4 Potential dark-horse Red Sox trade targets

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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Pablo Lopez
Jul 31, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (49) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the New York Mets at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Is Pablo Lopez an impossible trade target for the Red Sox?

Adding a pitcher like Pablo Lopez could be the best long-term move of all.

He’s also a huge reach for the Sox, compared to their first trades of the week, as teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers are also interested and likely prepared to offer more than the Sox.

Lopez has been a bright spot for the Miami Marlins, already matching his career-high 21 starts with two months remaining in the regular season. After posting a 4.76 ERA over the first two seasons of his career, he has an ERA under 3.61 for the third consecutive year.

Unfortunately for the Sox, the amount of club control left on Lopez’s contract increases his already-high trade value; he won’t be a free agent until 2025. While Lopez is brimming with potential and offers both short- and long-term stability in the rotation, the Sox are also in the midst of developing several starting pitchers: Josh Winckowski, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Connor Seabold, to name a few.

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