The Red Sox rank 29th out of 30 teams in both homers (36) and runs (187), and their collective wRC+ of 89 is better than only three other clubs. The lack of pop has been one of the biggest factors in Boston’s 22-28 record, and the front office is looking to improve the system.
Team president Sam Kennedy told WEEI’s Greg Hill yesterday in a radio interview that the Red Sox are considering a trade, and The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey wrote today that the team prefers to add a right-handed hitter. Some positions are clearly more needed than others, but McCaffrey writes that Boston is “looking to add to any offense in general.”
Wilson Contreras leads the Sox with a 140 wRC+ and has first base shut down. Hunter probably isn’t a major position of need since then Connor Wong he offers about a mid-league offense, even if Carlos Narvez doesn’t hit much. Mickey Gasper has also hit well in a small sample size since being called up from Triple-A a few weeks ago, giving the Red Sox more depth at the catcher position.
Wilyer Abreu again Ceddanne Rafaela have been very productive, while Masataka Yoshida has always been the case as a part-time DH and outfielder. While Jarren Duran he has struggled again Roman Anthony is on the injured list, the Red Sox’s outfield is still full enough that the team may be looking to add a part-timer at that position. With Rafaela the only right-handed batsman in that five-man outfielder group, another straight bowler could come in to do the team’s bidding, as Anthony’s continued absence creates an opportunity to play on the grass.
Shortstop, second base, and third base are the most obvious targets, as the Sox have gradually found Marcelo Mayer, Trevor’s story, Caleb Durbinagain Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Story will be out for at least the next six weeks recovering from hernia surgery, and Mayer will now move from second base to get playing time at shortstop in Story’s absence. It’s possible that returning to his starting position would increase Mayer’s comfort level and open up his bat against Major League pitching, but in any case, the Red Sox still want to give Mayer a regular look at the major league level.
Durbin was a hit in a six-player trade with the Brewers in February, so the Sox won’t completely give up on him even though Durbin is struggling at the plate. IKF signed him to a one-year, $6MM deal over the winter and was considered a part-time player, so reducing his playing time (or perhaps releasing him entirely) in favor of another right-handed hitter seems the most likely option. Andrew Monasterio again Nick Sogard they are also in the infield mix but the Red Sox may opt for an outfield answer and a more proven bat.
Whether such a bat can be found just two months into the season remains to be seen. Although it’s less than a year away from the June blockbuster that saw the Red Sox themselves send Rafael Devers to the Giants, it’s more likely that any outside additions will come in the form of a waiver claim or trade for a newly-drafted player instead of the Sox offering a true everyday starter.
Teams often choose to wait until much closer to the trade deadline to pull the trigger on truly significant deals (either buyers or sellers), and all the parity in the American League adds another layer of difficulty to negotiating trades. Only five AL teams have winning records, leaving 10 clubs in contention – for all their problems, the Red Sox sit two games out of the wild card.
Kennedy referred to this situation as “there are teams in the National League, I would say, they are more engaged in negotiations than usual at this time of year….Will we be able to make a deal or agree on something that I don’t know is true, but there are negotiations, there is urgency, and that’s the important thing, and hopefully something can be done, you know, sooner rather than later.”
Among the teams that are not expected to contend this season, the Cardinals and White Sox both have winning records, so they will likely play the lead before considering a trade. Angels should be in sales mode but rarely work this way. The Rockies, Marlins, and Nationals are almost all open for business when it comes to moves, and one wonders if Washington CJ Abrams may be on Boston’s radar if a major league baseball executive Craig Breslow open to a major infield shakeup. Nats president of baseball Paul Toboni came to his current job after ten years in the Red Sox front office, so Toboni has a lot of knowledge about the Boston farm system.
Dismissal of manager Alex Cora just 27 games this season shows that there is a lot of pressure on the organization to change things, and Breslow’s job security has come into question since Cora was removed. With this in mind, Breslow may be more open to dealing prospects if it means adding a big bat quickly. High hopes Franklin Arias certainly not available and Breslow would be understandably hesitant about dealing with the team’s minor league pitching depth. But, as prices always rise in trade talks this time of year, rival front offices will try to take advantage of any perceived desperation on Boston’s part.
