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4 Potential dark-horse Red Sox trade targets

By Brendan Strawn

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 25: Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on July 25, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 7-0. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 25: Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on July 25, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 7-0. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) /
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Christian Walker
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 26: Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts to a strike three call during the sixth inning of the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on July 26, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 7-3. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) /

Christian Walker makes sense as a Red Sox trade target

Speaking of Diamondbacks, how about Christian Walker?

Walker is an extremely under-appreciated player who many buying teams seem to be overlooking despite the Diamondbacks reportedly being open to trading.

Strictly a power hitter, Walker already has 23 home runs and 2.8 WAR on the season. His home-run rate has more than doubled, while his strikeout rate is down more than 4% from last season, and he’s drawing walks at a 4% increase over his 2021 rate. Walker’s numbers are reminiscent of a player the Red Sox acquired at last year’s deadline, and Kyle Schwarber most certainly proved to be an impact player down the stretch.

And unlike Schwarber, who learned how to play first base on the fly last summer, Walker is actually a first baseman!

While Walker is 31 years old and in his eighth big-league season, he’s accrued service time very slowly; he’s only played 60+ games three times, so he’s still an arbitration-eligible player and won’t hit free agency until 2025. The Sox might be interested in acquiring him and flipping him next year when Triston Casas is ready for his debut.

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