Red Sox Evaluate Japanese Sluggers, Pursue Nationals Lefty Gore

The Boston Red Sox are actively seeking to strengthen their roster ahead of the 2026 season with a focus on both power hitters and pitching. They are eyeing Japanese sluggers Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami, both prolific power-hitting corner infielders expected to post and join MLB soon, with Murakami noted for his impressive home run numbers despite limited games in 2025. On the pitching front, the Sox are linked to Washington Nationals' lefty MacKenzie Gore, leveraging the Nationals' recent hire of former Red Sox assistant GM Paul Toboni to gain an advantage in potential trade talks. Additionally, the team is considering reuniting with free agents Rob Refsnyder, Steven Matz, and Justin Wilson, all of whom had strong performances and may return on short-term deals. The Red Sox also boast a promising batch of prospects from the 2025 draft, including hitters like Henry Godbout and power hitter Mason White, alongside pitchers like Christian Foutch and Jacob Mayers. Finally, seven Red Sox prospects are poised to make their MLB debuts in 2026, with notable candidates including right-handed pitchers Luis Perales and David Sandlin, both expected to contribute significantly to the pitching staff.