Article: 5 Prospects the Red Sox Could Trade if They Decide to be Trade Deadline Buyers

[Nick John]

With the season now into July and the field of contenders, pretenders and non-contenders being sorted out, most teams have an idea which direction they may be taking at the trade deadline this year. The Red Sox on the other hand are in a tough position, sitting just 2.5 games out of a playoff spot, though it's been made clear that the team is inclined to be buyers, especially as their offense looks to gain a boost with the return of Alex Bregman and Masataka Yoshida for the second half of the season. Unfortunately, this team has been consistently inconsistent since the very first week of the season, and there are a few players the team could ship out to help build up talent for the 2026 season.

With a farm system that entered the season ranked third in baseball by MLB Pipeline, the Red Sox have the depth and talent across their farm system to absorb trades to acquire talent for a run at the 2025 postseason. With that in mind, here are five prospects that could be moved in a trade should the Red Sox look to be buyers at the deadline.

#5) David Sandlin

Sandlin, the former 11th-round pick out of the University of Oklahoma in the 2022 MLB Draft, was acquired at the start of spring training in 2024 from the Kansas City Royals for John Schreiber. In his first year pitching in the Red Sox organization, it was a season of mixed results. Sandlin would split the year between Greenville and Portland, going winless while starting 18 games. He would toss a total of 57 1/3 innings in that span while allowing 34 runs on 61 hits, 14 of them being home runs, and 18 walks. What really stood out for Sandlin was the number of strikeouts that he got, ringing up 82 batters. In 2025, he’s made adjustments and has turned himself into a highly-regarded pitching prospect in the organization. So far on the season, he’s appeared in 13 games (11 starts) and has won four games, including a complete game shutout on May 29, and was part of a no-hitter on June 22. He’s blown past his innings total from last season, already at 64 innings pitched, allowing 26 runs on 53 hits, four of them being home runs, and 21 walks. However, his strikeouts have dropped to only 69 on the season.

The main reason for moving Sandlin in a deal would be the fact that he’s Rule 5 eligible this offseason, and unless the team views him as a pitcher to protect, there’s a good chance another team will take a chance on him, especially with a fastball that peaks at 100 mph that would really play in a bullpen role in the majors. Add to it a sweeping slider that can reach 93 mph and a splitter that has late movement with massive bat-missing potential and it’s hard not to picture him getting taken in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft.

Many would hope that the Red Sox protect Sandlin and add him to the 40-man roster this offseason, but with several young, exciting pitchers in the system such as Payton Tolle, Luis Perales, Connelly Early and Brandon Clarke, they team may view Sandlin as the perfect piece to get a deal done.

#4) Blaze Jordan

Another player who has brought discussion back to his name in regard to prospect status, Jordan is another player who makes sense to be moved in the right trade. Jordan, drafted in the third round out of high school in the 2020 MLB Draft, has had his ups and downs in the Red Sox's farm system. Now in his fifth season with the Red Sox, Jordan has made his way up to Triple-A Worcester at only 22 years old, where he’s handling the competition well. Through his first 26 games there, Jordan is hitting .279/.318/.462 with eight doubles, a triple, three home runs and 14 RBIs. In total, he’s hitting .303/.378/.492 with 19 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 51 RBIs in 70 games split between Portland and Worcester.

Following a 2024 season that saw Jordan deal with injury and inconsistent play, he became eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time in his career. The Red Sox did not see a need to protect him, especially as there would not be much worry over losing someone that had struggled since being promoted to Double-A Portland near the end of the 2023 season. The Red Sox took the gamble and it paid off, as Jordan was passed over in a draft that saw five Red Sox prospects taken between the major and minor league portions of the event.

With what could be perceived as a chip on his shoulder, Jordan entered the 2025 season healthy, and after a tough April where he managed to slash .235/.321/.324, he took off in May and forced his name back into the discussion of top corner infield prospects in the Red Sox system.

Jordan’s biggest issue will continue to be his aggressiveness, as he chases early in counts far too often, limiting his ability to walk and increasing his strikeouts. His game will always have swing-and-miss in it, but his above-average in-game power means that when he makes contact, he manages to hit balls hard, something that teams may be willing to take a chance on either through a trade or by taking him in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason. The Red Sox would be wise to move Jordan with his value at its highest level in a long time and not take a chance of losing him for nothing.

#3) Mikey Romero

Romero, who was the Red Sox first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of high school, is an interesting player. Still only 21 years old, he has some growth left in him as a player, and in 2025 he’s starting to showcase the talent and potential that made him a first-round selection. In 47 games with Portland this season, Romero is hitting .283/.350/.489 to go along with 13 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 28 RBIs. This is an improvement on his solid debut in Portland last year, where in 16 games he hit .243/.257/.543 with three doubles, six home runs and 12 RBIs. The only slight against Romero is his ability to stay healthy, as he’s missed significant time in every season since 2023, where he dealt with a back injury. The injury later worsened into a stress fracture that limited him to just 34 games in 2023 and saw him begin the 2024 season on the injured list as he recovered from the injury.

In 2025 Romero got to enter spring training games for the Red Sox and managed to catch Alex Cora’s eye. During spring training, Cora was asked which prospects stood out to him other than the Big Three, and he answered Mikey Romero.

“Yeah, he’s a good player. A really good player. Just a baseball player. Good at-bats. Good defender. Mikey Romero is a good player. ... He did everything this offseason to put himself in good shape. He’s a lot stronger now. But this is the first I’ve had a look at him consistently. And I like him as a player.”

Romero is showing he can hold his own against tougher competition thanks to his performance in Portland this season, however, the Red Sox also have a major league infield that is full with the likes of Alex Bregman, Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, Romy González, Abraham Toro and David Hamilton on the roster, not to mention Kristian Campbell and Nick Sogard in Worcester and Triston Casas looking to return next season. It’s a crowded infield and will only get more crowded as infield prospects Franklin Arias, Yoeilin Cespedes and Dorian Soto continue to move up the system. Just like with Sandlin and Jordan, it would be wise for the Red Sox to take advantage of their surplus of talent and a player’s great season to see what they could get to make a playoff run.

#2) James Tibbs III

Tibbs may be the last player Red Sox fans want to see on this list. Acquired in the controversial Rafael Devers trade, Tibbs is very likely to be moved either at the deadline or in the offseason if they can get the right player back for him. Tibbs was the San Francisco Giants’ first-round pick last season and was sent to Boston after playing in 57 games for High-A Eugene this season. In those 57 games, he hit .246/.379/.478 with 10 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs and 32 RBIs while also walking 42 times.

Upon being acquired by the Red Sox, he was immediately sent to Double-A Portland where he’s managed to hit well despite a lack of power. In 14 games with his new team, Tibbs has managed to hit .291/.375/.364 with two doubles, a triple, no home runs and three RBIs.

It was never his offense that was in question for Tibbs, as he’s patient at the plate and makes good swing decisions as he has a low chase rate and makes consistent contact with pitches in the zone. He also has above-average raw power and thanks to his swing having a slight uppercut, he drives the ball with back spin. Defensively is where the concerns are, due to his below-average speed and a lack athleticism. In college, he moved around defensively from left field in his freshman season to first base in his sophomore season and then to right field in his final season in college.

Because of that, he’s viewed as a corner outfielder who could play some first, but should he make the majors with the Red Sox, he’s likely to remain in left field. Because of this, it’s unlikely he stays in the organization long enough to break the majors in Boston unless a major trade happens with players on the major league roster. This is due to the outfield already being packed with several outstanding players like Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran, not to mention the likes of Rob Refsnyder and Yoshida.

Even if Tibbs isn’t moved leading up to the deadline, he’s a name to check in on during offseason trade talks. His offensive potential alone should make him a player several teams could be interested in.

#1) Jhostynxon Garcia

Garcia is different than the other prospects listed. Signed as an international free agent in 2019, Garcia was added to the 40-man roster last offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft and is only 22 years old. The Red Sox don’t have to worry about losing him in the offseason, and since they added him to the 40-man roster, they likely have some sort of plan to eventually bring him up to Boston. Because of this, Garcia is someone who the Sox should only trade if it was to bring back a true No. 2 pitcher to pair with Garrett Crochet atop the rotation. A player that I would love to see the Red Sox go after and would be fine with them including Garcia in a deal for would be someone like Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins, if he became available. He’s been amazing this season, winning eight games in 17 appearances (16 starts) to go along with a 2.75 ERA in 98 1/3 innings and 108 strikeouts.

Garcia wouldn’t be the only piece going back to Minnesota in a hypothetical trade, but thanks to his production on the season, he could be a player who sways a deal in Boston’s favor. In 68 games this season between Portland and Worcester, Garcia is hitting .272/.355/.480 with 11 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 42 RBIs. Plus, he's playing excellent defense, as he has five outfield assists so far on the season.

Garcia is an interesting prospect, as he’s still working on a plethora of areas of weakness such as the swing-and-miss that’s in his game and his habit to expand the zone often. Despite that, Garcia has shown an ability to produce high exit velocities on pitches he hits. His improvement has been seen around the league, as he was selected to the All-Star Futures Game in 2025 where he can hopefully put his skills on display.

Defensively, he’s taken to center field thanks to his strong instincts and range despite a lack of speed, but could be moved to a corner outfield position as he gets older. His arm is also an area of strength for him, which will allow him to handle any outfield position, especially right field.

Garcia should not be moved just to make a trade. Again, it should only be in a big deal that will really help the roster make a playoff run this season and beyond.

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There are other prospects who could get traded depending on the situation, though these five may be crucial in a deal to really upgrade the team without selling the entire farm. With the depth in the system, the organization could stomach trading any of these five without seeing a huge drop off in performance across the multiple levels. This trade season could be an interesting one for the Red Sox should they decide to be buyers.

What do you think of our list? Are there any prospects here you don't want to see traded? Any players not on this list that you think the Sox should trade? Let us know in the comments!

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[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I can't trade The Password. Right-handed home run power is a rare commodity in Boston lately.

HRs may be too much of baseball's all-or-nothing offense, but the promise and threat of instant runs is part of a balanced attack -- and one we all know will be missed again the next time Boston faces a tough pitching staff (especially after dealing you know who).

Plus, look carefully at the video in the article of Garcia. The locks bouncing off his broad shoulders in his home run trot... the side-view replay of the swing extension at 0:32 -- there's no doubt who that looks like...

[mvp 78]

I don't care about sneaking into the playoffs this year. It'd be dumb to move Garcia to do so. I'm fine with moving the other 4. 

[Duran Is The Man]

43 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I can't trade The Password. Right-handed home run power is a rare commodity in Boston lately.

HRs may be too much of baseball's all-or-nothing offense, but the promise and threat of instant runs is part of a balanced attack -- and one we all know will be missed again the next time Boston faces a tough pitching staff (especially after dealing you know who).

Plus, look carefully at the video in the article of Garcia. The locks bouncing off his broad shoulders in his home run trot... the side-view replay of the swing extension at 0:32 -- there's no doubt who that looks like...

i thought the same thing.  no way we trade Manny Jr.

[notin]

46 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't care about sneaking into the playoffs this year. It'd be dumb to move Garcia to do so. I'm fine with moving the other 4. 

But how valuable is Garcias to Boston?  With their current roster, they might not have a starting OF position available until 2030.  Sure there will definitely be injuries in that time, but do you keep Garcia around for depth?  Or avoid trading him in a potentially meaningful trade just so he can replace Refsnyder on the weak side of a platoon?

He’s not available for just anyone but I think he has to be available…

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

But how valuable is Garcias to Boston?  With their current roster, they might not have a starting OF position available until 2030.  Sure there will definitely be injuries in that time, but do you keep Garcia around for depth?  Or avoid trading him in a potentially meaningful trade just so he can replace Refsnyder on the weak side of a platoon?

He’s not available for just anyone but I think he has to be available…

He doesn't need to be a starter. He needs to replace Refsnyder since Duran and Abreu (whichever they keep around) can't hit LHP.

[drewski6]

56 minutes ago, notin said:

But how valuable is Garcias to Boston?  With their current roster, they might not have a starting OF position available until 2030.  Sure there will definitely be injuries in that time, but do you keep Garcia around for depth?  Or avoid trading him in a potentially meaningful trade just so he can replace Refsnyder on the weak side of a platoon?

He’s not available for just anyone but I think he has to be available…

No offense, but I think we worry too much about fit/position and not enough about talent.

[drewski6]

54 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He doesn't need to be a starter. He needs to replace Refsnyder since Duran and Abreu (whichever they keep around) can't hit LHP.

He could be a DH, he could be a 1B.  Dude seems like a breakout

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

He could be a DH, he could be a 1B.  Dude seems like a breakout

He's young and cheap. Maybe they trade him, but they don't have much coming up behind him if they do! 🫣

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

He doesn't need to be a starter. He needs to replace Refsnyder since Duran and Abreu (whichever they keep around) can't hit LHP.

That’s a fairly small and specific role to keep a prospect for.

 

I could see him filling that role, but i wouldn’t let losing out on a weak side outfield platoon stand in the way of a potentially good trade…

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

That’s a fairly small and specific role to keep a prospect for.

 

I could see him filling that role, but i wouldn’t let losing out on a weak side outfield platoon stand in the way of a potentially good trade…

I'm not trading Garcia for any two month rental. 

[notin]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm not trading Garcia for any two month rental. 

And it probably won’t take Garcia to get one.  But what about a player with 1+ years of control or more? 

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

And it probably won’t take Garcia to get one.  But what about a player with 1+ years of control or more? 

In theory, I'd trade Garcia for another player. I just don't believe Breslow would win that trade this deadline. I'd be more apt to trade Garcia if I felt like the Sox were a legit contender and needed a piece or two to get them over the top. 

[Maxbialystock]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He doesn't need to be a starter. He needs to replace Refsnyder since Duran and Abreu (whichever they keep around) can't hit LHP.

I agree about not trading him, but must remind that, contrary to public opinion, the Sox lineup has an OPS of .798 vs lefties and .733 vs righties.  

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, notin said:

That’s a fairly small and specific role to keep a prospect for.

 

I could see him filling that role, but i wouldn’t let losing out on a weak side outfield platoon stand in the way of a potentially good trade…

Remember when you were taling about Rhys Hoskins vs Andrew Vaughn and theorizing that the moves were to build trade value for Rhys because why else acquire Vaughn just to park him in minors.  Well , I looked into it and heres what was said:

"we figure out ways to play our nine best hitters"

Changing positions is at an all time high. Obvs there are limits, like you arent going to put Refsnyder at short-stop. But this just isnt how teams are constructed anymore. Worried about who is blocking who.  nine best hitters, and maybe have a couple defensive aces in there, sure - but generally - players just arent looked at from the lens of position anymore.

Taking your catcher putting em in the outfield, infield to outfield, outfield to infield.  Its musical chairs, and good defensive players figure it out.  Having your best defensive OF play infield isnt rare.  Every year more and more guys move around.  Teach someone firstbase.  Dont trade a better player for a weaker one just because that player has played a position the better player could learn.

TLDR: position shmosition

[drewski6]

everyone in mlb has changed positions multiple times.

[mvp 78]

39 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

I agree about not trading him, but must remind that, contrary to public opinion, the Sox lineup has an OPS of .798 vs lefties and .733 vs righties.  

And once Refsnyder is gone, that vs LHP number will get worse. Devers had a 146 wRC+ vs LHP. He'll be replaced by someone worse as well.

[Larry Cook]

Last trade deadline, bres-slow moved secondary farm pieces for garbage relievers!!!!

maybe this year, he moves better farm pieces for better relievers????

[Nick John]

On 7/7/2025 at 8:39 AM, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I can't trade The Password. Right-handed home run power is a rare commodity in Boston lately.

HRs may be too much of baseball's all-or-nothing offense, but the promise and threat of instant runs is part of a balanced attack -- and one we all know will be missed again the next time Boston faces a tough pitching staff (especially after dealing you know who).

Plus, look carefully at the video in the article of Garcia. The locks bouncing off his broad shoulders in his home run trot... the side-view replay of the swing extension at 0:32 -- there's no doubt who that looks like...

If you can get a bonafide number 2 or even a 1B to pair with Crochet, I don't care who it is, I'm moving that prospect. If you can get a Joe Ryan (who's under contract cheaply) or a MacKenzie Gore (unlikely to be moved) you do it and set this rotation up for success for the next two to three years.