MLB Insider Buzz: Red Sox lurking as Munetaka Murakami decision clock ticks while kicking tires on former Dodgers reliever

The Boston Red Sox are yet to make a big splash this offseason. They have made two decent trades to help strengthen their rotation - Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals.

While they remain frontrunners to re-sign Alex Bregman, they would need to add depth to their roster. Here's taking a look at two free agent signings:

Red Sox touted as contenders to sign Munetaka Murakami as deadline approaches

MLB teams will have until Dec. 22 to sign Munetaka Murakami to their team. The Japanese corner infielder has been linked to several teams this offseason. On Monday, USA Today's Bob Nightengale listed his possible suitors, with Boston expected to be a "perfect universe" for him.

"The Red Sox need more thump in the lineup, and the simplest solution would be re-upping Alex Bregman, who shined in 114 games before opting out of his deal. But we're into the back half of December and Bregman still loiters on the market," he wrote.

If Murakami were to slot in any of the corner positions and Red Sox also end up with a long-term contract for Bregman, Nightengale suggested a possible trade for Tristan Casas, who missed most of the 2025 season due to injury.

Meanwhile, insider Ken Rosenthal, on the MLB Network on Monday, was less optimistic about Murakami's market. He stated that things have been relatively quiet about the Yakult Swallows hitter.

"No one seems to know who is on him, and no one seems to know where this might end up, what the money would be, what teams truly are interested," Rosenthal said. "But, he is someone that I do expect will be with a major-league club next season."

The Red Sox had signed Masataka Yoshida to a five-year, $90 million contract in 2023. Murakami has a much better hitting profile at the time of posting. Having hit 265 homers, he is expected to receive a similar deal despite concerns about his heavy strikeout and whiff rates.

Evan Phillips linked to Red Sox for a one-year deal

Evan Phillips' third year of arbitration contract worth $6.1 million was voided by the Los Angeles Dodgers as he was non-tendered by the organization at the end of the current season. The reliever is not guaranteed to pitch during the 2026 season because of Tommy John surgery.

While Phillips could have been expected to take a two-year deal, with the first season intended entirely at rehab, according to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe on Monday, Phillips wants a one-year contract. He also reported the Boston Red Sox to be interested in the 2024 World Series winner.

Phillips was a reliable arm in the Dodgers bullpen in 2022 when he managed a 7-3 record with 1.14 ERA and in 2023 when he went 2-4 with a 2.05 ERA. But he recorded a -0.6 bWAR with a 3.62 ERA and featured in only five postseason appearances, while earning zero runs.

Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy