3 players the Red Sox should trade and 2 they should keep for 2024
The Boston Red Sox set expectations high going into this offseason. Overall, they haven't been met. They haven't been a team likely to spend big-market money in recent years, so it seems more likely that team improvements will come through trades.
A lot of names have been floated in trade rumors for Boston throughout the offseason — some sound like good ideas. Others? Not so much. A few of the names mentioned in trade rumors are among the Sox's highest-paid players, and finding a team to take on some of those contracts would be no easy feat.
All of the players mentioned have the potential to serve Boston well in 2024. But some have value to other teams that may be too good to hold onto. Others are too good to give away.
The Red Sox's most desperate needs are a left-handed arm in the starting rotation and a right-handed power hitter for the lineup. Likely, none of these players will get Boston those returns on their own, but pair them with some of the prospects the front office is always praising, and the Red Sox may well have a real offer on the table.
Either way, here's where the Sox need to draw the line with some oft-mentioned names.
3 players the Red Sox should trade and 2 they should keep for 2024
TRADE - Kenley Jansen, RHP
It's been rumored that the Sox have been taking calls for Jansen for weeks. It's also been reported the Red Sox told a free agent target they had to "shed payroll" before pursuing him. Boston doesn't need to shed payroll, but Jansen is owed $16 million for the upcoming season and is among the Sox's highest-paid players in 2024.
Jansen earned an All-Star nod with the Red Sox, his first since 2018, despite his season in Boston not being one of his best. He finished with a 3.36 ERA and 29 saves. He registered one of his lowest strikeout and innings totals last year (52 Ks across 44.2 innings).
Jansen's value is still relatively high and he's regarded as one of the best closers in the game. Finding a team to take on Jansen's salary will be no easy task, but if Boston can find a suitor, they should swap him for whatever value they can get.
KEEP - Jarren Duran, OF
Duran's name has been floated around in many trade possibilities by fans and reporters this offseason, and for good reason. Duran stepped up his production at the plate and in the field last season and is shaping up to be a reliable player for Boston.
The Red Sox have a history of holding onto prospects, and Duran is one showing upside. His speed is nearly unmatched, making him a serious asset on the base paths — he routinely stretches singles into doubles and can consistently swipe bags.
Duran's prowess as a leadoff hitter is too good for the Sox to give up in a batting order that lacks power. He slashed .412/.429/.677 in the leadoff spot last season and his ability to get on base and be a threat with his legs makes him a key piece in Boston's order.
KEEP - Masataka Yoshida, OF
The Red Sox have allegedly been taking calls for Yoshida for a few weeks. On a roster that's heavy on outfielders and light on sluggers, shopping Yoshida might make sense to some, especially because his $90 million contract is nothing to sneeze at.
But Boston should absolutely keep Yoshida. He batted nearly .300 for much of last season, and behind a base-stealing machine like Duran, the two will consistently generate runs. Yoshida's production at the plate stalled in the second half of the season and his fielding leaves a lot to be desired, but last season was his first in a new country and league he never played in before. Adjusting to a whole new experience takes time.
Yoshida isn't known for wielding a powerful bat, but he has the lower-half strength that it takes to do so. His start to 2023 wasn't great, but with a few tweaks to his swing, his average rose and he started hitting the ball harder by the end of April. Maybe, with a few more changes, Yoshida could take advantage of Fenway's short right field.
Trading Yoshida so soon after acquiring him would also be a bad look for a Red Sox team that can't afford more bad PR at the moment. Other Japanese players could be deterred by Boston's treatment of Yoshida if he were to be traded after a year with the club, with little time to prove himself. Players have down years all the time. After seeing Yoshida's 2023 World Baseball Classic performance, the Red Sox should be more than happy to hold onto him.
TRADE - Kutter Crawford, RHP
Like many of their other pitchers, the Red Sox used Crawford out of the bullpen and as a starter in 2023. And Red Sox Nation believes he's trending up. But Boston's rotation could use a lefty, and trading Crawford could be the best way to secure one.
Crawford, 27, likely has many years ahead of him in MLB. In 2023, he showed improvements in his ERA, K rate and walk rate, which would place his 2024 value the highest it's ever been. Crawford also touts a deceptive fastball with surprisingly low velocity — his spin rate is in the 95th percentile in the league.
Other teams would definitely be interested in Crawford. He's above average in the league in whiff, contact and chase rates, and he's under contract through 2028, giving teams many years of control. There would be no harm in the Sox keeping him, but it also wouldn't hurt to test the market for his value.
TRADE - Tanner Houck, RHP
Houck is a ground-ball pitcher with an arsenal of impressive breaking pitches, and he ranks nicely in breaking run value and whiff rate.
Houck has had his ups and downs in the major leagues. It's been four years since his debut and he's only played in 74 games. He has a 3.86 ERA for his career, but his 2023 numbers weren't his best. Houck let up 104 hits and 41 walks in 106 innings while striking out just 99 batters.
The righty would be an appealing trade candidate due to the years of control he carries. Like Crawford, Houck is just 27 years old and is signed through 2028. In that time, another team could help him improve his control and command, as either a starter or reliever.
There was a suspicious drop in his K/9 rate in 2022 that continued into 2023 — if a team can unlock the reason for the drop, Houck could be a fine reliever for another team. Getting Houck out of the picture would just help the Red Sox better solidify their pitching staff without having to bounce him in between roles, all the while trying to foster his development. They might already be at the point of no return there.