front office shared a similar sentiment last offseason. President Tom Werner told reporters the team intends to go “full throttle” during the free agency period.

Boston, as it turns out, had a relatively light offseason when it came to spending. Lucas Giolio’s two-year, $38.5 million contract was the largest contract the Red Sox have given to a free agent, with the team’s payroll totaling $190 million (by Spotrac), which is several million less than the luxury tax threshold of $237 million.

Breslow, however, has repeatedly insisted that the team needs to be more aggressive in improving the big league roster this offseason, believing he is in a better position to do so this winter as he enters his second season at his post.

“I think (this offseason) is different. I think it should be different. I know a lot more about the organization,” Breslow told Speier. “Being better informed allows us to make better decisions. »

Boras represents several of the top free agents on the market this winter. Most notable is Juan Soto, who Boston is said to be involved with. He also represents first baseman Pete Alonso and third baseman Alex Bregman, with whom the Red Sox were linked early in free agency.

Additionally, Boras represents almost all of the top starting pitchers on the free agent market this offseason. Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, Sean Manaea and Yusei Kikuchi are all clients of Boras. Boston was assumed to be a fit for every pitcher because it needs a quality starting pitcher.

Obviously, the Red Sox can pursue non-Boras clients as well. All-Star Max Fried is among the free agent pitchers the Red Sox are ‘interested in’, according to the New York Postby Jon Heyman. Meanwhile, the Red Sox would also show interest at outfielder Teoscar Hernández again.

Boston could be looking for a major addition to the roster via trade. White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet appears to be the top name on the trade market this offseason, with the Red Sox also linked to him.