At the beginning of July, the Boston Red Sox's plan for the trade deadline was unclear. Though Craig Breslow has claimed the team will be a buyer since the Rafael Devers trade, the Sox's performance over the rest of the month will truly dictate that.
If the team hits another cold stretch and falls out of the playoff picture, they should decide to sell and sell hard. The current roster is ripe with players who could return a solid prospect haul. So, which Red Sox could be finding new homes by the trade deadline?
8 Red Sox who could be traded if Boston decides to sell at the deadline
Aroldis Chapman
The Cuban flame-thrower is having one of the best seasons of his career at age 37. He signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract in the offseason, making him one of the best rentals on the market. Back in 2016, the Yankees traded Chapman at the deadline to the Cubs for four players including Gleyber Torres (the Cubs' top prospect headed into the season). He's much older now, but could still net at least one high-quality prospect if he's moved.
Justin Wilson
The 37-year-old lefty is also having a resurgent 2025. He has a 2.63 ERA and an ERA+ well over 150. He also signed a one-year contract this offseason, and at just $2.25 million, he could be a very cheap rental option. Southpaws are always a hot commodity at the deadline, and even if he won't fetch a top prospect, he'll definitely be on the move if Boston sells.
Walker Buehler
Buehler has been unsuccessful in reviving his career about a year removed from returning from his second Tommy John surgery. That being said, he's a veteran pitcher with loads of playoff experience, and showed last year that he can still perform in high-leverage situations. His return would be minimal due to his high salary, but another team may find him useful down the stretch and in the playoffs this year.
Lucas Giolito
After a 13-month delay to his Red Sox tenure, Giolito had a rocky return to the mound. After four rough starts where he had an ERA over 7.00, he has settled into the rotation, and in the seven starts following, he has a 2.35 ERA. He's looking more like the Giolito from 2019 where he finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting. He's making $19 million in 2025, but his team option at $14 million for 2026 could make him a hot commodity. A contender would gladly take on his contract this season if they could have this version of him for $5 million cheaper next season.
Rob Refsnyder
Refsynder has taken on a leadership role in the Red Sox clubhouse and perfectly fills the role of a platoon bat. Those are two traits that a true contender could find extremely valuable, especially at his very cheap price. He contemplated retiring last offseason, and if the front office thinks he will this offseason, he could likely find a new home for the final few months of his career.
Jarren Duran
The trade winds have been swirling around Duran for a while now. Despite the down season, his breakout last year could make him a very enticing piece for a team needing a top-of-the-order bat or an outfielder. The logjam of outfielders makes Duran somewhat expendable, even if he is a fan favorite. With three years of control after this one, he could easily get the Sox a top-30 prospect in the game.
Connor Wong
The final piece of the Mookie Betts trade lost his starting job after a finger fracture just 11 games into the season. The breakout of Carlos Narváez has seen Wong get minimal playing time, and it seems like the lack of regular games is hurting his production. He'll reach arbitration for the first time this winter, meaning he's going to start to get expensive, especially for a backup. The Sox could look to move him to a team that may see the upside from last season and get him more regular playing time, avoiding having to pay him or letting him walk for nothing.
Romy González
The final player who could be on the move is González. Currently in a platoon at first base, González has shown the ability to play all over the infield and hits lefties extremely well. With Kristian Campbell learning first base in Worcester, he would slide right into González's spot in the platoon if he were traded. The 28-year-old also enters arbitration for the first time this offseason, so moving him before he gets more expensive and with years of control on his contract may be a smart move.
Honorable mention - Alex Bregman
If the Red Sox truly clear house at the deadline, they have to think about moving Bregman. Though reports say he's open to a long-term extension, if they can't work anything out, and can't guarantee he won't opt out of his contract, he could be finding a new home. He could garner multiple top 10 prospects, completely replenishing the players lost from the Crochet trade.