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  • Boston Red Sox Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Boston Red Sox free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Matthew Lenz
    After a relatively disappointing trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox are 7-3 in their last 10 games. Yet, they're still looking to solidify their bullpen and made moves on Monday to do just that.
    Chris Cotillo of MassLive is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have DFA'd Nick Burdi and selected Jovani Moran to join the big-league club.
    Burdi had previously been on the injured list since June 3 with a bruised foot and was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 9 after a setback with a hip injury. He had been activated from the injured list on August 2 and optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Before the injury, Burdi had pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Red Sox in the major leagues this season, with a 0.00 ERA and a 2.36 FIP.
    Moran, acquired from the Minnesota Twins for Mickey Gasper in the offseason, missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November 2023. He has been pitching for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, and in 12 appearances has a 3.44 ERA with 26 strikeouts and three walks in 18 1/3 innings.
    What role do you think Jovani Moran slips into in the Red Sox bullpen? Join the conversation in the comments!

    Nick John
    The Boston Red Sox stayed busy Sunday afternoon after sweeping the Houston Astros as they promoted their top pitching prospect Payton Tolle to Triple-A Worcester per Beyond The Monster’s Andrew Parker.
    Tolle is Boston’s top pitching prospect and has pitched for both Greenville and Portland. Now he will face the highest level of minor league baseball with the possibility of being added to Boston’s roster at some point in September.
    In six games since his promotion to Portland, Tolle made five starts and pitched out of the pen in a piggyback role once. He tossed 27 innings and had a 1.67 ERA to go along with 37 strikeouts to just seven walks
    Drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Tolle throws four pitches: a fastball, cutter, slider and changeup. He is also currently ranked 49th on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list.
    Do you think it’s too early for Tolle to be promoted? Should he have just been promoted alongside fellow pitchers David Sandlin and Connelly Early last week? Could he make it to Boston before the end of the year? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments.
    Alex Mayes
    According to Matthew Crory on X, Marcelo Mayer’s sprained wrist is more serious than originally thought. He received an anti-inflammation injection in the wrist on Saturday, August 2 that will take up to three days to see if it works according to Alex Cora. He said that after those three days Mayer will start doing baseball activities and the team will see how he responds to those. 
    Bob Nightengale of USA Today went a step further, saying that season-ending surgery is on the table for Mayer. Obviously, this is the worst case scenario as the Red Sox currently are in sole possession of the second AL Wild Card spot and only four games behind the AL East leading Toronto Blue Jays. Something to note is that Mayer sprained this same wrist in 2022. He didn’t require surgery at the time. 
    We’ll have to keep an eye on the next few days for Mayer and see how he responds to the anti-inflammation injection as the Red Sox hope that he can be a contributor later this season.
    Brandon Glick
    Nothing in baseball is guaranteed.
    Tanner Houck, fresh off a brilliant 2024 campaign where he earned his first All-Star nod and pitched to a 3.12 ERA in 178 2/3 innings, was supposed to be the No. 2 to Garrett Crochet this season.
    Instead, he was miserable in limited action, surrendering a hideous 8.04 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. He was originally placed on the injured list back on May 12 with a strained forearm flexor, and numerous setbacks have kept him from appearing in Boston since.
    Now, according to Chris Cotillo, Houck will undergo Tommy John surgery in short order. The procedure and subsequent recovery will likely keep him out through the end of the 2026 season.
    Houck, 29, is due to be a free agent after the 2027 season. Given his troubling injury diagnosis and the exceedingly-high likelihood of a league-wide lockout in 2027, it's possible we've seen the last of Houck in a Red Sox uniform.
    Nick John
    The Red Sox continued their post-deadline trend of promoting prospects, as outfielder Miguel Bleis is on his way to Portland per Beyond The Monster’s Andrew Parker.
    Bleis, who is 21 years old, signed as an international free agent in January of 2021 and received the largest bonus that year. His potential was viewed so highly that, entering 2023, he was a Top-100 prospect on several prospect lists despite only playing in the Florida Complex League. Since signing, he has dealt with several injuries that cost him time in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. but the potential he showcases at times helps to explain what the Red Sox and scouts saw in him back in 2021.
    Bleis is currently ranked 12th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Red Sox prospects (19th on TalkSox) and will look to showcase his potential in Portland while aiming to play in a career high number of games.
    So far in 77 games, Bleis is hitting .226/.314/.422 with 15 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. The outfielder is incredibly talented yet very inconsistent. He will be Rule 5 Draft eligible this offseason, and so his time in Portland could also serve as a showcase for teams who might be interested in his skills.
    Nick John
    Following the trade deadline, the Red Sox are promoting one of their top prospects to Worcester. As reported by Beyond the Monster’s Andrew Parker, the Red Sox are promoting infielder Mikey Romero to Triple-A Worcester.
    Romero, a former first-round draft pick, is likely being promoted to fill the roster spot left by traded corner infielder Blaze Jordan. Romero, who was initially drafted as a shortstop has seen his time in the field split between third base, second base and shortstop. He has also spent time as the designated hitter.
    Known for his offensive potential, Romero appeared in 65 games for Portland, where he hit .250/.313/.436 with 17 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, and 39 RBIs. What may be most impressive for Romero is the fact that he’s on pace to play in the most games of his professional career, beating the 78 games played last season.
    Romero will likely see the majority of his playing time come at third base and shortstop as the team sees how he can handle the increased level of play.
    Nick John
    The trade deadline is now 26 hours away, and the Red Sox are attempting to upgrade their roster. Their biggest need appears to be starting pitching, as the team has been linked to starters Mitch Keller and Dylan Cease.
    Now, Rob Bradford of WEEI reports that the Red Sox have shown interest in pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
    Along with that, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR reports that the Red Sox have been monitoring Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins.
    All three starters are likely to be moved before the deadline and have the potential to upgrade the Red Sox rotation based on past pedigree.
    What do you think? Should the Red Sox pursue any of these three? Is there a different starter they should go after? Leave your thoughts in the comments down below.
    Matthew Lenz
    The Boston Red Sox front office is going to be especially busy this week as we approach the 48-hour mark to the trade deadline. Over the last week or so, they've been tied to nearly every name on the market as they look to bolster their rotation, bullpen, first base, and catching depth.
    Jim Bowden is reporting that the Red Sox "are speed dialing the [Minnesota] Twins at an annoying level with continued interest" in multiple players. He also mentions four other teams, including two AL East rivals.
    The headliner would be starter Joe Ryan, who is having a Cy Young caliber season to this point, sporting a 2.82 ERA (3.17 FIP) and a 23.8% strikeout-minus-walk (K-BB) rate. He is controllable through 2027. However, he's not the only high-end asset the Twins have to offer, and the Blue Jays are interested in.
    They're also calling on "basically the whole bullpen", which focuses on Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and possibly even Danny Coulombe. All three have been elite producers for the Twins this season, and Duran and Jax are controllable through 2027. Coulombe, a lefty specialist, will be a free agent at season's end.
    Lastly, Bowden reports that they're also calling on outfielder Harrison Bader and super-utility Willi Castro. Both players have been plus contributors for the Twins. Bader is carrying a .776 OPS with 12 home runs and 10 stolen bases. He also provides a plus glove in the outfield. Castro, who is less strong defensively but much more versatile, has a .761 OPS with 10 home runs and nine stolen bases. Both players will be free agents at the end of the season.
    The Red Sox have been tied to MANY names recently. Who should they prioritize? Join the conversation in the comments.
    Nick John
    The Boston Red Sox made a few promotions Sunday night as pitchers Connelly Early and David Sandlin are being promoted to Triple-A Worcester per Beyond The Monster’s Andrew Parker.
    The duo is seen as two of Boston’s top pitching prospects, with Early being ranked as the Sox’s sixth-best prospect and Sandlin the 12th on MLB Pipeline. Both starters opened the season with Double-A Portland, and it was viewed as a matter of time until they were called up to Worcester.
    Early, drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, has made incredible strides this season after ending 2024 with Portland. In 15 games this season, 12 starts, Early has gone 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 71 2/3 innings. In that span, he struck out 96 batters and only walked 29 for a strikeout per walk rate of 3.31. So far this season, Early has a strikeout rate of 32.3% and a walk rate of 9.8%, while limiting opposing hitters to a .198 batting average.
    Sandlin was acquired by the Kansas City Royals in February 2024, just as spring training was beginning for John Schreiber. Much like Early, Sandlin has also shown great improvement this season as he’s managed to go deeper into outings and limit his walks. In 17 games this season, 13 starts, Sandlin has gone 5-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 82 1/3 innings pitched (a career high). He’s also struck out 86 batters while walking just 27. While his strikeout rate is down this season, Sandlin has instead focused on allowing batters to put the ball in play when a strikeout isn’t necessary. His strikeout rate has dropped to 25.4% from 33.2% last season, and his walk rate is 8.0%. Opponents are also hitting just .226 against the right-hander while his FIP is at a career low of 3.29.
    The two will likely continue to pitch in both the rotation and as long men out of the bullpen through the remainder of the season. If they continue to impress in Worcester, there’s a chance one or both could be called up to Boston as reinforcements.
    What do you think about the promotions? Too soon? Should they have been earlier in the season? Do either of them make it to Boston this year? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
    Nick John
    When you think of the Red Sox and Yankees, it's usually about their historic rivalry, but it could be slightly different due in part to the trade deadline.
    Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees are interested in David Hamilton. 
    Hamilton would be an interesting trade to the Yankees. While just 27 years old, he has had a rough offensive season. Hitting just .179/.229/.276 with three doubles, three home runs, and 12 RBIs in 133 plate appearances. His most promising skill is his speed. So far in 176 career games, he's stolen 50 bases while being caught just eight times. 
    This season, Hamilton has seen a drop-off in performance and was recently demoted to Triple-A Worcester before being recalled due to Marcelo Mayer's wrist injury.
    With the ability to play both second base and shortstop, along with his speed, making him a valuable late-game pinch runner, the Red Sox may be hesitant to trade him to a division rival. 
    Should the Red Sox entertain a phone call with their rivals? Should they refuse to trade him to New York? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments. 
    Matthew Lenz
    The Boston Red Sox have been unable to solve their first base puzzle since Triston Casas went down earlier this season. It remains one of their bigger needs as the trade deadline approaches.
    Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that the Tampa Bay Rays may be softening and more willing to trade Yandy Díaz.
    Díaz is having another good offensive season for the Tampa Bay Rays. In 97 games, he has posted an. OPS of .816. He has hit 17 home runs, demonstrating his increased power output in recent years. Díaz has contributed significantly to the Rays' offense with 50 runs scored and 60 runs batted in. He is controllable through 2026, and has a 2027 club option that vests at $13 million with 500 plate appearances in 2026.
    Should the Red Sox acquire Díaz? Join the conversation in the comments.
    Nick John
    Just as the Boston Red Sox were seemingly getting back to full health, they were struck by injury once more.
    This time the team will be without rookie Marcelo Mayer as he hits the 10-day injured list with a right wrist sprain. Mayer was forced to leave the Red Sox's latest game, being seen on camera pointing to his wrist. Mayer did say that it was only a sprain and not hamate or broken bone related.
    In 44 games, Mayer was hitting .228/.272/.402 with eight doubles, a triple, four home runs and 10 RBIs. Mayer's greatest production was defensively as he bounced between second base and third base and played excellent defense despite coming up through the system as a shortstop.
    The severity of the injury isn’t known but in response to the injury, David Hamilton was recalled from Worcester. Alex Cora also said that Ceddanne Rafaela will play more second base for the time being. The move to the middle infield for Rafaela will clear up the outfield logjam and will likely make the starting outfield be Roman Anthony in left field, Jarren Duran in center field and Wilyer Abreu in right field.
    Do you think this is just a minor injury and Mayer will be back quickly? Could it be a longer absence? Should Rafaela be in center field regardless? Leave your thoughts below in the comments.
    Matthew Lenz
    As all signs point to the Boston Red Sox purchasing over the next week, it appears they are also interested in acquiring prospects.
    Sean McAdam of MassLive is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have interest in Los Angeles Dodgers catching prospect Dalton Rushing. He goes on to report that the Dodgers are interested in Red Sox prospects Franklin Arias and Brandon Clarke.
    Rushing, who debuted on May 15, has struggled with the Dodgers, posting a .577 OPS with just one home run. While a majority of his time has been spent behind the plate, he has also played at first base, which would provide the Red Sox with depth at multiple positions of need.
    Clark and Arias, both at High-A Greenville, have had good seasons. Both are considered top 100 prospects by multiple sources.
    Do you think the Red Sox should acquire Rushing or shoot for a larger fish? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Matthew Lenz
    One way or another, and whether it be at this trade deadline or sometime down the road, the San Diego Padres seem adamant to pry Jarren Duran away from the Boston Red Sox.
     
    Earlier today, Sean McAdam of MassLive provided yet another update between the two clubs. The Padres offered the Red Sox a package including SP Dylan Cease, C Ethan Salas and another prospect (not SS Leo de Vries) in exchange for Duran, which was “quickly rejected,” McAdam later adds that while it's likely Duran is eventually traded, it's "unlikely" to happen this summer.
    Would you have taken the deal the Padres offered? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Matthew Lenz
    Ahead of the home half of the fifth inning, the Boston Red Sox replaced infielder Marcelo Mayer with Abraham Toro at third base. 
    Shortly after the move was made, Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported he left Wednesday's game with right wrist discomfort. At this point the severity of the injury is unclear.
    With the Red Sox reportedly being aggressive over the next week, some speculated whether he was possibly traded mid-game. Unfortunately, that's not the case and video from the dugout shows Mayer pointing to his wrist.
    Mayer was called up following Alex Bergman's injury earlier this season. In 43 games this season, he has an OPS of .674 with 4 home runs, 19 runs scored, and 10 runs batted in. He has seen playing time at third base, second base, and shortstop.
    Stay tuned to Talk Sox for updates and reactions!

    Matthew Lenz
    The San Diego Padres plan to be buyers at the deadline in anticipation of a playoff push. They may also be sellers, and the Chicago Cubs could be one of their suitors.
    Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease is available at the trade deadline, and that "AL East" teams have discussed the 30-year-old free agent-to-be.
    Across 20 starts and 108.2 innings pitched, Cease's. ERA currently stands at 4.64, which is more than a full run higher than his FIP, suggesting he's experienced some bad luck or been hurt by his defense. Cease continues to be a high-strikeout pitcher, with a K% of 30.0% and a BB% of 8.4%, translating to an impressive K-BB% of 21.6%. He will be a free agent at the end of the season with incredible upside, despite his underperforming surface stats. Given the shallow starter's market and the numerous teams seeking rotation help, his cost will be substantial. Any team acquiring the right-hander will likely need to overpay to acquire him. Moreover, given the Padres' position in the playoff picture, they are likely looking for a combination of MLB-ready and prospect pieces.
    Should the Boston Red Sox do what it takes to acquire Dylan cease? Join the conversation in the comments!

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