The 2026-27 offseason looms ever closer, and there are reasons to dread it besides the absence of baseball. Not only is MLB expecting to go into a lockout due to upcoming CBA negotiations, this year's free agent class is isn't inspiring.
The lack of top-tier talent on the free agent market could force teams to make most of their major additions via trade. This is unfortunate news for the Boston Red Sox, who traded most of their top farm system talent, as well as many of their depth pitching options last offseason or at the trade deadline.
The Red Sox still have Franklin Arias at the top of their farm system, however. Boston's No. 1 prospect is the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and he could fetch a fantastic return on the trade market, if the Sox are willing to go there. Trade deadline reports suggest they were — Boston reached out to the Cincinnati Reds in attempt to trade Arias and others for star shortstop Elly De La Cruz, but the Reds weren't interested.
But the Sox will be careful with Arias on the trade market. Their willingness to swap him for De La Cruz doesn't mean they'd be open to shopping him for anyone else. In Jen McCaffrey's words from her October 26 mailbag with The Athletic, Boston would have to be "blown away" to trade Arias (subscription required).
Red Sox should only trade Franklin Arias if they can get a massive star in return
De La Cruz or a player of similar talent and team control should be the only options when it comes to a potential Arias trade — Zach Neto and CJ Abrams didn't cut it before and that shouldn't change, even if this year's free agent class is a drag. The 20-year-old shortstop prospect had a breakout year in 2026, to the tune of a .323/.400/.557 slash line with 28 doubles, a triple and 25 home runs over 117 games. Arias had never hit more than nine home runs in the three prior years of his minor league career, but he looked big league-ready this past season.
The Red Sox are one year removed from the end of Trevor Story's contract, which will finally free them from the limitations they've faced at shortstop over the last five years. Arias will be a complicated fit on the Sox's roster in 2027, barring an unexpected middle infield trade, but he makes a ton of sense for them in the long-term. Boston shouldn't sacrifice that potential for any player other than De La Cruz or someone with similar impact.
The disappointment of this year's free agent class shouldn't force the Red Sox into a hasty decision with Arias. He has the potential to be the All-Star shortstop they need, and trading him for someone less than a major star with well-rounded skills should be out of the question.
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