As the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches, the Boston Red Sox should begin selling their players before it’s too late. They sit in last place in the American League East, with a 40-48 record.
A four-game sweep against the rival New York Yankees gave Boston fans confidence in the team, but there’s little reason for hope on a season-wide spectrum. Looking past the poor record, the Red Sox offense ranks last in the MLB in home runs, 28th in runs, 24th in slugging percentage, and 22nd in hits. At Fenway Park, the team owns a .238 batting average, ranking 24th.
The lackluster offense and poor management off the field have led to a disappointing season this year. The trade deadline will allow Boston to choose a path going forward, and given how the campaign has gone so far, selling is the right move.
Who Should The Red Sox Sell?
The biggest name among teams looking to make a playoff push is Aroldis Chapman. The freshly named All-Star is enjoying another incredible season in Boston. He has the third-most saves in the AL with 18, alongside an impressive 2.36 ERA. The pitching staff has been the lone upside for the Red Sox this season, and he is their best pitcher.
Chapman may be 38 years old, but he still slings it better than anyone (besides Jacob Misiorowski). He consistently fires 100+ mph fastballs, and his slider has also been more of a weapon this year. He is an anchor for any bullpen. Closers and relievers are the most common pitchers to swap teams mid-season as teams try to make an upgrade to better prepare for October. Craig Breslow and Chad Tracy will get plenty of calls inquiring about Chapman.
Another flamethrower who will be in trade talks is Sonny Gray. The starting pitcher was arguably robbed of an All-Star bid, but has nonetheless enjoyed a strong season. He ranks second in the AL with a 2.61 ERA and is on pace to win the most games in his 12-year career. He’s has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season.
The tricky part may be Gray’s contract. He has a no-trade clause, though there is a $10 million buyout. If Boston wants to move him, they’d need to choose a location that works for the 36-year-old.
A former teammate of Gray’s, Willson Contreras, is another trade candidate that should be shipped off. The first baseman was recently named an All-Star replacement, making it his fourth All-Star appearance in his career. He leads all AL first basemen in batting average, ranks second in home runs, and third in hits and RBIs.
Contreras has raked in Fenway Park and has been a bright spot for an offense that has otherwise failed to live up to the preseason hype. A reason for keeping him would be that he’s basically the only decent right-handed bat the Red Sox own. Infielders Caleb Durbin and Isiah Kiner-Falefa were fellow offseason acquisitions that were supposed to help out, but have been atrocious in the batter’s box.
Players that are less likely to be moved but have been discussed in conversations include Jarren Duran, Garrett Whitlock, and Masataka Yoshida. All three may be difficult to trade given their unimpressive season so far, but they would free up spots for younger players to move up to the big leagues. Getting rid of some hefty contracts would also be a positive for a Boston team that should focus on the future.
