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Although we’re barely a month into the regular MLB season, it’s never too early to start looking at potential trade deadline targets. For this exercise, I’ve split the targets into three sections: big splashes, potential needle-movers, and fringe additions. I also decided to focus on the three on-field areas that either need more depth (starting pitching), need a shot in the arm due to lack of production (first base), or need additions due to injuries AND lack of production (catcher). Could the Red Sox stand to add to other areas? Sure, but this article is focusing on the three current positions of need. With that being said, let’s dive into the names.
Big Splashes
- Sandy Alcantara, RHP - Alcantara kicks off this list of big splashes because he’s the most likely to be moved prior to the trade deadline. Yes, the Marlins currently sit in third in the NL East, but that division should prove to be a juggernaut and the Marlins simply can’t keep up once the other teams in the division start firing on all cylinders. Alcantara has had a rough start to the season. He’s currently sporting a 2-2 record with a 6.56 ERA. He’s working near identical strikeout and walk rates, 17% and 12% respectively. The enticing thing about Alcantara is that he’s proven recently that he can be an elite starter. He’s been stuck on a Marlins team that has been going nowhere for quite some time, but he still approaches his starts like each game is important. Sounds quite a bit like another starter from a floundering team that the Red Sox traded for this offseason, right?
- Cole Ragans, LHP - The Royals are flush with pitching and the Red Sox are flush with outfielders. Sounds like a perfect match to me. Ragans has been just okay so far this season, hanging out with one win and one loss with an ERA of 4.40. He’s the opposite of Alcantara though — Ragans is a strikeout machine. He’s currently working a 36.8% strikeout rate on the season, posting only a 6.1% walk rate. Ragans wouldn’t come cheap, as he’s only 27 and is coming off a stellar 2024 season. However, the Royals are likely to be desperate to improve their outfield situation and the Red Sox can help to make that a reality by building a deal around a number of outfielders who aren’t named Roman Anthony.
- Dylan Cease, RHP - A deal for Cease is predicated on the Padres falling far enough behind the Dodgers and Giants that they aren’t really in contention for the division, but Cease is on this list because the Red Sox were linked to him through various rumors right before spring training began. Cease, like the other two starters on this list, has had a mediocre season so far. He’s also 1-1 and is sporting a 6.04 ERA. He’s still striking people out though, currently holding a 26.5% strikeout rate on the season. Cease would be a rental and that would help diminish whatever return went back to San Diego, but he would slot in nicely as a number two or three starter in the current rotation.
- Bryan Woo, RHP - The Red Sox got a front row view of what Woo is capable of on Thursday when he dazzled in the final start of the series against the Mariners. Woo is young and would be expensive, much like Ragans above. He currently has the best record out of any starter on this list at 3-1 and holds the lowest ERA at 3.09. He’s working a 21.2% strikeout rate and is only walking batters at a 5.8% clip. He would slot in nicely as a number three in Boston, giving guys like Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, and Brayan Bello another much-needed reliable arm in the rotation.
- Jared Jones, RHP - Another name that came up in connection with the Red Sox during the offseason, Jones is currently on the shelf until further notice after sustaining a UCL sprain during a bullpen session in March. It was determined that the ligament is stable and Jones will not have to undergo surgery, and he’s expected back at some point this season. Jones has tantalizing stuff. Last season, he employed a four-seam fastball that averaged 97.3 mph, a slider that averaged 88.8 mph, a curveball that averaged 81.5 mph, and a changeup that averaged 89.9 mph. His combination of pitch mix and relatively high arm slot allows him to work a high strikeout percentage (26.2% in 2024), and a high ground-ball percentage (38.7%). He’s the exact type of arm that Boston should want as part of their starting rotation for many seasons to come, though he'd be prohibitively expensive.
Potential Needle-Movers
- Kumar Rocker, RHP - It’s very likely the Rangers will have no interest in dealing Rocker, and for good reason. Rocker is young, cheap, and controllable. He’s had an interesting path to the big leagues and his ERA this season is currently through the roof at 8.10. However, he’s currently operating with a 4.28 FIP and his strikeout rate (16.8%) leaves a bit to be desired, but he’s still pretty raw considering he came out of the pitcher factory that is Vanderbilt University. Working with someone like Andrew Bailey could unlock a new level for Rocker, making him incredibly valuable in the future.
- Jordan Walker, OF - I can hear the comments already, “But Alex, don’t the Cardinals use Jordan Walker in right field?” Correct you are, dear commenter. However, Walker came up through minor leagues as a third baseman who would see time at first on occasion. In fact, he was in conversation for the first base job in the big leagues going into his rookie season. Walker is a natural infielder, and profiles as a dominant first baseman if given the chance to fully step into the role. He’s 6’6” and 250 pounds. His right-handed swing would play well at Fenway Park, even if he didn’t do much during the home opening series. Being somewhat local to St. Louis, I've kept tabs on him since his minor league days. The Cardinals are going through an entire system overhaul, and much of it is because of how broken Walker’s swing became last year. I’m not saying Pete Fatse can work miracles, but the potential for Walker to break out of his shell somewhere besides The Show-Me State is there.
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B - Torkelson is currently slashing .264/.373/.571. He came screaming through the Tigers’ minor league system and then didn’t make much of an impact once he hit the big leagues. He would have been listed with the big splashes, but the Tigers have made it seem like he would be available for the right price, so he was moved down a tier. Torkelson is a former number one overall draft pick, and while those aren’t guaranteed stars in baseball, he still profiles as someone who could reach at least All-Star potential from season to season. He calls an incredibly pitcher-friendly park home and that has stifled his offensive numbers — Fenway could become his own personal playground.
- Michael Wacha, RHP - Wacha experienced a bit of career resurgence during his lone season in Boston in 2022. His numbers are all over the place this season, as he’s currently posting a 4.15 ERA, his strikeout rate is down, and his ground-ball percentage is up. The bigger cause for concern is that all of his pitchers are currently averaging slower speeds than they did last year. However, Wacha has proven he can be successful in Boston and should the Red Sox buy at the deadline, he’s a pitcher who wouldn’t be incredibly expensive.
Fringe Additions
- Christian Vazquez, C - Vazquez is a fan-favorite from his time in Boston, and the deal that sent him to the Astros at the deadline brought in Wilyer Abreu, so he’s been helpful in more ways than one. The real benefit here is for his veteran presence and ability to work with pitchers. Connor Wong is on the mend, Carlos Narvaez has yet to find his footing at the plate, and Blake Sabol is better left not talked about. Vazquez obviously wouldn’t be brought in to start at catcher, but he could mentor Wong and Narvaez.
- Justin Turner, 1B - There were rumors that the Red Sox were interested in bringing Turner back to Boston during the offseason. Even though his time with the club ended quietly, there are few players who made an impact on the fanbase and city like Turner did during his one year in Boston. He isn’t bringing much offensive firepower anymore, but he still plays a capable first base and would be useful to spell Triston Casas from time to time.
- Rowdy Tellez, 1B - The very definition of power over average, Tellez would slide into the backup first base role with ease in Boston. He’s a left-handed hitter who only really pulls the ball, but being able to take batting practice regularly at Fenway would allow him to figure out how to let the ball get deeper in the zone and drive hits toward the Green Monster.
The other big question is who would the Red Sox give up in any potential packages. The system is ripe with talent in both the outfield and at the shortstop position. Outside of Roman Anthony and likely Marcelo Mayer, everyone else in the system is available to be traded in the right package. As we talked about on the most recent episode of The Talk Sox Podcast, Triston Casas doesn’t seem like he’s long for this roster anymore. Jarren Duran has likely seen the peak of his value at this point and the Red Sox would be better served to sell as high as they can on him. Most of these deals, even in the big splash category, would likely get done with a package centered around Duran.
Who do you think the Red Sox should be targeting as we get deeper into the season? Let us know in the comments!
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