If the Sox had signed Correa, I could see trading Mayer. But right now he’s the biggest glimmer of hope on the horizon and trading him to salvage 2023 right now seems unwise. Unless Romero turns into an equally impressive stud (which does seem possible with his impressive start).
Just upgrade the defense with players at SS and RF and recognize that 2023 rests largely on the shoulders and elbows of Sale and Paxton. If both are healthy, that is definitely a true upgrade to the rotation over the whopping 7 IP they combined for last year.
Of course, the chances both are healthy are very, very low…