Tyler O’Neill: Does an extension make sense for the Red Sox?

Is it incumbent on Craig Breslow to sign Tyler O’Neill to a multi year extension?

JASON KELLY:

The Red Sox should absolutely sign Tyler O’Neill to a multi-year contract extension this winter… but only if he’s willing to take a three year deal.

If O’Neill hits the open market and wants a contract on four years or more then I would let him walk.

He will turn 30 years old next June, and as Red Sox fans have seen first-hand, he still has a tendency to end up on the injured list numerous times throughout a full season.

However, if O’Neill feels comfortable in Boston and is willing to take a deal with a two or three-year term attached to it then I would be 100% in.

There is a chance that he takes a three year deal with an opt-out in the final year. This would allow him to build up his numbers in Boston before hitting free agency again at age 32, at which point he can seek one last lucrative multi-year deal to finish out his career with.

I’m also personally not worried about the question of whether or not he still fits this roster after 2024. The Red Sox have a shortage of right-handed power bats and O’Neill fills that hole perfectly. After him, it’s just Connor Wong and Ceddane Rafaela hitting on the right side of the plate. Let’s also not forget Kyle Teel is right around the corner meaning Wong’s time with Boston might be up sooner than we think.

Also not on my list of worries is finding a place for Roman Anthony in the Red Sox outfield just yet. Anthony only just recently got the call up to AAA, let him prove himself there first before we shoo away proven MLB talent.

This team is close to contending, and re-signing O’Neill along with adding more pitching might be exactly what they need to go on a serious playoff run in 2025 and beyond.

JEREMY SCHILLING:

Would I signed Tyler O'Neal to a three year $36 million extension?

Unfortunately, yes. Given the spending issues with ownership, this is the sort of deal they may actually bite on.

Obviously, in today's climate a $13 million a year player comes with issues whether it is relating to durability, problems defensively, doesn't have a position, etc.

A player with four or five tools, plays everyday, and hits for some level of power is going to be worth $20 million or more per year.

With ownership the way they are, those types of players are not an option. If you're going to continue to balance the lineup, we need a right-handed stick, and O'Neill is just that. I have concerns about his durability, consistency, and the strikeout rate, but he is a major league player and gives some pop to the middle of the order.

CHARLIE SMITH:

I would sign O’Neill to a two year deal with a higher AAV, because you know you’re gonna get 20-25 home runs minimum.

A .250/25/75/8 for two seasons isn’t bad.

I’m PrO’Neill here but I think anything more than two years is a bit of a risk, and not realistic for the Sox front office.

TERRY CUSHMAN JR:

Tyler O’Neill is having his best season in terms of on base percentage, and his second best season in batting average and home runs. Far and away better than what most people expected, given the fact he was essentially a salary dump from St. Louis.

To some people, and extension may seem like a no brainer, but it’s complicated.

Trevor Story will be back next season, meaning Rafaela will likely get relegated to a crowded outfield. If this doesn’t take place in the first half, it will in the second half when Marcelo Mayer gets called up.

Masataka Yoshida is a platoon DH at $18M a year, because there’s no place to put him. Theres a strong possibility this could eventually be the case for O’Neill at similar money.

This won’t be a popular take, but acquiring O’Neill was a big game in terms of a performance aspect, and the Red Sox won that gamble big time. They should simply walk away while they’re ahead, rather than give the money back to the casino.

If he reverts back to his 2022-2023 run of bad durability, bad performance at the plate, we’re all gonna feel pretty stupid with even more dead money.

Let him walk.