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    Trade and free agent rumors posted here.

    115 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Boston Red Sox may have narrowed their focus to one shortstop as Monday's 6 p.m. ET trade deadline approaches, but the price could be their top prospect. The discussion now is whether that is the proper price to pay to upgrade one of the most important positions on the field.

      Franklin Arias, Talk Sox's No. 1 prospect who was just recently promoted to play shortstop at Triple-A Worcester, is a big name being bandied about, although there are no discussions under way to acquire an MLB shortstop, Jen McCaffrey and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote in an article posted Saturday.

      That same report, citing one MLB executive, said the only way Arias could possibly be included in a deal was for All-Star Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams. Seemingly that would rule out Zack Neto of the Los Angeles Angels, while Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins has already been crossed off.

      The 25-year-old Abrams entered Saturday with a .290/.367/.563 slash line, with that .563 slugging percentage leading the NL. He has 28 homers and 21 doubles and 83 RBIs. All but the doubles are the best numbers of his career.

      Abrams is making $4.2 million this season and has two more years of club control.

      Arias played second base for the second consecutive game Saturday after having only played the position five times in 75 games at Double-A Portland. Saturday marked Arias' sixth game at Triple-A.

       

      Matthew Nethercott

      The Red Sox have shown interest in infielder Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins, according to Buster Onlely of ESPN. Lopez currently leads the league in batting average (.328) and is truly a game-changer.

      With the injury to the newly acquired Curtis Mead that will sideline him for an unknown period of time, Boston is looking for other options to play middle infield and make an impact on each game. Lopez has 7 defensive runs saved at shortstop, which is tied for the third most in baseball, and would help the Red Sox' defense. Lopez also has logged some innings at second base this season and has been a good defender at that position as well.

      Onley also notes that any alternative brought in to play shortstop will replace Marcelo Mayer when he returns from the IL at the position. 

      If it was not clear before, the Red Sox are going for it at this deadline.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      While at first glance Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena doesn't feel like a great fit in a crowded Boston Red Sox outfield, he does have one attribute that could be a boon to the offense.

      He hits right-handed.

      With the Red Sox skewed left-handed when it comes to hitters, Arozarena would help balance that out. Arozarena is having a nice bounce-back year in 2026 with the Mariners, posting a .280/.375/.447 slash line with 13 homers and 48 RBIs in 103 games entering play Saturday. That .280 average is the highest since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when he hit .281 in 23 games. His power numbers are down from the 27 homers he hit last year, his first full season in pitcher-friendly Seattle, but that right-handed power would look good attacking the Green Monster at Fenway Park.

      Arozarena is making $15.65 million this year and is a free agent, so the cost to extract him from the Mariners might not be too great, although Seattle is still pushing for a postseason spot of its own. It also could be an opportunity to move an outfielder who may not fit the Red Sox's plans moving forward.

       

      Matthew Nethercott

      The Red Sox have been searching for a shortstop in recent days as the 2026 MLB trade deadline nears. It was reported earlier in the week that the Red Sox had interest in Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez. Sean McAdam of MassLive is reporting that those talks are "dead", with the two sides not having communicated as much in recent days.

      McAdam added that the Marlins are not motivated to move Lopez with years of club control remaining.

      It can be assumed that the Red Sox will remain active in talks to acquire a shortstop, with Angels Zach Neto and Nationals CJ Abrams remaining the best options for Boston to acquire before Monday night at 6:00pm EST.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      If the Boston Red Sox are truly going to acquire controllable talent at the trade deadline instead of a two-month rental, it might hurt a little bit when it comes to prospect capital.

      One area the Red Sox would love to find a long-term solution is catcher—and the most popular name when it comes to a controllable player and production is Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies.

      The 26-year-old is third in MLB with 31 homers, matching his 2025 total, and has a .254/.326/.545 slash line with 60 RBIs. While some might think he is just a product of the thin air at Coors Field, 18 of Goodman's homers have come on the road. While Goodman's defense has been questioned, that is something a team can work on.

      That type of right-handed power would look terrific at Fenway Park, right?

      But with the Rockies turning a corner under a new front office and actually looking competent, Colorado isn't necessarily in the mood to ship off a player the team can build around. Goodman is making $810,000, just above the MLB minimum, and has three more years of club control.

      So that makes the price a stiff one for competitors to pry away Goodman. Combine that with two other AL East rivals, the New York Yankees and first-place Tampa Bay Rays, also seeking a catcher before Monday's deadline, and the price increases that much more.

      According to several reports, the Rockies are looking at the very top of the prospect list if they are going to surrender their young star. For the Red Sox, that begins with shortstop Franklin Arias, who was just promoted to Triple-A Worcester and homered in his first plate appearance. The 20-year-old, Talk Sox's No. 1 prospect, entered play Friday with a .307/.393/.570 slash line in 79 games between Double-A and Triple-A this year.

      With a 15-game winning streak flipping the script on the Red Sox this month, would that price be worth it to not only guarantee a postseason spot but make a deep run to a World Series?

       

      Steve Drumwright

      One of the more coveted arms at the trade deadline hasn't pitched in an MLB game since mid-May. That is not stopping contenders from pursuing New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes.

      According to multiple reports, including Ari Alexander of Boston TV station WHDH, the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are among the chief competitors for the right-handed starter. Holmes has been out since taking a line drive off his right leg, resulting in a fractured right fibula May 15.

      But Holmes made what was expected to be a final rehab appearance Sunday at High A, pitching 5⅓ innings (73 pitches) and allowing four runs, three earned. He was a bright spot in a dismal Mets season before going down, posting a 3.21 FIP (2.39 ERA) in nine starts and 52⅔ innings, with an 8.4% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate.

      Holmes is being paid $13 million this year (about $3.8 million remaining) and $12 million next year. That plus the number of suitors means Holmes will come at a decent prospect cost.

      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.

       

      Matthew Nethercott

      The Red Sox are among the teams that have 'checked in' on Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera, according to Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Other AL East teams in need of catching help, like the rival Yankees, have also checked in. The Red Sox have gotten little production from the catcher position this season, with the position posting a 78 WRC+. 

      Herrera has posted a 111 WRC+ in 472 plate appearances, which would be a significant upgrade behind the plate for Boston. The best part is Herrera comes with club control through 2030, which would give the Red Sox some stability behind the plate for a few seasons to come, which is a nice alternative to Connor Wong and Carlos Narvaez, who currently anchor the position.

      Behind the plate, Herrera is not the best defensive option, however. Herrera has posted -2 defensive runs saved over 347.0 innings logged while catching. Herrera is also not the best framer behind the plate, but that might not matter to teams as much with ABS, which Herrera has been above league average with behind the plate (63% overturn rate, according to Statcast).

      Matthew Nethercott

      As has been rumored for days now, the Red Sox are in the market, with their AL East foes, the Yankees and the Rays, for a catcher. Reports over the past 48 hours indicate that Orioles' Adley Rutschman could hit the market, with the latest report coming from Mark Feinstand of MLB.com. 

      With the Orioles sitting two games under .500 going into their game against the Phillies tonight, their status as sellers could become clear within the coming days.

      In a story earlier today, insider Joel Sherman noted that the Orioles will have no issue dealing in the division, saying “one item that will not deter the Orioles if they trade Rutschman is doing so within the AL East, a source said." 

      Rutschman is having a productive 2026 after a down 2025, posting a 115 wRC+ over 284 plate appearances, which is much higher than the 92 wRC+ he posted last season. Rutschman has been on the IL multiple times this season, including right now with left wrist inflammation. Earlier this season, it was left-ankle inflammation and a concussion that kept him on the IL for 10 days each.

      Rutschman has superstar potential in him and could bring great defense and a great bat to any contender he gets moved to, if he's moved, of course. Rutschman also comes with team control for 2027, so he is not a rental and would be a big impact next season.

       

       

      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!

       

       

      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!

      Matthew Lenz

       

      With a depleted rotation creating uncertainty heading into the stretch run, the Boston Red Sox are expected to prioritize adding a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. While injuries and inconsistent performance have left shortstop and second base unsettled, the bigger need comes on the mound, where an established starter could help stabilize the staff. The Red Sox could still explore upgrades up the middle defensively, including at catcher and in the infield, but adding rotation help is the clearest path to strengthening the roster.

      Multiple MLB insiders are reporting that Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene is drawing significant trade interest, though the Red Sox haven't been formally tied to the 26-year-old righty.

      Greene, who is under team control through 2029, has only made four starts in 2026. Though his ERA is 7.06, his 3.20 FIP suggests that the gloves behind him have been a large reason for the inflated ERA. He's pitched to a 23.5% strikeout-minus-walk (K-BB) rate across 21 2/3 innings. Though the former 2nd overall pick is young and controllable, durability has certainly been a huge question mark in his first five big league seasons.

      Do you think the Red Sox should take a chance on the fireballer? Join the conversation in the comments!

       

       

      Matthew Nethercott

      The Seattle Mariners are listening on most of their starting rotation, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

      Passan reported Saturday afternoon that multiple teams have engaged in discussions about right-handed pitcher George Kirby, as well as right-hander Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock.

      Kirby, 28, is earning $6.55 million this season after avoiding arbitration and remains under team control through 2028. This season, he's sporting a 20.9% strikeout rate and a 20.9% whiff rate, both of which sit below average, offset by an elite 5.7% walk rate. His 3.33 FIP edges his 3.76 xERA, but quality of contact has crept up (.303 xwOBA, .384 xSLG, 42.0% hard-hit), leaving him reliant on limiting damage in the zone. The 96.6 mph fastball still plays; the swing-and-miss less so.

      The Red Sox are always looking at pitching, making any three of these pitchers a fit.

       

       

      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.

       

      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.

       

       

      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!

       

      Matthew Lenz

      Yesterday, it was rumored that the Boston Red Sox were looking for a right-handed bat to improve their lineup. It seems that one of the players they may look to move to make this happen could be backstop Connor Wong.

      Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic is reporting that the Red Sox are "shopping" Wong, who has some depth at catcher with Carlos Narvaez and Mickey Gasper also on the 40-man roster.

      Wong has been solid, yet unspectacular this year, slashing .247/.305/.377 this year with 0 home runs and a stolen base. While those numbers are roughly league average (99 wRC+), the lack of power (.111 ISO) really mitigates any impact in the lineup. Moreover, he profiles has a below average (or worse) catcher behind the plate and it really makes you wonder what kind of value Wong has on the market. However, a team doesn't have to look back more than a couple of years to his 2024 breakout to see some potential in a guy who has two years of team control beyond 2026. 

      It's also worth noting that McCaffrey says the Red Sox have received calls on some bullpen arms: Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, and Justin Slaten. However, she reports that they currently have "no interest in dealing anyone from that bullpen trio." In other words, it's too early to label yourself a seller (and the Red Sox are very much in the Wild Card race).

      Do you think the Red Sox can get anything for Connor Wong? Join the conversation in the comments!

      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

      Following the trade that netted them Caleb Durban and three other assets, the Boston Red Sox reportedly are not done, making moves that could impact the opening day roster. Most notably, having dealt away from their big league pitching staff, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is looking to reinforce one area of that pitching staff.

      Tim Healey of the Boston Globe is reporting that  Breslow is "continuing to look" at bullpen additions. He adds that they could still dig into their starting pitcher surplus to fill that need.

      Bolstering the bullpen has been a secondary goal of the front office all offseason, and they prioritized chasing middle-of-the-order bats and players who could fill the void at third base. Following the acquisition of Caleb Durbin, they can now hone in on improving their group of relievers. Check out Alex Mays' article on how they could accomplish that via a trade. Otherwise, the free agent market is filled with names that have a track record of being solid but may be past those years, such as a David Robertson or Rafael Montero.

      The most realistic outcome feels like an internal move that sees a starting pitcher transition into a relief role. Whether that would mean an experienced starter like Brayan Bello, or Johan Oviedo, or possibly a high-ceiling prospect like Payton Tolle or Connelly Early remains to be seen.

      How do you think the Boston Red Sox should improve their bullpen internally, in a trade, or via free agency? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      Despite being nine games under .500, the Boston Red Sox are looking to improve their lineup for a second-half push to the postseason. Although they currently sit 11 games out of the division lead, they are just 3.5 games out of a playoff spot in the Wild Card race.

      Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that the Red Sox "are looking to add a right-handed bat and willing to spend money to do it."

      The Red Sox have had one of the worst lineups this year in large part due to some of their right-handed bats, such as Caleb Durbin, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Connor Wong (albeit the sample is small), and Trevor Story. Of course, it's not likely that they will find a solution to their woes at this juncture in the season. The hot stove has its pilot light on, but it has yet to ignite. Moreover, since the Wild Card expanded to three teams, it takes longer for teams to determine their path and buyers and sellers, and there are typically fewer teams willing to sell.

      Who do you think the Red Sox should pursue? Join the conversation in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      Before acquiring Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, and a comp B pick, the Boston Red Sox had their sights set on a different player to fill their infield needs.

      Sean McAdam of MassLive wrote the following: "With Marte off the market, the Red Sox, according to an industry source, took several tries at obtaining Zach Neto from the Los Angeles Angels". He added that "Neto could have moved [off shortstop] to either second or third for the time being until Trevor Story’s deal was up." However, the Halos "set a very high bar" to acquire Neto.

      Neto, 25, played 128 games in 2025, carrying a .793 OPS with 26 home runs and swiping 26 bags. In two plus years in the big leagues, Neto has now posted a 115 wRC+ or better in back-to-back seasons. However, his -6 Outs Above Average indicates that shortstop may not be his best position long term, but that the hot corner or keystone, in fact, are better defensive spots for the righty. 

      Do you think the Red Sox made the right move in acquiring Durbin instead of giving up what it took for Neto? Let us know in the comments!

      Brock Beauchamp

      Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported that Red Sox closer and soon-to-be free agent Kenley Jansen is open to returning to the Red Sox but wants to pitch for a contender in 2025. The 36-year-old right-hander acknowledges he is in the twilight of his career and wants to make the most of his remaining years.

      While Jansen is in the latter-half of his 30s, he has shown few signs of slowing down. In his two seasons with Boston, he has pitched in 102 games with a 125 ERA+ and 111 strikeouts in 96.1 innings pitched.

      Given the volatility of relievers, particularly aging relievers, it's hard to predict what the free agent market will offer Jansen. He may have to settle for a one-year deal but if a desperate team aggressively pursues him, a two-year contract might be in play.

      Would you bring back Jansen for 2025 and what kind of contract would you be willing to offer him?

      Brock Beauchamp

      Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow met with journalists (including The Boston Globe's Alex Speier) in Toronto and mentioned some goals for the Red Sox this winter.

      The key takeaways were an interest in bringing back outfielder Tyler O'Neill for 2025 and beyond. O'Neill, a bounceback candidate coming out of St Louis, bounced back in the biggest way possible this season. He smacked 31 home runs and posted a 131 OPS+. The righty should be in demand this offseason.

      Additionally, Breslow had this to say about the offseason:

      Quote

      “I think it’s likely some of that comes via trade, because there’s only so many middle infielders and lefthanded hitting outfielders we can play at any given time.”

      This is an interesting statement in that it's rare to see baseball executives openly suggest they're going to trade away players before the season has even ended. It makes a lot of sense given Boston's left-handedness and trading from positions to strength to fill team weaknesses. But who do you think might be dangled as trade bait this winter?

      Brock Beauchamp

      Rob Bradford of WEEI tweeted that right-handed slugger Tyler O'Neill talked to Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow and that there is "definitely mutual interest" in returning for the 2025 season and beyond.

      The 29-year-old Canadian outfielder earned $5.85 million playing with the Sox in 2024, slugged 31 home runs, and had his best offensive season since 2021 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He also filled an important niche for the left-hand-dominant Red Sox, posting a 1.180 OPS against left-handed pitching.

      Any contract to O'Neill will require 3+ years at a rather high annual rate. What would you pay to retain the not-yet-30 outfielder?

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