Red Sox 'Checked In' On Marlins' Otto Lopez

[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.

View full rumor

[JoeBrady]

So long as we have Arias, we have no fit for another l/t infielder.  Otto is legit, but I wouldn't trade good prospects for him.

[UtahSox]

It’s seems like if anybody in media hears about trade, it’s usually the kiss of death. If you’re close to a deal neither side leaks it. When you’re far away from deal, and one side leaks it hoping for added pressure from fanbase one way or another. This with 75% certainty is the case here. So we can cross Otto off the list. 

[moonslav59]

Lots of Brez-kicked tires.

[notin]

Due diligence.  

[mvp 78]

Shouldn't he be checking in on guys from every team TBH? A lot of the reports that come out around now are basically just "Red Sox like players that are good at baseball." 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

"The Red Sox are going for it at this deadline" ... IF they make a significant trade for legitimate talent.

Just fanning feathers like a peacock is only a display to attract fans.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, UtahSox said:

It’s seems like if anybody in media hears about trade, it’s usually the kiss of death. If you’re close to a deal neither side leaks it. When you’re far away from deal, and one side leaks it hoping for added pressure from fanbase one way or another. This with 75% certainty is the case here. So we can cross Otto off the list. 

Yup, you won't hear of it until it's done.  That's why I shake my head at the fans when they claim their GM couldn't close the deal on a three-way trade where they were getting Ohtani, Yordan and Judge.

[southpaw777]

Due diligence

As long as we keep Arias. I wouldn’t give up a ton for him. Couple prospects. We would have a good leadoff guy with a good bat and solid D at SS. 

[UtahSox]

1 hour ago, southpaw777 said:

Due diligence

As long as we keep Arias. I wouldn’t give up a ton for him. Couple prospects. We would have a good leadoff guy with a good bat and solid D at SS. 

I think fans are a lot more bullish on Arias than the Boston Red Sox are, call it a hunch, but they are definitely looking for a short stop, which should tell you something. I think fans love to crown the next guy coming as the next Mookie betts, but of the thousands upon thousands of players they analyze every year there’s one Mookie.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, UtahSox said:

I think fans are a lot more bullish on Arias than the Boston Red Sox are, call it a hunch, but they are definitely looking for a short stop, which should tell you something. I think fans love to crown the next guy coming as the next Mookie betts, but of the thousands upon thousands of players they analyze every year there’s one Mookie.

I hear things like "Call Arias up, now" a lot, but normally it's followed with something like "what do we have to lose" or "let's see what he has." I don't get the "crowning" vibe. There was some for Anthony, especially after his half season of .800+ productivity, but I keep hearing all this talk that "everyone" or almost everyone and implying they expected greatness from all our prospects and from day one.

I was excited about the big three. I was surprised they handed KC the FT job on opening day 2025, but I don't recall even a majority thinking it made sense, let alone were liking it. Many felt Anthony was a key to the 2026 line-up, myself included, but nobody felt it was a slam dunk, and almost everyone felt we needed another big bat "just in case..."

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

but I don't recall even a majority thinking it made sense,

We had no good 2B options.  It made sense to me.  

[moonslav59]

58 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

We had no good 2B options.  It made sense to me.  

KC over Mayer? (You musta been in a small minority.)

[UtahSox]

5 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I hear things like "Call Arias up, now" a lot, but normally it's followed with something like "what do we have to lose" or "let's see what he has." I don't get the "crowning" vibe. There was some for Anthony, especially after his half season of .800+ productivity, but I keep hearing all this talk that "everyone" or almost everyone and implying they expected greatness from all our prospects and from day one.

I was excited about the big three. I was surprised they handed KC the FT job on opening day 2025, but I don't recall even a majority thinking it made sense, let alone were liking it. Many felt Anthony was a key to the 2026 line-up, myself included, but nobody felt it was a slam dunk, and almost everyone felt we needed another big bat "just in case..."

Oh no I’m reading comments from many on X, saying they don’t want even guys like Elly De La Cruz or Witt cuz we have Arias. It’s a very prevalent sentiment amongst those Red Sox fans on X… Maybe I’ve been burned so badly by the “big 3”. But I think the hype machine is out of control on Eyanson and Arias etc etc. 

[notin]

3 hours ago, UtahSox said:

Oh no I’m reading comments from many on X, saying they don’t want even guys like Elly De La Cruz or Witt cuz we have Arias. It’s a very prevalent sentiment amongst those Red Sox fans on X… Maybe I’ve been burned so badly by the “big 3”. But I think the hype machine is out of control on Eyanson and Arias etc etc. 

Out of control on Eyanson?

The highest praise Ive seen for Eyanson was someone saying they’d rather deal Early, which isn’t exactly an endorsement for Cooperstown.  Preferring Eyanson over the 105 career IP of Early?  I wouldn’t call that hype.

I would also consider Eyanson trade fodder…

[southpaw777]

12 hours ago, UtahSox said:

I think fans are a lot more bullish on Arias than the Boston Red Sox are, call it a hunch, but they are definitely looking for a short stop, which should tell you something. I think fans love to crown the next guy coming as the next Mookie betts, but of the thousands upon thousands of players they analyze every year there’s one Mookie.

Kids been raking in AA and he’s still hitting bombs inAAA off ML pitchers. I’d call his azz up and let him rake here. There isn’t a book on him yet. We did it with Bogey and Devers and BOTh worked out brilliantly.

i think they like the kid, especially seeing the results of the work they’ve put in with him. I hope he’s not traded unless the name coming back is Witt or DeLaCruz

[mvp 78]

12 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I hear things like "Call Arias up, now" a lot, but normally it's followed with something like "what do we have to lose" or "let's see what he has." I don't get the "crowning" vibe. There was some for Anthony, especially after his half season of .800+ productivity, but I keep hearing all this talk that "everyone" or almost everyone and implying they expected greatness from all our prospects and from day one.

I was excited about the big three. I was surprised they handed KC the FT job on opening day 2025, but I don't recall even a majority thinking it made sense, let alone were liking it. Many felt Anthony was a key to the 2026 line-up, myself included, but nobody felt it was a slam dunk, and almost everyone felt we needed another big bat "just in case..."

Per Sox Scouting Director Jake Bruml, once a player gets to AAA, they are considered ready for BOS. They try to get most of the development taken care of by AA now. I'm sure there are things he's still working on, but if they needed Arias tomorrow, I don't think the Sox would hesitate to make the call. 

[mvp 78]

7 hours ago, UtahSox said:

Oh no I’m reading comments from many on X, saying they don’t want even guys like Elly De La Cruz or Witt cuz we have Arias.

Every town has its idiot. 

There are many trades that make sense to put Arias into. They are just trades the opposing team wouldn't make. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

52 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Every town has its idiot.There are many trades that make sense to put Arias into. They are just trades the opposing team wouldn't make

Jen McCaffrey, respected Red Sox reporter for the Athletic, offers this trade proposal for Bobby Witt:

Arias and Eyanson...

AND Anthony...

AND Tolle. 

Holy moldy. How do you like them bad apples.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Jen McCaffrey, respected Red Sox reporter for the Athletic, offers this trade proposal for Bobby Witt:

Arias and Eyanson...

AND Anthony...

AND Tolle. 

Holy moldy. How do you like them bad apples.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

At least she didn't include that third round high school power hitter...

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

At least she didn't include that third round high school power hitter...

Not possible until the offseason. Can't trade draft picks! 

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

At least she didn't include that third round high school power hitter...

I’ll give that one an Arte Johnson.🤔

[notin]

22 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Jen McCaffrey, respected Red Sox reporter for the Athletic, offers this trade proposal for Bobby Witt:

Arias and Eyanson...

AND Anthony...

AND Tolle. 

Holy moldy. How do you like them bad apples.

Witt’s not an option.  And on BTV, that offer doesn’t come all that close, which is scary because BTV figures to be light during a seller’s market.

But there is no way KC moves Witt now.  Maybe in a couple years when his salary starts topping $30mill.  Maybe…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

Witt’s not an option.  And on BTV, that offer doesn’t come all that close, which is scary because BTV figures to be light during a seller’s market.

But there is no way KC moves Witt now.  Maybe in a couple years when his salary starts topping $30mill.  Maybe…

Maybe by then Arias will be the next Witt. Or Lindor. Or Mayer... 

[Old Red]

10 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

KC over Mayer? (You musta been in a small minority.)

I agree, but KC was the newest, shiniest bauble, and I don’t think Cora was ever that high on Mayer.

[notin]

30 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Maybe by then Arias will be the next Witt. Or Lindor. Or Mayer... 

Or the first Franklin Arias…

[moonslav59]

10 hours ago, UtahSox said:

Oh no I’m reading comments from many on X, saying they don’t want even guys like Elly De La Cruz or Witt cuz we have Arias. It’s a very prevalent sentiment amongst those Red Sox fans on X… Maybe I’ve been burned so badly by the “big 3”. But I think the hype machine is out of control on Eyanson and Arias etc etc. 

It's not so simple. Getting Witt would cost us half our top 10 prospects, so it's not Witt vs Arias, it's Witt vs Arias, Eyanson, Witherspoon, Gonzales and maybe Primera or Delzine.

That's not just "liking Arias' chances." It's more complicated.

BTW, how about the hype machine on Tolle, Early and Abreu & Rafaela from a few years back? At some point, every great player was a prospect and many of them were "hyped."

That being said, I'm not against trading top prospects and even Arias. I put SS in my top 3 high need area list with pitching and catcher. Grossly overpaying at deadlines is not the best way to build a team. Brez has proven is pretty damn good with winter trades and mostly misses on in season trades. That's not to say he should never do any, but summer deals are very costly- often much more costly than winter ones.

Brez needs to make a couple deals by AUG 3rd. I would not empty the farm to do it, but we don't need to be overly stingy, either.

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

It's not so simple. Getting Witt would cost us half our top 10 prospects, so it's not Witt vs Arias, it's Witt vs Arias, Eyanson, Witherspoon, Gonzales and maybe Primera or Delzine.

That's not just "liking Arias' chances." It's more complicated.

BTW, how about the hype machine on Tolle, Early and Abreu & Rafaela from a few years back? At some point, every great player was a prospect and many of them were "hyped."

That being said, I'm not against trading top prospects and even Arias. I put SS in my top 3 high need area list with pitching and catcher. Grossly overpaying at deadlines is not the best way to build a team. Brez has proven is pretty damn good with winter trades and mostly misses on in season trades. That's not to say he should never do any, but summer deals are very costly- often much more costly than winter ones.

Brez needs to make a couple deals by AUG 3rd. I would not empty the farm to do it, but we don't need to be overly stingy, either.

NOBODY was hyped more than the big three. Tolle, Early, and RAF Man certainly were nowhere close to even Casas with the hype that he got. I do agree on Witt though.

[JoeBrady]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Every town has its idiot. 

There are many trades that make sense to put Arias into. They are just trades the opposing team wouldn't make. 

The underlying logic behind all proposed trades is that there are 29 teams out trying to help us out.