Matthew Lenz

The San Diego Padres plan to be buyers at the deadline in anticipation of a playoff push. They may also be sellers, and the Chicago Cubs could be one of their suitors. Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease is available at the trade deadline, and that "AL East" teams have discussed the 30-year-old free agent-to-be. Across 20 starts and 108.2 innings pitched, Cease's. ERA currently stands at 4.64, which is more than a full run higher than his FIP, suggesting he's experienced some bad luck or been hurt by his defense. Cease continues to be a high-strikeout pitcher, with a K% of 30.0% and a BB% of 8.4%, translating to an impressive K-BB% of 21.6%. He will be a free agent at the end of the season with incredible upside, despite his underperforming surface stats. Given the shallow starter's market and the numerous teams seeking rotation help, his cost will be substantial. Any team acquiring the right-hander will likely need to overpay to acquire him. Moreover, given the Padres' position in the playoff picture, they are likely looking for a combination of MLB-ready and prospect pieces. Should the Boston Red Sox do what it takes to acquire Dylan cease? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

With a few different potential needs at the upcoming deadline, the Boston Red Sox have pinpointed their primary target over the next eight days. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com is reporting that the Boston Red Sox are prioritizing starting pitching to pair with Garrett Crochet. Many names have been floated around, such as Pittsburgh Pirates' Mitch Keller, Miami Marlins' Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara, and the Arizona Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen. They've also been rumored to be very interested in Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan, though the Twins are reportedly not looking to move the All-Star unless they are blown away by an offer. Do you think the Red Sox are targeting the biggest area of need? Of the starters available, who peaks your interest the most? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

The Boston Red Sox are going to be buyers at the deadline and have multiple areas to improve on their roster. Robert Murray of FanSided discussed what he's hearing regarding the Boston Red Sox and the upcoming trade deadline on his The Baseball Insiders live stream. In short, the team will be "quite busy". Murray notes that the Red Sox will realistically pursue a starting pitcher at the deadline. Many names have been floated around, such as Pittsburgh Pirates' Mitch Keller, Miami Marlins' Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara, and the Arizona Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen. They've also been rumored to be very interested in Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan, though the Twins are reportedly not looking to move the All-Star. Moreover, Murray goes on to list names like the Dbacks Josh Naylor and Baltimore Oriole's Ryan O'Hearn as potential stop-gaps at first base. A position that has been a game of musical chairs since the season ending knee injury of Tristan Casas. All reports suggest the Red Sox will be aggressive at the deadline, with rumors that they're even willing to trade Jarren Duran. Do you think they should go all-in considering how the season has played out thus far? Let us know in the comments! View full rumor

Before the Boston Red Sox series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora sat down with a pool of reporters. Christopher Smith of MassLive is reporting that "[Ceddanne] Rafaela [will] make an occasional start at second base", per Cora. However, he also reported that Marcelo Mayer will stay in the majors and "play a lot of second base." Rafaela has shown a notable offensive improvement this season, evidenced by a .268 batting average, 12 home runs, and a .779 OPS as of July 11. He has also contributed 12 stolen bases. Defensively, Rafaela has maintained his versatility, primarily playing center field, showcasing strong defensive metrics and a significant defensive WAR (3.8). Mayer, in his MLB debut season, has displayed mixed results offensively. With a .231 batting average, 4 home runs, and a .684 OPS in 36 games, his offensive performance has been modest. He has primarily played third base and shortstop. Do you agree with the decision to keep Mayer in the big-leagues and to take Rafaella out of centerfield from time to time? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

Rumors have been swirling the Boston Red Sox over the last few weeks. Some of the rumors had them as buyers and some of the rumors identified suitors if they were sellers. Alas, we've heard from the man himself what the plans at the deadline will be. In a sit down with Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Boston Red Sox chief baseball operator, Craig Breslow, stated "We want to improve the team. We want to find ways to bolster the group." In the article Breslow specifically discusses the preference to add a 1st basemen and/or to his pitching staff - considering both relievers and starters. Boston has been without Triston Casas for a majority of the season. In his absence, Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez have put up middling numbers at the plate. On the other side of the ball, the Red Sox starting rotation has dealt with a myriad of injuries. There is a lot of uncertainty on whether those injured arms can impact the second half of the season. However, the bullpen has been one of the best in the league. While it may seem like a low priority, the importance of a deep bullpen is magnified in October - especially with so many questions surrounding the rotation. What should Breslow and the Red Sox prioritize at the deadline? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

We don't know if the Red Sox will be buyers or sellers at the deadline, and it likely will depend on their performance over the next couple of weeks after the returns of Masataka Yoshida and Alex Bregman from injury. If they do decide to sell, it appears the San Diego Padres will be after one of their highest priced assets. Sean McAdam of MassLive is reporting that the San Diego Padres have been "relentless in their pursuit of the Boston Red Sox Jarren Duran. Duran, controlled through 2028, has put together a solid 2025 campaign for the Red Sox. In 94 games. He boasts a .752 OPS, supported by a .260 batting average and a .318 on-base percentage, including 8 home runs and 15 stolen bases. It's been a different story on the defensive side of the ball. Primarily playing left field, his defensive metrics show a Fielding Run Value of -5 and Outs Above Average of -5. Regardless, he'll fetch a good return if he is dealt. If they're sellers, should the Red Sox deal Duran or keep him part of a core who could help get the team back on track over the next few years? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

The Red Sox are getting healthy at just the right time. Yesterday, Mastaka Yoshida made his season debut going 3-4 with a double, RBI, and run scored. Now, Chris Cotillo of MassLive is reporting that the Boston Red Sox will activate third baseman Alex Bregman ahead of Friday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. In his first season with the club, Bregman has lived up to his superstar label. Through 51 games, he boasts an impressive .938 OPS, fueled by a .385 on-base percentage and a .553 slugging percentage. He has hit 11 home runs and driven in 35 runs, while also scoring 32 runs. It's just the push the Red Sox may need to become buyers at the upcoming deadline. For what it's worth, Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently reported that the Red Sox might look to move the gold glove third baseman if the team cannot reach an extension ahead of the trade deadline. Do you think Yoshida and Bregman will boost the club into buyer mode over the next couple of weeks? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

We don't know whether the Boston Red Sox will buy or sell at the end of the month, but there is no shortage of rumors going in either direction. If they are looking to buy then their starting rotation will likely be one of their top priorities, if not THE top priority.. Jon Morosi of MLB Network is reporting that Joe Ryan is being monitored "by a number of teams" and specifically names the Red Sox as a potential suitor. Ryan, 29, is having an impressive 2025 season. Through 18 games (17 starts), he boasts a strong 2.76 ERA over 104.1 innings pitched. His FIP stands at 3.25, suggesting his excellent ERA is well-supported by his underlying metrics. Ryan has maintained a high strikeout rate with 116 strikeouts against just 21 walks, resulting in an excellent strikeout-minus-wall rate of 23.4% He's consistently limited walks, contributing to a stellar 0.89 WHIP - third best in all of baseball. Despite all of that, he was not elected to the MLB All-Star game. He is controllable through the 2027 season. What approach do you think the Red Sox should take at the upcoming trade deadline? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

It's been a long time coming. Finally, Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida is close to returning to the lineup. Multiple reports are indicating this could happen as soon as Monday, July 14th. Yoshida's 2024 season saw him play in 108 games for the Red Sox. He posted an OPS of .765, hitting 10 home runs and driving in 56 RBIs. He also scored 45 runs. Yoshida's 2024 campaign was impacted by injuries. He battled a thumb injury and also dealt with defensive limitations. He's missed all of 2025 due to a right shoulder labrum tear, which required offseason surgery. There is a bit of a log jam in the outfield and at designated hitter, so what role do you see Yoshida playing for the Red Sox? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

It remains unclear whether the Boston Red Sox will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, but Jim Bowden of The Athletic is reporting that the Boston Red Sox "would like to" extend Alex Bregman or trade him at the deadline. Bowden goes on to suggest the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, and Milwaukee Brewers as potential landing spots for the superstar third basemen, if he is dealt. Through 51 games, he boasts an impressive .938 OPS, fueled by a .385 on-base percentage and a .553 slugging percentage. He has hit 11 home runs and driven in 35 runs, while also scoring 32 runs. He signed a 3-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox in February 2025 with opt outs at the end of each season. If the Red Sox are in fact buyers, he likes them to target Emmanuel class of the Cleveland Guardians or Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals. Do you think the Boston Red Sox should buy or sell at the deadline? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

The Boston Red Sox announced a trio of moves on Tuesday, including selecting reliever Isaiah Campbell from Triple-A Worcester. To make room for Campbell on the 40-man, they transferred Liam Hendriks to the 60-day IL. To make room on the active roster, they optioned Richard Fitts to Triple-A Worcester. Campbell's 2024 season with the Red Sox was limited due to injuries, including a shoulder impingement and elbow inflammation. He pitched in 8 MLB games, recording a 0-1 record with a 16.20 ERA and 2.40 WHIP over 6.2 innings, striking out 6. He also had a stint in Triple-A Worcester, with a 2.20 ERA in 14 appearances. Campbell has spent all of the 2025 season with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, primarily operating out of the bullpen. In 30 relief appearances he has a 3.89 ERA, 3.75 FIP, and a 12.7% strikeout-minus-walk rate. He will join the low- to -medium- leverage group of the Red Sox bullpen. View full rumor

It's been a rough week for the Boston Red Sox on the injury front, but the most recent rumor from Tim Healey of the Boston Globe is relatively good news all else considered. While it's not a strong proclamation by any means, Healey reported that superstar third baseman, Alex Bregman, is "open to any conversation" regarding his future with the club. Bregman, who is represented by Scott Boras, signed a three-year, $120 million deal with opt-out chances after each season. He's lived up to the hype in the first half of his first season with the club carrying a .938 OPS and 11 home runs resulting in a 158 wRC+, making it likely he opts out if an extension is not reached. What would you offer Bregman if he's willing to lock in to a long term deal? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor