The Red Sox are the first to strike in free agency.
Boston has agreed to a four-year, $58 million contract with free-agent first baseman Jake Bauers, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Bauers is coming off the best season of his professional career, hitting .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs and 86 RBI while helping lead the Milwaukee Brewers to their first World Series championship in franchise history.
During his breakout campaign, Bauers established career highs in home runs (26), doubles (22), RBI (86) and runs scored (93).
He was also a finalist for the Silver Slugger Award at both first base and the utility position in the National League, having appeared in 46 games at the corner outfield spots.
Bauers received a $23.15 million qualifying offer from the Brewers, meaning the Red Sox will surrender draft-pick compensation for signing him.
Because Boston exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax threshold in 2026, the club will forfeit its second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2027 MLB Draft, along with $1 million in international bonus pool money.
BREAKING: First baseman Jake Bauers and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a four-year, $58 million contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 13, 2026
The Red Sox faced the same penalties in each of the previous two offseasons after signing Alex Bregman before the 2025 season and Ranger Suarez before 2026.
Bauers spent the past two seasons with the Brewers, earning $1.35 million in 2025 and $2.7 million in 2026.
Bauers started 86 games at first base, 28 in right field, 12 in left field and four at designated hitter this past season, giving Boston some flexibility in how it uses him.
The expectation is that he should split time between first base and designated hitter next season.
The Red Sox entered the offseason needing additional offense, particularly more power production, and Bauers certainly checks that box for Craig Breslow.
Boston received little power from the designated hitter position in 2026, with its DHs combining for just 21 home runs and 74 RBIs.
Bauers also brings a patient approach to the plate. He draws plenty of walks and limits his strikeouts, two qualities the Red Sox value in their hitters.
His impact wasn’t limited to the regular season, either.
Bauers earned NLCS MVP honors after hitting .286 with a .983 OPS during Milwaukee’s four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That included a 12-pitch walk during a game-changing rally against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2, followed by an 11-pitch, go-ahead home run against Blake Snell in Game 3.
JAKE BAUERS PUTS THE BREWERS BACK IN FRONT! pic.twitter.com/KK8xCFd7j1
— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2026
Bauers’ new contract represents a