Spring training is well underway for the Boston Red Sox, and with Opening Day just a little less than two weeks out, it will soon be time for Craig Breslow and Co. to make their final roster cuts before the team opens the season in Arlington, Texas.
However, outside of assigning players to the minors, Breslow could try to utilize the trade market to get some value on players he feels don’t have much of a future in Boston. Here are three players who could be on the trade block after their spring training performances.
3 biggest trade chips for Red Sox this spring training
David Hamilton
The first player on our list is shortstop and second baseman, David Hamilton. Hamilton, who turns 28 in September, debuted for the Red Sox in 2023, but his performance in 2024 turned heads. On top of his improved infield defense, Hamilton also showed promise at the plate. In 294 at-bats, He slashed .248/.303/.395/.697 with eight home runs and a 92 OPS+ and wRC+. While these numbers are not insane, they demonstrate Hamilton’s potential to be a productive big leaguer.
The Red Sox could look to move Hamilton because of their crowded middle infield. With a fully healthy Trevor Story, Alex Bregman, and Vaughn Grissom in the mix, Hamilton’s future on the roster looks uncertain. With a solid 2024 under his belt, Hamilton proved to be a solid Major League player, and he should generate a lot of interest from teams in need of infield help.
Nick Sogard
Second up is infielder, Nick Sogard. Sogard, who will also be 28 come September, had a very short stint with the major league club last year, appearing in 31 games down the stretch. While his numbers weren’t anything special, Sogard still showed flashes, putting up a stat line of .273/.326/.650, an OPS+ of 82, and a wRC+ of 81 in 77 at-bats.
While his sample size at the MLB level is limited, Sogard has been enjoying an extremely productive spring. In 28 at-bats, he has hit two home runs and posted a 1.097 OPS. However, with Sogard already 27 and having minimal experience in the majors, the Red Sox may opt to hold onto Hamilton instead while cutting bait with Sogard in a trade. Given his great spring training, he could land a job as a backup infielder for a rebuilding team.
Josh Winckowski
Josh Winckowski, who’s been with the team since 2022, had a poor 2024 season that saw him demoted to Triple-A Worcester, as the right-hander pitched to a 4.14 ERA, a 4.48 FIP, and an ERA+ of 103 in 76 innings of work. Unfortunately for Winckowski, his struggles have continued into spring training, as he has allowed 11 hits and 10 earned runs in five innings of work.
Winck’s future in Boston looks uncertain. He has easily been the worst of Red Sox pitching this spring, and with arms like Richard Fitts and Micheal Fulmer performing well, Winckowski’s shot at the final Opening Day Roster looks slimmer by the day.
Given his previous major league success and long relief experience, Winckowski likely would generate some interest from teams needing bullpen help. After the Sox's recent late-inning upgrades with Aroldis Chapman and a healthy Liam Hendriks, Breslow may see the value in trading Winckowski away.