Matthew Lenz

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

The Boston Red Sox continue to receive bad news regarding starting pitcher Kutter Crawford who was dealing with worst pain earlier this month. Now, Tim Healey of the Boston Globe is reporting that the 29 year old need wrist surgery and is "likely done for the year". It's a frustrating development for Crawford who started the season dealing with soreness in the patellar tendon of his right knee. He had previously been placed on the 60-day IL where he is expected fo stay for the majority and maybe now the entirety of the 2025 season. It's another tough blow to the Red Sox struggling rotation - a position group they'll need to bolster at the trade deadline if they intend to make a push for the playoffs in the second half of the season. With bad news continuing to rain down on the season, should the Red Sox be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

We are a little over a month away from the trade deadline and reports are starting to fly on suggesting that the Boston Red Sox will look to address two positions of need. Despite dealing Rafael Devers and sitting six games back in the AL East, the Red Sox are planning on being "buyers" at the trade deadline. After the loss of Tristan Casas, the Red Sox haven't been able to find a productive solution at first base. At one point they were having Kristian Campbell take reps at first, but he's since been demoted due to poor performance. Now, Jon Heyman of the NY Post is now suggesting that the Red Sox could pursue Josh Naylor of the Arizona Diamondbacks or Ryan O'Hearn of the Baltimore Orioles. In addition to first base, Heyman adds the need for a veteran starting pitcher to bolster the rotation. This week, the Red Sox lost Hunter Dobbins to the IL and got news of a setback in Kutter Crawford's rehab. Who would your trade deadline targets be at these positions? View full rumor

Yet, another blow to the Boston Red Sox roster. Now, Hunter Dobbins has been placed on the 15-day IL with a right elbow strain. In a corresponding move, the Res Sox have recalled Richard Fitts from Triple-A Worcester. When speaking to a pool of reporters on Sunday, Dobbins stated "Just some tightness that we’ve been grinding through for a little bit. It hasn’t been bouncing back how we would like, so [we’re] just trying to give it a couple for weeks." Dobbins has been serviceable in mostly a starter's capacity with a 4.10 ERA but a 3.85 FIP that suggests he's pitching better than his surface stats suggest. In 12 big-league appearances (10 starts) he has a lowly 10.8% strikeout-minus-walk (K-BB) rate, largely due to a lack of swing-and-miss type stuff. Fitts struggled in five starts with the team before hitting the IL with a shoulder injury in mid-April. In four starts with Worcester, he had a 4.20 ERA and a 10.6% K-BB rate. Do you think the Red Sox should add pitching between now and the trade deadline? View full rumor

The Boston Red Sox continue to get bad news. Gordo of WEEI is now reporting that Boston Red Sox starting pitcher, Kutter Crawford, has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation program. Crawford has yet to make his 2025 debut, but did make a single rehab appearance for Triple-A Worcester about a month ago. Crawford, 29, was initially dealing with knee soreness when players convened for Spring Training. While rehabbing his knee, wrist pain developed and has led to him being sent to Boston for an MRI. It's unclear when the MRI will take place. The Red Sox middling rotation really needs to be bolstered and they're banking on Crawford's return as he lead the league in starts last year. Despite dealing Devers, the Red Sox plan on being buyers at the deadline and could add a starter that way if Crawford is going to be out for an extended period of time. View full rumor

With the July 31st trade deadline looming on the horizon, urgency will begin to mount for many Major League Baseball teams. While some clubs are firmly entrenched in playoff contention and will be looking to bolster their rosters, there is a distinct group already facing the reality of a lost season. So, who are the likely sellers from the National League? What valuable assets might they put on the market, and how could the Boston Red Sox leverage these opportunities to their advantage? Let's delve into the teams poised to ignite the hot stove and the potential impact on the Red Sox playoff aspirations. Colorado Rockies The Rockies are on pace for all sorts of records — and not in a good way. They are currently on pace to win 45 ball games, which is barely more than the historically-futile 2024 Chicago White Sox. The Rockies don't have much in the form of rentals, with starters German Márquez (6.62 ERA) and Austin Gomber (just returned from a shoulder injury) the only expiring deals, but that's not to say they don't have trade chips. Most notably, I anticipate many teams will be calling about starter Kyle Freeland (controlled through 2026) and third baseman Ryan McMahon (controlled through 2027). Freeland’s surface numbers are heavily inflated by pitching in Coors. On the road, the lefty has a 3.64 ERA (3.31 FIP) and a 14.6% strikeout-minus-walk rate. In regard to McMahon, Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have already shown interest in the 30-year-old. Like Freeland, McMahon’s surface stats are also impacted by Coors — a .739 OPS overall drops by nearly 200 points on the road. Other less notable names that could be available are infielders Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer, who both have mutual options for 2026. Miami Marlins The Marlins are 15 games under .500 and well outside of the playoff picture. However, they are the youngest team in Major League Baseball, which makes it a challenge to know how much they're willing to sell. Kyle Stowers, Connor Norby, and Agustín Ramírez have all been great, but they're also in their pre-arbitration years. Would the rebuilding Marlins really sell what looks to be a solid core of hitters? I doubt it. On the other hand, starting pitchers Cal Quantrill (a free agent at season's end) and Sandy Alcántara (controllable through 2026) could be attractive “buy low” options at the deadline. Quantrill has an ERA-minus-FIP of 1.27 and Alcántara, a former Cy Young award winner, has underperformed his ERA by 2.43 runs. However, both have well below average strikeout-minus-walk rates, suggesting their upside might be limited with some tweaking of their pitch profiles. The Marlins have gotten some good production out of their bullpen from guys like Ronny Henriquez, Janson Junk, and Patrick Monteverde. While these guys are controllable, it would make sense for the Marlins to listen to offers on any relievers. Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates are in a race for second worst team in the NL with the Marlins. There's been (mostly sarcastic) speculation that they may trade starter Paul Skenes, but I don't think they will do that, at least for now. Instead, they have a few assets who will likely have a market over the next month and a half. There's already been rumors floating around regarding infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who has a solid (but empty) .714 OPS. Other solid players on expiring deals include outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Tommy Pham, as well as starter Andrew Heaney, and reliever Ryan Borucki. Aside from Borucki, whose peripherals suggest some positive regression, all of those players have been more than serviceable this season. However, the most valuable realistic trade chip is current closer David Bednar, who is controlled through the 2026 season. In 20 appearances, the righty has a 3.42 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and a 29.2% strikeout-minus-walk rate. He may end up being the most sought after reliever on the market. Red Sox Needs The Red Sox's path at the trade deadline remains uncertain, hinging on their performance over the next month. With a 39-37 record, they're on the cusp of a Wild Card spot, a testament to overcoming numerous injuries. This very resilience, coupled with the hope of returning players, might push them to be buyers. However, the Rafael Devers trade recent and rumors surrounding Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu suggest one of two things: they might trade offense for much-needed rotation help, as their starting pitching ranks in the bottom half of the league. they are leaning towards selling at the deadline. While reinforcements are returning at some point, they aren't game-changers. Given previous comments from Craig Breslow, I anticipate the Red Sox to be buyers at the deadline. Pairing up with any of the three teams discussed above could make a lot of sense. Should the Red Sox commit to buying, selling, or would standing pat be a better strategy? View full article

Days after the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants agreed to a blockbuster trade, additional information behind the trade discussion is emerging. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Red Sox initially wanted first baseman and top prospect, Bryce Eldridge to headline the return package for Devers. She also reported that the Giants quickly rebuffed that idea. Eldridge, 21, is a consensus top 50 prospect in all of baseball. Recently, he was promoted to the Giants Triple-A affiliate, though he has struggled through his first 60 played appearances at the level. Eldridge as the Red Sox primary target makes a lot of sense with the uncertainty and injury history surrounding the team's primary first baseman Tristan Casas. Do you think the Red Sox should have stuck to their guns or are you happy with the return for Devers? View full rumor

The struggle has been real for former Boston Red Sox top prospect Kristian Campbell. The 23-year-old has a .223/.319/.345 slash line with six home runs and two stolen bases across 263 plate appearances. Overall, his production - or lack thereof - computes to a 86 wRC+. Campbell has been used as the teams primary second baseman, but has played a little outfield with the big-league club. After Tristan Casas' injury, he was also getting practice reps at first base. If there is one positive to take away from his first two and a half months in the big league it's that his walk rate was 11%. However, a strikeout rate of 27.4% and swing percentage may indicate that he needs to be a bit more aggressive at the plate. From a scale of 1-10 how concerned are with you Campbell's long term outlook? View full rumor

Even though the MLB trade deadline is still a ways off, it's starting to get late early for some teams across Major League Baseball. With July 31 serving as the league-wide trade ultimatum, we are roughly a month away from the hot stove reaching it's inferno. However, there are a handful of teams who we can pretty confidently say are going to be sellers around the deadline. Who are they, what do they have to offer, and how could the Boston Red Sox benefit? Let's dive in. Chicago White Sox The White Sox are 12 games below .500 and 13 games out of a playoff spot. They acknowledged a multi-year rebuild over the offseason, so it shouldn't be surprising that they are sellers once again. Potential rentals include outfielders Michael A. Taylor and Austin Slater, as well as recently-acquired starter Aaron Civale. Otherwise, intriguing players who are controlled beyond 2025 include infielder Josh Rojas and outfielder Mike Tauchman. However, it’s more realistic that teams aggressively kick the tires on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who has been the subject of trade speculation for a while now. Robert Jr. signed a pre arbitration extension that included $20 million team options for 2026 and 2027 that can be bought out for $2 million. Once a top prospect in baseball, the 28-year-old has had a hard time staying healthy throughout his career and has struggled at the plate over the last two seasons. Given the Red Sox's glut of outfielders, it's possible both sides simply don't match up on a trade. However, given their existing rapport following the Garrett Crochet blockbuster, don't count out the Sox dealing with each other again. Athletics The Athletics have been in a free fall ever since they started their season 22-20. In their last 28 games, they have just four wins. While they are a young team with some exciting talent, they're obviously not ready yet and have a handful of rentals that teams could kick the tires on. Most notably are utility players Miguel Andujar and Luis Urias, who have both produced above average at the plate. Third baseman Gio Urshela is more than two years removed from his last productive season and has a mediocre glove at the hot corner, but could be an intriguing option to handle the short side of a platoon. On the mound, Jose Leclerc and T.J. McFarland are two potential reliever rentals, though Leclerc has been sidelined with a lat strain since April and McFarland has been plain bad. It seems likely that at least one of Andujar, Urias, or Urshela is traded ahead of the deadline, though, again, the Red Sox may not be the best fit here. Baltimore Orioles Injuries aside, it's still pretty shocking to see the Orioles struggling this much. After winning 91 games and earning a playoff berth in 2024, they are currently 13 games below .500 and 8.5 games out of a playoff spot. The difference here is that the Orioles are not in the midst of a rebuild, so it's likely they limit their moves to players on expiring deals. Those names include: pitchers Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Gregory Soto, as well as outfielder Cedric Mullins. Of those players, Eflin, Sugano, and Soro are having successful seasons on the mound and will draw significant trade interest. However, two names that have been the subject of trade rumors but are controllable beyond 2025 are first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Heston Kjerstad. Mountcastle, who will miss the next 8-12 weeks with a hamstring strain, is having a down year with a .628 OPS and two home runs. Kjerstad, who was recently optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, has also struggled this season but has often found himself as the odd man out of a stacked group of young talent. An intra-divisional trade seems unlikely on the surface, but a first baseman of the future or a talented reliever could be in the cards if Boston and Baltimore put their differences aside. Red Sox Needs Whether the Red Sox will be buyers or sellers will really depend on how the next month pans out. At 34-36, they're well within striking distance of a wild card spot. In one sense, it's a miracle they're only two games below .500, considering the number of injuries they've been dealing with on both sides of the ball. It's those very injuries and the sense of hope that as those players return, that may convince the Red Sox to be buyers. In recent weeks, rumors started swirling that the Red Sox would be open to dealing Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu. Perhaps they are looking to flip some offense for pitching, especially in the rotation. Currently, the Red Sox's starting rotation is in the bottom half of the league by many metrics. Something needs to be done to give Crochet a true running mate. Do you think the Red Sox should buy-in at the deadline, sell or stand pat? Join the conversation in the comments! View full article