Boston Red Sox shortstops have largely missed the mark this year. Trevor Story slashed .206/.244/.303 and posted three outs below average before a sports hernia took him out of action. Marcelo Mayer hasn't looked much better, with a .220/.282/.312 slash line and league-average defense.
The Sox can't lean on either player for consistent production, so they've been exploring the shortstop market before the August 3 trade deadline, which is just hours away. They've checked in on Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez, but talks between the two sides have fizzled in the last days before the deadline. The Red Sox have also inquired about Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, but the Angels' asking price is, frankly, laughable.
According to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, the Angels have asked for Boston's top prospect Franklin Arias and more for Neto (subscription required). One look at Neto's skillset will tell anyone that deal should never happen (we're all looking at you, Craig Breslow).
Neto would certainly help the Red Sox push for the playoffs in many ways. He's got more home run power than any of Boston's other shortstop options with 19 bombs through 109 games this season. He boasts a pull AIR percentage of 27.7, so he would make great use of the Green Monster during home games.
Red Sox should never cave to Angels' asking price for Zach Neto
But there are too many holes in Neto's game to justify giving Arias away for him. His strikeout percentage has reached a career high of 31.6 this year and his 156 strikeouts lead the American League. Trading for a player with a strikingly similar strikeout percentage to Story (32.4) hardly feels like much of an upgrade.
Neto is also not a skilled defender. He's clocked eight outs below average, which ranks in the third percentile among shortstops, and one defensive run saved. Meanwhile, Arias is a top-tier defender, athletic and light on his feet enough to make every routine play and plenty of difficult ones.
Arias is the No. 7 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and Neto never even approached that level of hype. He was an average-over-power hitter for most of his career but he's experienced a power surge in 2026. He's batting .310/.398/.578 with 21 home runs — his previous career high was nine — over 82 games this season.
The Red Sox need a right-handed power bat, but if the Angels demand Arias for Neto, it isn't worth it for Boston. Arias is a more well-rounded player than Neto has ever been and he could be in the big leagues as soon as next year (if next season goes on as planned). Neto has three years of control left after this season and trading Arias for him makes no sense when the Sox could instead have Arias' skills in the major leagues with a bit more patience. As long as the Angels demand such an obscene return for a player with Neto's limited impact, key though that impact may be, a rental infielder makes much more sense for the Red Sox.
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