Red Sox Trade Deadline: Nine targets you might hear in rumors

Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B – New York Mets

Unlike with Lowrie, this could actually work as a combo deal. Familia shouldn’t be too expensive, so the idea of adding Asdrubal Cabrera in the last year of his deal makes some sense. While not knocking the cover off the ball, his 118 wRC+ and 12 HR would be a significant improvement over what the Red Sox have put on the field so far this season. He is a lifetime above average hitter and has had two and a half very productive seasons with the Mets so far.

Like Lowrie, Cabrera could slide into the Nunez role should Pedroia get back to being healthy. He has 1,038 games played at short, and even a few dozen at third. Since the cost shouldn’t be too high, taking the chance that you end up with more infielders than you need makes sense here. A package deal for both Familia and Cabrera could cure both the ails the roster currently has. It even offers a potential path around Jackie Bradley Jr. if he doesn’t come around in that Pedroia can DH and move J.D. Martinez to the outfield as a regular. With Eduardo Nunez capable of playing the outfield a bit, JBJ as a 4th outfielder gives the team plenty of flexibility.

Brian Dozier, 2B – Minnesota Twins

This one depends on a few things happening. The most important of which is that the Twins need to decide they’re packing it in for the year. Brian Dozier is an impending free agent who is very likely to test the market. That means there’s a pretty good chance the Twins will only get a compensation pick for him after he walks for a big contract elsewhere. If they decide they aren’t likely to make the playoffs this season, and with Miguel Sano in high-A and Byron Buxton hurt they might, then trading Dozier might be the right call. He’s likely to bring back something more valuable than a comp round pick, at any rate.

Dozier is off to a rough start with a 90 wRC+ and just 10 HR so far. That said, he’s a big second-half hitter. Last season he went from a 95 wRC+ in the first half to a 158 in the second. His home runs were split 13 and 21. For his career, the splits are 102 in the first half and 118 in the second. So what we’re saying here is that this is a good time to buy on Dozier. He’s not a great defender, but he’s not bad either. And he lacks the flexibility of a Lowrie or Cabrera. But that bat. Just picture that bat in the lineup. Yeah, we’ll go get your napkin for that drool.

Next: Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia still dealing with knee pain

Who do you think the Red Sox should target at the trade deadline? Let us know in the comments! And keep checking back for more trade deadline news and rumors.