Jump to content
Talk Sox
  • Create Account

  • 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.
    Show all categories
    Steve Drumwright
    The start of Curtis Mead's career with the Boston Red Sox lasted two plate appearances. Now the question is: How do the Red Sox replace the infielder?
    Mead, acquired Saturday in a trade with the Washington Nationals, was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday by the Red Sox with an injured left wrist. Mead told Boston media the wrist is fractured and he will fly to Boston to meet with a hand specialist, who will determine if he needs season-ending surgery. He was hit by a pitch in Monday's game against the A's. Infielder Nick Sogard will be called up from Triple-A Worcester. Due to Boston being in West Sacramento, Sogard is not expected to join the team until Wednesday.
    Mead was hit by a 95 mph four-seamer from A's right-hander Jack Perkins leading off the top of the fourth inning. He remained in the game until being replaced defensively to begin the bottom of the fifth inning.
    Initial X-rays did not show a break, according to interim manager Chad Tracy, but more testing Tuesday led the Red Sox to make the decision to sideline their new acquisition. Mead was picked up in a one-for-one trade for left-handed starter Connelly Early. Mead has a season slash line of .253/.353/.498 with 17 homers and 48 RBIs, hoping to provide a bit of extra power from the Red Sox's infield.
    Steve Drumwright
    As the Boston Red Sox continue their search for an upgrade at catcher, a few more paths could be open.
    One is the Miami Marlins and the other is the St. Louis Cardinals.
    According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the emergence of rookie catcher Joe Mack has prompted the Marlins to be open to trading Liam Hicks, who has seen more action at designated hitter than catcher in July while also spending a little time at first base this season.
    Hicks, who is under club control through 2030, is slashing .279/.358/.438 with 14 homers and 60 RBIs in 95 games for the Marlins, who Monday ended their franchise-record 12-game losing streak that switched their role from buyer to seller with Monday's trade deadline coming up. In addition to being 9½ games out of the NL East lead, the Marlins went from possessing the No. 3 wild-card spot to now being two games out, but having to surpass five teams to get back into that same position.
    Hicks has started 31 games behind the plate, 18 at first base and 35 at DH.
    If Hicks isn't who the Red Sox are looking for, they could head back to the Cardinals, who shipped right-handed starter Sonny Gray and first baseman Willson Contreras to Boston in separate deals with its former front-office boss Chaim Bloom.
    The Cardinals have the top catching prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, in Rainiel Rodriguez, a 19-year-old who is at Double-A. But ahead of him yet on the Cardinals' depth chart are Pedro Pages and Ivan Herrera. Pages would be more attractive from a defensive standpoint as Herrera does a poor job of controlling the running game. But Pages' problem is offense. He has a .207/.248/.327 slash line with four homers and 11 RBIs in 60 games, while Herrera's slash line is .244/.365/.380 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs in 105 games. Herrera has made 40 of his 105 starts at catcher, with the rest as a designated hitter.
     
     
    Brock Beauchamp
    How To Install On iPhone or iPad
    How To Install On Android Device
    Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.
    What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Talk Sox.
    From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.
    Additionally, a newer, completely updated Talk Sox is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.
    With that said, here’s how you turn Talk Sox into an app on your mobile device.
    How To “Install” Talk Sox on iPhone or iPad Using Safari
    First, go to the home page of Talk Sox at https://talksox.com/.
    1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen.
    2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu.

    3. Tap “View More”.
    4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”.
    5. Tap “Add”.

    That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Talk Sox app around, just as you would any other app.
    Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://talksox.com/notifications/options/.

    How To “Install” Talk Sox on an Android Device Using Chrome
    First, go to the home page of Talk Sox at https://talksox.com/.
    1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen.
    2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu.

    3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
    4. Tap “Install”.

    That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Talk Sox app around, just as you would any other app.
    Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://talksox.com/notifications/options/.

    Matthew Lenz
    With shortstop and second base unsettled due to injuries and inconsistent performance, the Boston Red Sox are looking to shore up the middle of their infield. Staying up the middle, they could also look to add behind the plate and on the mound, particularly adding depth to a depleted rotation.
    One option to bridge that gap, who's been on the market, is Luis Castillo of the Seattle Mariners. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com is reporting that the Mariners are willing to eat part of Castillo's contract to help facilitate a deal.
    Castillo, 33, has had a down year, posting a 4.85 ERA (4.37 FIP) with a 12.9% strikeout-minus-walk rate across 94 2/3 innings. This comes after seven consecutive seasons of sub-4 FIPs and five straight seasons of a K-BB north of 15%. Despite all that success, a down 2026, an impending lockout, and a $24+ million salary for the next two years make him a little less attractive on the open market. He also has a vesting option for 2028 that locks in if he reaches the 180 IP mark in 2027. It's not clear if that number gets prorated based on a lockout/shortened season.
    Do you think the Red Sox should make a move for the southpaw? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Steve Drumwright
    The Boston Red Sox are definitely on the hunt for an upgrade at shortstop.
    One of their targets is Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angeles Angels.
    According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, Neto was on the Red Sox's radar last offseason, but not to the point where names of prospects or other assets were exchanged. Now, with John Mozeliak recently taking over the Angels' front office at least on an interim basis, the Red Sox have been back in contact.
    The Red Sox are suddenly buyers following a 15-game winning streak that took them from last place in the AL East to currently holding the third and final AL wild-card spot. Neto is making $4,150,000 this year and is under club control for another three years after that. Neto entered Thursday with a slash line of .238/.326/.446 with 19 homers, 46 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
    Injured starting shortstop Trevor Story is making $25 million this year and next year, with a club option for 2028. Story, out since May 14 due to surgery for a sports hernia, is not expected to start a rehab assignment until August.
    The Red Sox are currently getting by at short with a platoon of Andruw Monasterio and Tsung-Che Cheng.
     
    Seth Stohs
    Justin Gonzales is one of the most exciting Red Sox prospects. He ranks as the fourth-ranked prospect according to Talk Sox rankings. Pushed up the organizational ladder, the 19-year-old has more than held his own in High-A Greeneville. 
    But sometimes we have to remember these are people. In this case, Gonzales is still young, a kid. Mistakes will happen and lesson are hopefully learned. 
    On Wednesday night in Greeneville, the Drive had a 10-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh. With two runners on, Gonzales stepped to the plate and hit his 13th home run of the season. He certainly took his time and admired the blast, especially down the first base line. He was pleased to have turned a four-run lead into a seven-run lead late int he game. When he crossed home plate, it was clear that Hub City catcher Cal Stark commented to Gonzales. 
    The two exchanged some words (pleasantries, I'm sure). Teammates hustled to the batter's circle but just a little too late. Whether you want to say that Gonzales "slapped" Stark or "took a punch at" the Spartansburgers' backstop, he made contact.  See for yourself...
    Certainly, there will be a suspension by the league for this, but the Red Sox also have an opportunity to let a potential future star know that it just isn't alright to be taking swings at opponents. The Sox could add a few games to the suspension. They could go big and suspend him for the rest of the season. Organizations have done that before. 
    With other very young top prospect types on the Drive roster, it feels like the Sox need to make some sort of statement. 
    Of course, it is also 100% need to hear both sides of the story before reacting and finalized a plan. We don't know what was said. It's very possible that something was said that, maybe didn't warrant, but certainly understandable. 
    What do you think? Gonzales is 19. He's in High-A. He isn't an option for a big-league call up, so the remaining six weeks won't alter that timeline either way. What would you do if you ran the Red Sox? (Just regarding this situation. Use the rest of the forum to discuss those other things!) 
    Matthew Lenz
    The Boston Red Sox are in the midst of an impressive win streak as they sprint their way back into the playoff picture. With less than two weeks until deadline day, the Red Sox are now looking like bona fide buyers to continue their impressive run.
    Jeff Passan of ESPN listed the top 100 trade candidates, which included New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. Coming in as the 12th best trade candidate, he listed the Red Sox (along with three others, including two AL East foes) as a "best fit" for the four-time Silver Slugger.
    Lindor, 32, is in the midst of a career-worst season that has been highlighted by a left calf injury that saw him miss two months. When he has been available, he's slashed a paltry .220/.303/.387 (.691 OPS) with just six home runs and two stolen bases. While those numbers are well below his standard and the $32 million salary he's earning, they are only slightly below league average at a 94 wRC+. On the other side of the ball, the two-time Gold Glove winner is still playing a very good shortstop despite the struggles at the plate.
    Lindor has a no-trade clause that would need to be waived and is under contract through 2031, when he would be 37 years old. Passan points out that "in the past 20 years, only twice has a shortstop 35 or older put up a three-win season.
    Do you think the Red Sox should trade for Lindor in hopes of a bounce-back? Join the conversation in the comments!
     
     
    Steve Drumwright
    It is no secret that the Boston Red Sox, suddenly a contender with their 14-game winning streak entering play Tuesday, would love to upgrade the catching position.
    So how about snatching one from a fellow AL East team?
    One catcher out on the market, per ESPN's Jeff Passan, is Baltimore Orioles backstop Adley Rutschman. Once the darling of the Orioles' rebuild, Rutschman hasn't been the superstar they envisioned. Passan noted the Red Sox were one of the teams that would be a good fit for Rutschman.
    A switch-hitter, Rutschman has a career slash line of .254/.342/.414. He hit 20 and 19 homers in his second and third seasons in the majors, while drawing AL MVP votes in 2022, when he finished second in AL Rookie of the Year balloting, and 2023.
    But injuries in each of the last two seasons have slowed his production. In 90 games last year, Rutschman slashed .220/.307/.366 with nine homers and 29 RBIs. He has followed that up with a .251/.331/.433 with eight homers and 47 RBIs in 67 games this year before hitting the injured list for the third time this season Monday, this one for inflammation in his left wrist. Still, he represented the Orioles in last week's All-Star Game.
    That injury will keep him out until at least the weekend of the trade deadline, which is Aug. 3. The Orioles have struggled last year and this year and with Samuel Bassallo in the fold long term after signing an extension this year, making Rutschman not as valuable as he once was.
    Still an elite defender, Rutschman is also under club control through the 2027 season, so the Orioles won't be looking to dump him for just anything.
    And especially if the Red Sox come calling, the Orioles will make sure to extract a good price for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.
    He would certainly be an upgrade over Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong, the Red Sox's current catching tandem.
     
    Nick John
    The Boston Red Sox selected pitcher Lucas Davenport with the 156th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. 
    Davenport pitched two years at Baylor and was a redshirt as a freshman. Overall, he appeared in 29 games and made 13 starts over his two seasons. Davenport follows the mold of pitchers that Craig Breslow likes, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 230 pounds. 
    Davenport uses his size well and generates great extension and his mechanics creates deception. His fastball sits 93 to 95 mph and has topped out to 98 mph, but the shape could use some tinkering, something the Red Sox have done in the past with pitchers. 
    His secondaries include a mid-80s cutter that has depth and could be a true weapon for him. He's also got a slider, which is his best pitch as it sits 81 to 83 mph and has late lateral break. It won’t produce great chase rates, but he can generate whiffs in the zone with it.
    He also throws a changeup that has amazing depth and could become an above-average offering at the next level. 
    Davenport will be a pet project of Breslow’s pitching lab in an effort to enhance his pitch arsenal. If he can turn his fastball into a more consistent primary offering, he has a good chance to remain as a starter.
    Jack Lindsay
    The Boston Red Sox have designated left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe for assignment on Saturday after he went two innings against the Mets and walked three. Coulombe struggled through the 2026 season producing a 4.95 ERA in 20 innings of work with a 1.50 WHIP and an 11.4% strikeout rate versus a bloated 13.6% walk rate. The underlying numbers backed up his performance this season, as he produced a 4.71 FIP and a 5.91 SIERA. 
    Coulombe was brought in as lefty help in the spring, with only closer Aroldis Chapman profiling as a legitimate left-handed option, but he did not meet the expectations set for him.
    One interesting note from Chris Cotillo, who broke the DFA news:
    So it seems that beyond his play this season, there was legitimate financial incentive for the Red Sox to make this move. No corresponding transaction has been announced yet.
    Jack Lindsay
    The Red Sox selected Jace Mataczynski with the No. 96 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Jace Mataczynski is a shortstop at Hudson High School in Wisconsin, coming in at 6'3, 190 lbs. The slot value for the pick is $815,700. He was ranked 108 on our MLB Draft Consensus Board. Mataczynski is currently committed to the University of Auburn and will have to be talked out of that commitment in order to sign with Boston.
    Here’s what our write-up of Jace Mataczynski by Jamie Cameron has to say:
    "Jace Mataczynski, like many cold-weather prospects, exploded onto the scene in a hurry and has remained in the cross hairs of the scouting community ever since. The Auburn commit out of Wisconsin displays premium athleticism and twitch, present in both his offensive and defensive profiles. At the plate, it’s a right handed swing that could still stand to add a touch more refinement. He starts in a wide base with a higher handset, close to his ear. From there it’s a drift back into his load before a small jabbing step into his swing. Mataczynski’s wide base helps him get into his legs well and there’s plenty of present bat speed. I’d envision some of the mechanical rawness working itself out via his impressive athleticism. Defensively, he has a good chance to stick at short. He’s a fluid mover with smooth actions and a decisive first step. His hands are soft and there’s a really quick arm there, too (he’s been clocked up to 98 mph in the infield). This is the type of talent, and twitch that can end up looking like a draft steal. If Mataczynski’s offensive game continues to trend in the right direction, he’ll check most of the boxes you’re looking for in a projection-reliant shortstop profile."
    Brandon Glick
    According to multiple sources with ties to the Boston Red Sox, the Pittsburgh Pirates have submitted an offer for "multiple MLB players" on the roster.
    Garrett Whitlock is a confirmed part of the Pirates' offer. There are no indications as to their other request(s), though their need for bullpen help suggests perhaps another reliever, such as Aroldis Chapman or Justin Slaten, would be sensible. They have the fourth-ranked scoring offense in baseball, so it's unlikely that they'd seek one of the hitters from the Sox's moribund lineup.
    No indications have been given as to their proposed return, though I've corroborated with multiple sources that Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler are not part of the deal. It hardly goes without saying, but any dreams about Paul Skenes coming over are also unrealistic.
    At this time, no deal is reportedly close to completion. The front office almost certainly will hold out hope that they can keep their sinking ship buoyant before agreeing to a sell-off, and their pre-All-Star-Break stretch against the Angels, White Sox, and Mets has given them the perfect chance to get back on track before the second half.
    Matthew Lenz
    The Boston Red Sox are 9-2 over their last 11 games and one of the hottest teams in all of baseball. While their season ebbs and flows with their offense, it's their pitching groups that are likely to receive most of the attention at the upcoming deadline.

    Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that several teams are interested in Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray.

    Gray has long been one of the best non-ace starting pitchers in Major League Baseball, and is on his way to a career year at 36. Through 16 starts, the bulldog has pitched to a 2.61 ERA, though a 3.61 FIP suggests some regression may be in his future, and a 16.4% K-BB rate. In short, he's been one of the few bright spots for a team that had high aspirations at the start of the season.

    Under normal circumstances, he would fetch a healthy return in any trade; the impending lockout in his age-37 season, along with a mutual option for 2027, is anything but "normal". Ultimately, the right-hander could end up being a rental rather than a piece a team can count on for this season and next. Obviously, this will have an impact on the return the Red Sox can get on the trade market.
    The Red Sox are very much in the playoff race. Do you think they should trade Gray? Let us know in the comments!
     
    Matthew Lenz
    The Boston Red Sox are in the midst of another disappointing season, yet find themselves only four games out of the American League's final wild card spot. Whether they buy, sell, or stand pat at the deadline remains to be seen, but there will be a market for some of their players.
    Jarren Duran is one of those players, and Chandler Rome of The Athletic is reporting that the "[Houston] Astros focus at the trade deadline is a left-handed hitting outfielder." If the Red Sox don't find any prospects that strike their fancy, the Astros do have more left-handed relievers than one bullpen realistically needs. This could allow the Red Sox to deal from the Major League roster while also bolstering another position group, especially if they decide to move Aroldis Chapman. However, even if they were to move Chapman, their bullpen isn't necessarily in need of more southpaws.
    Like much of the Red Sox offense, Duran has struggled this year, slashing .201/.261/.364 this year with 13 home runs and 14 stolen bases across 82 games. He has two more years of team control.
     
    Do you think the Red Sox should trade Duran? Join the conversation in the comments!
     
    Steve Drumwright
    While it took an extra few days, Willson Contreras is officially going to the 2026 All-Star Game.
    The first baseman for the Boston Red Sox was named as an injury replacement for next Tuesday's game at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. Contreras, an All-Star for the fourth time, replaces Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who said he was not going to play in the game to rest his ailing back.

    Contreras joins left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman and left-handed starter Ranger Suarez as representing the last-place Red Sox in the All-Star Game.
    Acquired in the offseason in a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, Contreras, a former catcher, has had a career season offensively, posting a .284/.378/.542 with 20 homers and 59 RBIs in 86 games. Contreras has already matched his home run totals from last year and 2023, while his career best is 24 in 2019.
    Contreras is also awaiting word on his appeal of a seven-game suspension resulting from an incident with the Washington Nationals. Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli, the other primary figure in that incident, had his suspension reduced from seven to five games and began serving that Monday.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    After a long wait, Patrick Sandoval is finally joining the Boston Red Sox.
    The left-handed starter was activated Monday by the Red Sox off the 60-day injured list as he returns from Tommy John surgery and left biceps discomfort. To make room for Sandoval on the 26-man and 40-man rosters, left-handed reliever Alec Gamboa was optioned to Triple-A Worcester and right-hander Jack Anderson was designated for assignment.
    Sandoval underwent Tommy John surgery during the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Angels, with his comeback delayed with the biceps issue. Sandoval signed with the Red Sox after the 2024 season with an eye on making it back for Opening Day this year. He made eight rehab appearances, pitching 23⅔ innings and putting up a 3.42 ERA with 13 walks and 22 strikeouts.
    Sandoval has a 3.96 career FIP (4.01 ERA) with a 9.9% walk rate and 22.9% strikeout rate.
    Gamboa has appeared in four games with the Red Sox this season, including making his MLB debut May 5. In five innings, he has allowed two runs on three hits, including a homer, with four walks and four strikeouts.
    Anderson made his MLB debut in April, pitching in three games and covering eight innings. He walked two and struck out six, while giving up one run on eight hits. He has a 4.81 ERA in 16 games (11 starts) at Triple-A this year.
     
×
×
  • Create New...