Passan: Red Sox Potential "Best Fit" For Several Trade Candidates

[Nick John]

As the trade deadline quickly approaches, the Red Sox are being considered among the buyers in Major League Baseball. As the club looks to upgrade specific positions, ESPN’s Jeff Passan has released his Top 50 trade deadline candidates, and the Red Sox are being considered a “best fit” for several players. Both rental and long-term assets are being considered, as the list contains exciting names.

Among the rentals that Boston is considered as a potential “best fit” are first basemen Ryan O’Hearn and Josh Naylor and pitcher Merrill Kelly. Those three players would likely cost less than the others on the list due to their impending free agency.

Those who would be under contract for more than the remainder of this season include pitchers Sandy Alcantara, Kris Bubic, Mitch Keller, Taj Bradley, and Edward Cabrera. OF this group, Alcantara and Bubic could become free agents after next season. Alcantara also has a $21 million team option for the 2027 season but can be bought out for $2 million.

Both Cabrera and Keller would be under team control through the 2028 season, the former through arbitration and the latter having signed an extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates through the 2028 season.

Of the batch, Bradley may be the most expensive. Not arbitration eligible until after the 2026 season. If traded for Bradley would come back to Boston with four more years of control.

What do you think? Of the players listed, who do you want the most? Or are you not interested in any of them? Leave your thoughts below in the comments.

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[mvp 78]

Bubic, Keller and Kelly would be the top of my list. Not overly excited about the other names. 

[Larry Cook]

Keller is at best a good replacement for Fitts in the rotation!!  
 

can bres-slow put together a strong enough package to pry gore away from Washington???

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Larry Cook said:

Keller is at best a good replacement for Fitts in the rotation!!  
 

can bres-slow put together a strong enough package to pry gore away from Washington???

Keller AVG start '25: 6IP, 2.3 ER

Fitts AVG start '25: 4.3IP, 2.0 ER

Bello AVG start '25: 5.7IP, 2.1 ER

Give me a guy who averages better than a QS every time out.