The Boston Red Sox have swung and missed so far in free agency.
They pursued Pete Alonso. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles. They wanted Alex Bregman back. He signed with the Chicago Cubs.
Their remaining target appears to be Bo Bichette, the shortstop from the Toronto Blue Jays who would likely play third base if he came to Boston, essentially replacing Bregman.
But it won't be easy to get Bichette. He still has plenty of suitors, including the recently arrived-at-the-scene Phillies.
He's also going to cost the Red Sox a hefty price.
Boston is believed to have offered Bregman about $160 million, and he ended up signing with the Cubs for $175 million.
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Now that that price is set, Bichette can ask for even more.
And it'll be a tough ladder for the Red Sox to climb after not quite doing enough for Bregman.
"For now, Marcelo Mayer, a heralded prospect plagued by injuries, is projected to start at third base," writes ESPN's Jorge Castillo in a new article on Tuesday. "That could change if the Red Sox land Bo Bichette, who likely will require a longer, more expensive contract than the one they offered Bregman."
Bregman's $175 million from the Cubs is a five-year deal that also includes deferrals.
The suggestion of Castillo is that Bichette could get more years and seemingly stretch past $200 million in total value.
Boston can't afford to keep missing on its big free agent targets. But the Red Sox also have to figure out how to actually afford Bichette, or they'll whiff again.
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