Nick John

The Red Sox selected Anthony Eyanson with the 87th overall pick in the MLB Draft. Eyanson was ranked 40th overall on the TalkSox draft board. Eyanson has checked so many boxes as a starter; solid track record at UCSD, a good performance for the US Collegiate National Team, a strong stint on the Cape. All that before shoving for LSU in what will be his lone season in the SEC prior to being drafted. Eyanson has a good frame at 6'2, 200 and an easy, repeatable delivery. It's a fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range typically with good riding life at the top of the zone. His slider has become a plus pitch. It sits in the low to mid 80s with a ton of drop and generates plenty of miss both in and out of the zone. There's a curveball with hood depth too, and a changeup, which is more of a developmental pitch. All of this is underpinned by really solid strike throwing. Eyanson was a huge part of LSU’s stretch run in the CWS and along with Gage Wood is one of the sharpest late season risers among college starting pitching profiles. He finished the season with a 2.49 FIP, 33.9 K%, and a 8 BB%. Much like their previous two pitchers selected on day one, Eyanson follows what Breslow likes: big pitchers who can throw hard thanks in part to his fastball that can top out at 97 mph. Though currently his best pitch is his slider. In his lone season with LSU Eyanson won 12 games while pitching in 20. He threw 108 innings, striking out 152. He also allowed 36 earned runs on 88 hits and 36 walks for a 3.00 ERA. What may be most impressive for the right-hander is the fact that he had a whiff rate of 34.7% with LSU to go along with a chase rate of 32.4%. Eyanson also has experience pitching for Team USA and in the Cape Cod League with Cotuit. Thanks to his fastball, slider and curveball, Eyanson could potentially end up with three pitches he could use to get outs. Should his changeup improve he could really become an interesting pitching prospect that could change the entire outlook of the Red Sox pitching depth. Should his pitches be unable to develop to their potential, he could end up as a reliever who relies on his breaking pitches. View full article

With the 75th overall pick in the 2025 draft, the Red Sox selected shortstop Henry Godbout out of the University of Virginia. Godbout was ranked 72nd on the TalkSox draft board. Godbout is an infield prospect whose draft stock has fallen some in 2025 after a disappointing season at the plate. Godbout entered the season with an in-zone contact rate in the 90s, but, much like the majority of the Virginia lineup, struggled mightily out of the gate. He's been an average hitter by wRC+ (98 compared to 138 in 2024) as we near the end of April. It's an offensive profile carried by a plus hit tool. It's a simple setup and quick hands in the box, with limited raw or usable in game power. He's a second baseman long term, with a solid enough glove, but no outstanding range or athleticism to speak of. There's average speed and an average arm there too. Godbout is likely to be carried by his plus hit tool though Red Sox fans shouldn't be worried about his limited power as the organization previously took another middle infielder from the ACC with limited power and turned him into a top prospect. Sox fans know him as Kristian Campbell. While there is no guarantee that Godbout turns into another Campbell, it is a sign that the Red Sox feel comfortable in their ability to develop offensive tools in players. Godbout is viewed as a solid all-around player with tools that could play up thanks to a high baseball IQ. A right-handed hitter, he doesn't chase or swing-and-miss much. In 50 games this season with Virginia, the 21-year-old slashed .309/.397/.497 with 10 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 37 RBIs. He also walked 26 times while only striking out 19 times. Whether Godbout develops more power in the organization could determine his overall potential, but at the worst he could be a high contact and on-base second baseman. Should he be able to be able to play passable defense at second base and he could be a serviceable player for the Red Sox. And the best part of this pick is he grew up a Red Sox fan. View full article

The Red Sox selected Marcus Phillips with the 33rd overall pick in the MLB Draft. Phillips was ranked 53rd overall on the TalkSox draft board. Phillips worked primarily as a reliever in his first two seasons at Tennessee before transitioning into a starting role in 2025. The fastball is tough. He can get a run and ride heater up to 100 mph, sitting at 97 mph with good extension from a lower release height. His breaking pitch is a power slider, with good horizontal break, that he throws in the 88-92 mph range, something that pro teams will covet. There's also the makings of a good changeup, with a ton of horizontal break, but he throws it incredibly hard (92 mph) and there might not be enough velo separation from the fastball there. In 2025 he struck out more hitters and walked less. The strike throwing had been a little spotty entering 2025. He finished the season with a 4.08 FIP, 27.3 K%, and a 9.5 BB%. It’s elite arm talent and nasty stuff, with command issues and reliever risk. Phillips follows a trend by Craig Breslow, who has drafted 16 pitchers in his first 22 picks since being named Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer. Phillips, who measures at 6'4" and 246 lbs, also follows the trend of the Red Sox drafting large players who can throw hard after they took pitchers Payton Tolle, Brandon Clarke, and Brandon Neely all of whom are at least 6'3" tall and their fastballs can reach at least 97 mph. For Tennessee in the 2025 season, Phillips had a 3.90 ERA in 83 innings across 17 starts where he struck out 98 batters. Prior to joining the Vols in 2024, he was a reliever his freshman season for Iowa Western Community College. Phillips is the second SEC arm the Sox have drafted in the 2025 draft after taking Kyson Witherspoon with their first-round pick at 15th overall. The pick used to draft Phillips was acquired as part of an April trade with Milwaukee that saw right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester shipped to the Brewers. Should Phillips continue to improve upon his command issues and see his walk rate continue to drop, he could be another pitching prospect that turns what used to be a dearth for the Red Sox into a surplus. At worst, he could turn into a reliever who relies on a fastball-slider combination that could rack up strikeouts while also walking his fair share of batters. Unlike Witherspoon, Phillips could take a little longer to move through the system depending on his ability to limit walks. Should he show an ability to locate his fastball, however, Phillips could breeze through the lower levels of the minors. What do you think of the Red Sox's second first-round pick? Let us know in the comments! View full article

With the Red Sox beginning to get back to full health with the additions of Masataka Yoshida and Alex Bregman, the roster is beginning to feel overcrowded. To help deal with it, the versatility of many players will be important down the stretch to not just give some players rest but to also get others into the lineup outside of their main position. Per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Alex Cora said on Friday before game two of a four game series against the Tampa Bay Rays that rookie Marcelo Mayer will play a lot of games at second base while still getting some time at third base on days Bregman doesn’t play. If Bregman sticks to the current plan, he will play in two games in each of the next three series against Tampa Bay, the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. Ceddanne Rafaela is another player who will be moved around with the roster currently having six outfielders on it. Cora also said that Rafaela will be looked at to play second base at least once or twice a week. The Red Sox look to end the first half on an impressive run as they go for their eighth straight win tonight. Does the plan to rotate Mayer between second and third seem like a good one? Should Rafaela remain in center field only? Leave your thoughts down below. View full rumor

The MLB trade deadline is less than a month away as the Red Sox look to push themselves into the buyer’s market thanks in part to a six-game winning streak. The offense has come alive over the past few weeks, and the rotation is stepping up as they’ve delivered quality starts. One area of weakness for the team, however, appears to be their bullpen. In the month of June, the relief corps was very middle of the pack, pitching 93 2/3 innings and allowing 36 earned runs on 73 hits, six of them home runs, and 52 walks for an ERA of 3.46. While the bullpen struggled in June with walks, leading the league in not only walks per nine innings (5.00) but also walk percentage (13.1%) the bullpen was constantly dealing with runners on base. Fortunately, hitters managed only a .213 batting average against them, and when it was put in play, they managed to keep most batted balls on the ground with a 45.6% ground ball rate. They also struck out 97 batters for a strikeout rate of 24.4%. Led by Aroldis Chapman, the bullpen saved 10 games while blowing three save opportunities. Despite the subtraction of arms like Zack Kelly, Luis Guerrero and Liam Hendriks, the bullpen’s numbers have not improved that much as in 29 innings pitched in July, the bullpen has allowed 11 earned runs on 24 hits, three home runs, and nine walks. This month, they’ve struck out 21 batters for a strikeout rate of 17.1%. While their strikeout rate has dropped, so too has their walk rate (down to 7.3%), and their walks per nine dropped significantly to 2.79. The small improvement is questionable to last, as several arms in the bullpen have been overused and the results have shown as both Brennan Bernardino and Greg Weissert have not been as dominant as they were in their early season performances. The loss of Justin Slaten to the injured list on June 1 has hurt the bullpen. Out with right shoulder inflammation, Slaten has been making slow progress and has yet to throw off a mound. Due to that, the team transferred him to the 60-day injured list at the end of June. In 24 games before going down, Slaten tossed 23 1/3 innings while allowing nine earned runs on 14 hits, one home run, and seven walks. He had also struck out 16 batters and earned three saves. Of those nine runs, four were allowed in his third appearance of the year. Since that blowup in Baltimore, Slaten had gone 21 1/3 innings while allowing just five earned runs. To help provide relief to the bullpen and supply it with another flamethrower to compliment Chapman, Jordan Hicks and Garrett Whitlock in the back of the pen, the Red Sox could make a trade with a team they were linked to all offseason. Instead of trading for Nolan Arenado, however, it would be to acquire their soon-to-be-free-agent closer Ryan Helsley. While the right-hander hasn’t been as dominant in his age-30 season when compared to the past three years, he’s still one of the top closers in baseball that would completely transform the current bullpen from being in the middle of the pack to potentially one of the strongest in all of baseball. Armed with a fastball that averages 99.2 mph and a slider that breaks 3.9 inches away from a right-handed batter, Helsley could dominate for the Red Sox. He’s got one of the best chase percentages in all of baseball right now at 33.6%, and he’s getting batters to whiff at an impressive 30.1% rate. Numbers like that would put him near the top of relief pitchers in the Red Sox's bullpen. In 31 games this season, Helsley has tossed 31 innings and allowed 11 earned runs on 30 hits, four home runs, and 13 walks. He’s also struck out 35 batters for a strikeout rate of 25.9%. A lot of Helsley’s struggles this season appear to be from his fastball being hit at a higher rate than any previous campaign. So far in 2025, it’s been thrown 238 times across 69 plate appearances, where batters have hit .414 against it. The fastball has seen a slight drop in velocity from 99.7 mph in 2023 to 99.6 mph in 2024 to now 99.2 mph this year. However, it might be the slight loss of movement that has hurt Helsley the most with it. In 2024, his fastball tailed at 3.4 inches in on right-handed batters; this season that movement has dropped to 2.2 inches. If anyone could help fix his fastball, there’s a good chance it would be Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey, as shown with the improvement of Brayan Bello’s fastball since the two started working together. In 2023, the last year Bello was throwing with Dave Bush as the pitching coach, his fastball was hit at a .310 rate. In 2024, he originally moved away from throwing it before bringing it back in the second half to which batters hit .120 against it. This season, the four-seamer has been a key piece to Bello’s arsenal where he’s thrown it 221 times and batters are hitting just .174 against it thanks in part to improvements with his sinker and slider under Bailey. The Cardinals are also unlikely to re-sign Helsley this offseason as they enter a rebuilding phase. During this past offseason, they tried to unload Nolan Arenado’s contract off the books and seemed willing to listen on other players who were not viewed as pieces for the future. Currently, they are 49-44, just 5.5 games out of first place in the NL Central and just 1.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. However, should the Cardinals enter a slide as they get closer to the trade deadline, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them sell off key pieces. Helsley would be one of their most valuable trade assets despite the season he’s having. He has playoff experience and still reaches 100 mph, something that as shown in the postseason every year, plays. If the Red Sox managed to make the playoffs with a bullpen consisting of three pitchers who could reach 100 mph in Chapman, Hicks and Helsley, it would be a nightmare for opposing lineups once you got past six innings. Though what may tip the scale in the Red Sox favor for a Helsley trade is the fact that the former Chief Baseball Officer of the Red Sox, Chaim Bloom, now works for St. Louis and will succeed Mozeliak as the team’s president of baseball operations after this season. He has a great understanding of the prospects in the Red Sox's system, as many are guys he previously drafted. The Red Sox would hopefully not pay a premium price of prospects, but seeing how Craig Breslow hasn’t been afraid to toss prospects around in the past (trading four for Garrett Crochet plus the deals he made at the 2024 trade deadline), it wouldn’t be a surprise if Breslow traded two or three prospects that Bloom is interested in if it meant the Red Sox could get into the playoffs. If the Red Sox acquired him, they could also work out an extension to keep the flamethrower around for multiple seasons, as following the Rafael Devers’ trade, they have quite a bit of money freed up. Not to mention how many other contracts like Buehler and Chapman will be expired by the end of year freeing up even more money for an extension. For a team looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021, acquiring Helsley is just the boost to the bullpen the team needs. He would be a veteran presence that could provide both on field support and a mental boost to a team that lacks playoff experience. Jeff Passan of ESPN also sees this as the best match for the Red Sox bullpen. If I were Breslow, I would at least call and see what the Cardinals would ask for as a starting point. If the price is too steep, pivot to a different relief option that, while not as impressive, could still provide quality innings for a bullpen that has been overworked so far in the season. The Cardinals are looking towards the future, and the Red Sox have a deep pool of prospects that are close to the majors they could trade from. It just feels like this is an obvious pairing just waiting to be made. View full article

With the need to open up a roster spot for the eventual activation of Alex Bregman from the injured list, the Boston Red Sox are optioning David Hamilton to Worcester per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. Hamilton, who has appeared in 61 games this season has struggled at the plate after putting up a respectable 2024 season that was cut short by injury. This season the speedy infielder has managed to hit only .179/.229/.276 in 123 at-bats. He also has three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs to go along with 15 stolen bases in 18 attempts. With Bregman likely being activated for Friday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays it seemed that either Hamilton or rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer were going to be optioned back to Worcester. In the end the team decided to hold onto Mayer due to his fantastic defense at third base, shortstop and second base along with his timely hitting. Bregman’s addition will be a huge addition to an offense that has been on a roll and helped propel Boston onto a seven-game winning stream and having won nine of their last 10 games. Do you think the Red Sox optioned the right player? Should Mayer be in Worcester getting everyday at-bats? Leave your thoughts below in the comments. View full rumor

Sox had him today doing some first base drills in front of the dugout today.

The Boston Red Sox made a roster move ahead of Wednesday’s finale against the Colorado Rockies as they sent Nate Eaton down to Triple-A Worcester to make room for the return of Masataka Yoshida, according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox moved right-handed pitcher Nick Burdi from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Yoshida has missed all of 2025 so far as he recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, but is finally healthy and will be in the lineup tonight as the designated hitter. The left-handed hitter looks to be an addition to a lineup that has been on fire recently. Eaton, who was called up to the Red Sox after the Rafael Devers trade, appeared in 14 games, hitting .250/.296/.333 to go along with two doubles, an RBI, and three stolen bases. He split his time between third base and the outfield and had been the team’s leadoff hitter for the previous four games. Burdi, who was placed on the injured list June 3rd due to a right foot contusion, has pitched in four games for Boston, tossing 5 1/3 innings while not allowing a run to score. He had made two rehab outings for Triple-A Worcester in the middle of June but suffered a setback when he felt discomfort in his hip. With Yoshida officially back what are your predictions for him for the remainder of the season? Join the conversation in the comments. View full rumor

Trade season is upon us as rumors have been circulating the internet lately especially as it relates to the Boston Red Sox. Just a few days ago it was reported that there were roughly 12 teams interested in acquiring Jarren Duran in a trade. However, it seems things might have changed as Alex Speier of the Boston Globe now reports that it’s believed the Red Sox are not shopping Duran or Wilyer Abreu but the duo are available and the Red Sox will listen. Speier states that due to the talent and control of both players the Red Sox are unlikely to trade either of them unless they can get an impact big leaguer in return. Though, it seems they won’t accept just any player in return as they would want someone under contract for multiple seasons and who will address a roster need. It seems like a matter of time before Boston deals one of its outfielders due to its roster crunch. As of Wednesday with the return of Masataka Yoshida, they will have six outfielders on the roster fighting for four positions in the lineup each night. To maintain the roster flexibility they love someone will have to be moved soon. What do you think about Speier’s statement? Do you think it’s true or are the Red Sox just telling other teams this in hopes they increase their offers? Sound off in the comments below. View full rumor

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.

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. 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! View full article

With the 2025 season more than halfway over, FanGraphs has released their updated top 45 prospects list for every team. The one for the Boston Red Sox, however, has some questionable choices to it, especially when it comes to the placement of certain prospects along with keeping other players who have been deemed to have “graduated” from prospect status according to other sites. Right off the bat (no pun intended) is FanGraph’s No. 2 ranked Red Sox prospect, Kristian Campbell. Campbell opened the season with the Sox and after a hot stretch, cooled down considerably. Now back in Worcester to work on a few things, Campbell has graduated from prospect status on multiple rankings such as Baseball America, MLB Pipeline and SoxProspects. Joining Campbell as having graduated from prospect status is FanGraphs’ fifth ranked Red Sox prospect, Richard Fitts. The final prospect on the rankings who has graduated from prospect status is Carlos Narváez, who is ranked 10th on the site. [EDITOR's NOTE: FanGraphs does this with all of their mid-season prospect rankings. They normally don't remove ineligible players until after the trade deadline. It is valid to point out, though, since it affects the placement of other prospects on the list.] Should you take those three off the board, the Top Five would now look like this: Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Franklin Arias, Payton Tolle and Brandon Clarke. A much more accurate, though not perfect, representation of the top five prospects in the organization. One thing to note from this list is how of the 45 players on the list, 25 are pitchers and 13 of them are currently on the injured list, a key one being Luis Perales, who, despite being viewed as the top Red Sox pitching prospect by others, is ranked 17th by FanGraphs. While you could argue that his rehab from Tommy John surgery and missing out on most of 2024 and 2025 could cause such a slide, his potential alone should have him no lower than the top ten, and he shouldn’t be viewed as a single-inning relief pitcher (SIRP) on FanGraphs. While Perales has reliever risk in his profile, the Red Sox have shown no desire to attempt such a switch due to the immense potential he has as a starter. Other injured pitchers who made the list include Yordanny Monegro, Juan Valera, Jedixson Paez, Conrad Cason, Blake Wehunt and Jojo Ingrassia, all of whom have shown potential on the mound. Likewise, I personally feel that James Tibbs III and Mikey Romero are ranked too low for their status as prospects. While Tibbs hasn’t demonstrated much power with Portland since coming over in the controversial Rafael Devers trade, he has still demonstrated good contract and an ability to get on base. Romero, another former first-round pick, has seen his career derailed by a back injury, but in 2025, he has shown great talent while healthy. In 46 games this season, the infielder has slashed .274/.343/.486 to go along with 13 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 27 RBIs, all while tying his walk total from last season in 32 less games. And, while I am extremely high on Brandon Clarke as a pitcher, believing he could have the makings of a mid-rotation starter should he put it all together, seeing him ranked seventh by FanGraphs feels a little too high. While it seems nitpick-y to say he should be lower, I feel he shouldn’t be any higher than tenth on a prospect ranking at this point in time. Despite arguing quite a bit early on, I do feel they are correct on several of their placements as well. Both Jhostynxon Garcia and Connelly Early feel to be at the perfect ranking based on their seasons, along with young pitchers Valera and Paez ,who have both dealt with injuries this season but flash amazing potential. Another player I can’t argue about their placement is Yoeilin Cespedes, who has fallen down a few prospect rankings due to shaky batting this season for Salem. In 62 games, he’s only hit .231/.282/.380 with 13 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 32 RBIs. However, I feel like an eventual promotion to High-A Greenville could yield an increase in production, as Greenville’s home field could help to turn what would be outs at Salem into hits. Cespedes is still only 19 and missed a good portion of 2024 due to injury, so the possibility remains that he figures it all out. The last part of the list that really caught my attention is something that makes me scratch my head. Ignoring the part that Fitts has been viewed as graduating prospect status by others, the fact that he is ranked fifth while Hunter Dobbins is down at 18th confuses me. Of the two, Dobbins has had a better season when you just look at the stats. Dobbins has pitched in 12 games so far in Boston, ten of them starts, and has won four games with a 4.10 ERA. In those 12 games, he’s thrown 59 1/3 innings while striking out 43 and walking 16. Along with that, he’s only surrendered six home runs. His WAR according to FanGraphs is also at 0.9. Fitts, on the other hand, has only pitched in seven starts for Boston and missed a good portion of the season due to injury. He has yet to win a game in those seven starts and has an ERA of 4.50 across 28 innings. In those 28 innings, he’s struck out 22 batters and allowed seven home runs. FanGraphs has also given him a WAR of -0.2, a big difference from Dobbins’ 0.9. And, when you look deeper into their stats, I still can’t help but wonder how Fitts is ranked higher. Currently, Fitts has a higher xERA and FIP than Dobbins: 5.70 and 5.95 vs. 3.96 and 3.87. Where Fitts excels compared to Dobbins is in chase rate. Fitts currently has a 34.2% chase rate, putting him in the 93rd percentile compared to Dobbins’ 27.5% rate which has him in the 42nd percentile. Along with that, Fitts also has a higher whiff percentage of 23.9% compared to 21.9%, and has a higher strikeout rate of 18.2% to 17.3%. That type of swing-and-miss potential does give him, arguably, a higher ceiling. In the end, it’s never a bad thing to have a discussion on which of your young pitchers will be the better of the two. It’s a great argument for a franchise that has failed to develop home grown quality starting pitching in the past. When it comes to prospect rankings, no one will ever be completely happy, as everyone has their own thoughts and beliefs toward certain players. Ranking prospects can get tricky, as some can suddenly jump up the rankings after a good season and others who were deemed to be future stars could end up never reaching their true potential. At least it makes for interesting discussions, right? View full article

I kept going back and forth on a few choices. At one point I thought about Nick Sogard but went against it cause he spent some time in the majors this month and played less than 20 games. And Garcia was right up there until I decided on Ehrhard due to his higher average and OBP and less strikeouts in more games than Garcia.

The month of June was a hard one to decide on for the Red Sox's minor league hitter of the month, as many potential choices struggled. Down in Greenville, Franklin Arias came back down to earth as he slashed .169/.228/.265 in 20 games after being one of the best hitters in minor league baseball for the first two months of the season. Despite that, there were still a few choices that were present. From Portland, two outfielders in Allan Castro and Zach Ehrhard put up slash lines of .280/.368/.441 and .278/.363/.500, respectively, that had me wanting to dive deeper into them. Worcester also had a trio of infielders for consideration between Nick Sogard, Blaze Jordan and Vaughn Grissom, as they each put up impressive numbers across the month. Even Jhostynxon Garcia was in the mix thanks to his six home runs and 17 RBIs. In the end, TalkSox’s Minor League Hitter of the Month for June goes to Zach Ehrhard as he continues to show an improvement against Double-A pitching. Ehrhard, a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State in the 2024 MLB Draft, began the season absolutely dominating with Single-A Greenville before getting promoted to Portland during the month of May. While his overall numbers have cooled off since his promotion, Ehrhard began to pick up steam again as the calendar flipped to June and the temperature began to increase. Since the start of June, Ehrhard has been not just one of the best hitters for Portland, but for the entire Red Sox system. In 25 games, Ehrhard had a batting line of .278/.363/.500 to go along with five doubles, five home runs and 10 RBIs. He’s also walked 10 times and stole eight bases in that span too. During June, his five home runs had him tied for third in the Eastern League as well. While the outfielder may not be the biggest name in the system currently — he’s unranked by MLB Pipeline — he has shown some improvement to get his name out there. Since being drafted in 2024, Ehrhard has just recently cracked the top-30 prospect ranking for SoxProspects at 29th after previously being ranked 47th. That number should continue to rise too, as top prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer graduate from prospect status. Ehrhard is currently viewed as a player who will be a solid high-minors depth option, with potential be a backup outfielder in the big leagues thanks to his contact, speed and defensive skills. Should his offensive game continue to grow, there’s the possibility so too will his potential. Offensively Ehrhard is focused on making contact, his swing being direct to the ball, and he has great discipline. This leads to him rarely missing at pitches he swings at. However, his raw power is viewed to be between below-average to average, as he’s showcased more gap-to-gap power than over-the-fence pop. It’s believed, however, that with continued improvement to his bat speed, he could begin to hit the ball harder and drive it over the fence. So far this year, he’s showcased a slight improvement in the power department with seven home runs in 67 games between Greenville and Portland. With a handful of outfield prospects above him on the depth chart, Ehrhard could have a hard time making it to the majors with Boston. However, should he continue to make solid contact with a swing built to take advantage of the Green Monster. So far on the season, Ehrhard is hitting fly balls at a 40.3% while pulling them to left field at a 46.3% rate. Many of those would end up striking the Green Monster and turning what would be outs in other parks into singles and doubles at Fenway. Overall, Ehrhard is an interesting prospect who showcased in June that he can adjust to higher levels of competition. It’ll be interesting to see how he continues to improve across the second half of the season and whether he can put his name into consideration for one of the top outfield prospects in the organization. View full article