SAN DIEGO — While the Red Sox saw first baseman/designated hitter José Abreu as a great fit — a righthanded run producer in the middle of their order — they didn’t come close to the offer for which he ultimately signed with the Astros.
According to major league sources, the Red Sox did make a three-year offer to Abreu, but their offer was in the low- to mid-$40 million range. Abreu went to the Astros on a three-year, $59.5 million deal.
In 2022, despite a career-low 15 home runs, Abreu remained productive, hitting .304/.378/.446 with 40 doubles for the White Sox in his age-35 season. With that performance — and a career .292/.354/.506 line — Abreu represented one of the top bats available on the free agent market, and likely the best who will not receive a nine-figure deal, in an offseason where position players Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, and Brandon Nimmo are expected to command massive long-term contracts.
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With Abreu off the market, the Red Sox are expected to continue to look for corner/DH bats, with righthanded hitters such as Mitch Haniger, Justin Turner, and Trey Mancini available, and veteran lefthanded bats Michael Conforto and Michael Brantley likewise up for bidding.
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Though Japanese free agent starter Kodai Senga has reportedly visited a number of major league teams, including the Giants, Mets, Rangers, and Padres, he has not visited the Red Sox in Boston, according to a major league source. Senga, who features a high-90s fastball and devastating splitter, went 11-6 with a 1.94 ERA and 27.5 percent strikeout rate in Japan as a 28-year-old in 2022.
Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @alexspeier.