The Boston Red Sox have started off on a tear, winning 11 of their games since June 25. The run has helped Boston separate itself from the bottom teams in the American League and land in Wild Card contention.
If the Red Sox continue their winning ways into the start of the season's second half, they could establish themselves as trade deadline buyers rather than one of the clearest sellers on the market. Unsurprisingly, a right-handed bat with some pop is Boston's biggest need — it didn't add the power fans knew it needed over the offseason and it shows in its league-worst 80 home runs in 89 games.
The added pop in the Sox's lineup will have to come through the infield. Their outfield logjam is still deep (even with Roman Anthony injured) and they still haven't replaced lost leadership from Alex Bregman's departure to the Chicago Cubs. A few times, Boston has been named a potential trade destination for New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, whom the team is reportedly trying hard to trade.
New York sports radio legend Mike Francesa has kicked up Lindor trade rumors again, saying that the Mets organization is going to "try very, very hard to trade Lindor." The shortstop's relationship with Juan Soto has raised questions about his fit in Queens, therefore turning him into a high-profile trade candidate.
It should be noted that insiders and beat reporters haven't confirmed that the Mets are shopping Lindor. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said on the "Foul Territory" podcast that he hasn't heard any rumors about Lindor on the trade block.
Despite the fit on paper, the Red Sox would never trade for Mets' Francisco Lindor
If he were to become available, Lindor would be a good fit with the Red Sox as a switch-hitter and skilled infielder. The veteran is batting just .209/.295/.353 in 36 games this season after spending two months on the injured list with a calf strain, but he's slashing .258/.336/.457 over his six years with the Mets.
Lindor is also a well-respected veteran of the game with years of playoff experience. He would replace the Bregman character in Boston's infield and maybe teach Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer a thing or two about being a well-rounded big league infielder.
But Lindor's contract wouldn't work for Red Sox management. In 2021, he signed a 10-year, $341 million extension to keep him in Queens until 2031. Not only is that too big a contract for the cowardly Boston front office to commit to, Lindor is already 32 years old. The best years of his career are probably behind him and the Red Sox definitely don't want to pay him until he's 37 (and well after, since his contract contains deferred money).
If the Mets ate some of Lindor's contract money and took on one of the bigger contracts in Boston, like Trevor Story's or Masataka Yoshida's, maybe the two sides could pull off a Lindor trade. The veteran would be a good addition to the Sox's infield on both sides of the ball and as a leader. But Lindor's age and his contract make him a suboptimal fit based on the front office's priorities.
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