"Acting rationally will not get you free agents" - MLB insider issues warning as Red Sox fumble Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber pursuit

The Boston Red Sox have been linked with several high-profile bats throughout the offseason. The AL East franchise were linked with All-Star sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso in free agency.

However, the Red Sox didn't sign either slugger as Schwarber reunited with the Philadelphia Phillies and Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles to conclude their free agencies.

According to MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Red Sox seemingly pulled out of the race as they didn't want to match the other teams' offers for Schwarber and Alonso this offseason. Passan said that the Red Sox need to get "irrational" to land free agents in the current market.

“We’ve seen the Red Sox in recent years, they try to operate rationally," Passan said. "Operating rationally, generally speaking, will not get you free agents. It is an irrational market, and sometimes you got to get a little irrational.”

The Red Sox were eliminated from the playoffs by the New York Yankees last season in the AL Wild Card series and are expected to bolster their hitting order, especially after Alex Bregman opted out of his contract to become a free agent.

MLB insider shares potential reason delaying Red Sox's reunion with Alex Bregman

Although the Red Sox reportedly pulled out in their pursuit of Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, the AL East franchise has been heavily linked with a reunion with former All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency.

MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo shared a potential reason that could be delaying Bregman's return to Fenway Park this offseason.

“I think he’s a guy that always made sense and makes sense even more now with Schwarber and Alonso off the board,“ Cotillo said. “They want to add power—that’s very clear. But they do have holes in the infield.

“I’ve talked to some people within the organization who say, ‘Look, Bregman slowed down offensively with the bat when he came back from the injury a little early, but he won us games with his glove last year, too.‘ That’s an underrated part of this for a team that has struggled with infield defense for five or six years now. So I think it might take a little while for them to come to terms on value.”

Apart from Bregman, the Red Sox have also been linked with former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette in free agency.