Will there be a Red Sox reunion in Boston in the near future?

Boston pulled off a very underrated trade last offseason. The Red Sox needed to add a right-handed hitter and brought in outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the St. Louis Cardinals. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner has battled numerous injuries throughout his career, so St. Louis was willing to let him go for pennies.

The Red Sox made a fantastic move and O’Neill was the team’s best right-handed hitter in 2024. He had the second-best season of his career, hitting 31 home runs and 61 RBIs in 113 games played.

O’Neill was everything the Red Sox hoped he would be, but now he will be a free agent. He is expected to receive a deal worth around $90 million over five years. It’s unclear if he will return, but NBC Sports Boston’s John Tomase suggested Boston should give him a new contract.

“Even these two are borderline. In a world where the Red Sox had a more balanced lineup, O’Neill would probably be a must-have,” Tomase said. “He hit 31 home runs, just three shy of his career high, but he also missed 49 games in what was still the second-best season of his career.”

“He turns 30 in June and is unlikely to get any healthier, so you usually wish him well. But Craig Breslow, chief baseball officer of the Red Sox, has already contacted O’Neill about whether he will stay with us because he is practically the “There are only right-handed hitters in the organization.”

O’Neill was a great signing and it would be nice to see him back in Boston in 2025 if the price is right.

More MLB: The Red Sox could be the best landing spot for the expected $6 million All-Star