The Boston Red Sox made the first big splash of the offseason on Friday, signing first baseman Jake Bauers to a four-year, $58 million just a couple of weeks after the former journeyman helped the Milwaukee Brewers win the World Series.
For the 31-year-old Bauers, it’s rare job security. As was so often repeated during the Brewers’ run past the Padres, Dodgers and Rays, Bauers nearly retired after the 2024 season. He hit .199 that year, his first in Milwaukee after stints with the Rays, Guardians, Mariners and Yankees. Bauers ended up re-signing with the Brewers and taking a step forward in a part-time role, posting a career-best .752 OPS in 85 games. Last season, he took advantage of early injuries to Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn to carve a bigger role for himself, and he went on to hit .266/.389/.484 with 26 homers in 144 games. That OBP ranked third in the majors, trailing only Yordan Alvarez at .432 and TJ Rumfield at .390. Bauers was credited with 3.3 bWAR after having come in at -1.0 in his previous six big-league seasons.
Every pitch from that UNREAL Jake Bauers at-bat 😤
— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2026
11 pitches. One unforgettable moment. pic.twitter.com/QpDMUMMPFP
That lack of prior success would seem to make Bauers a risky signing for Boston, especially on a four-year deal. However, in exchange for the security, Bauers did settle for a lesser salary than he would have gotten on a shorter deal. He could have made $23.15 million next season had he simply accepted the Brewers’ qualifying offer. As is, he’ll average $14.5 million per year. And while Bauers doesn’t have a lengthy track record of success, it’s not hard to see why a team would want to bet on him showing some staying power.
Bauers has always displayed terrific bat speed, which is why teams kept giving him chances even though his production hardly seemed to warrant it, and things finally clicked after he opened his batting stance.
The simplest way to squeeze Bauers into Boston’s lineup will be at DH, but he can alternate some with Willson Contreras at first base and he might spend some time patrolling the Green Monster in left field if Roman Anthony continues to struggle to stay healthy. Bauers was limited to first base by foot problems during the latter portion of last season, but he started 40 games in the outfield before that became an issue.
Bauers’ arrival would seem to spell the end of Jarren Duran‘s time in Boston. The writing was on the wall there already, as his play fell off for a second straight season after his big 2024, when he led the AL in doubles and triples on his way to finishing eighth in the MVP balloting. He has two years left of arbitration eligibility, but since he’s due $9 million or so next year, the Red Sox won’t be expecting a big return.
This also leaves very little room for Masataka Yoshida or Triston Casas to bounce back and make an impact on the 2027 Red Sox. Yoshida, entering the final season of his five-year, $90 million deal, was solid when healthy last season, hitting .274/.347/.399 in 87 games. The Red Sox, though, would have to pick up most of his salary in order to trade him. Casas, who was supposed to be Boston’s long-term first baseman before being sidetracked by injuries, might draw interest from rebuilding clubs.
The Brewers will miss Bauers, but they do still have Vaughn at first base, and he’s hit .306/.384/.466 in 168 games since he was picked up from the White Sox in June 2025. The Brewers could go hunting for a lefty complement there or perhaps rely on longtime prospect Tyler Black, who is now out of options. They also have prospects Blake Burke and Luke Adams waiting in the wings.
