5 players who could be traded if the Red Sox fall out of postseason contention
With the Red Sox in last place, selling is a real possibility. These players can be among those shipped out if that happens.
The Boston Red Sox are in the unfortunate position of being average or even slightly above average, yet having a very minimal shot at a postseason berth. At 47-43, the Red Sox are in last place in the AL East, ten games back of first place Tampa Bay. While they're only two back of the third Wild Card spot, they'd have to outlast two of Baltimore, Houston, Toronto, and the Yankees.
Had Boston played in the AL Central, the argument to buy would be much clearer. They'd be in first place right now, and with Trevor Story and other players coming off of the IL, a run is very possible.
A run can still be made in the AL East, especially thanks to how well they've played against the Blue Jays and Yankees, but it certainly feels unlikely. If Boston does decide that it's more worthwhile to sell, they'll have plenty of players teams will be clamoring for at the trade deadline.
1) Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall could be traded if the team falls out of postseason contention
It's been a tale of two halves for Adam Duvall. He was lighting the world on fire to begin the season, slashing .455/.514/1.030 with four home runs and 14 RBI in his first eight games of the season. Duvall then landed on the IL with wrist injury, and things haven't been the same since.
In the 23 games he's played since being activated in early June, Duvall has slashed .167/.241/.269 with one home run and seven RBI. As frustrating is that is, Duvall has always been a streaky hitter, so that's not really out of the norm.
Duvall is a guy who's hit as many as 38 home runs which he did just two years ago. He plays really sound defense in the outfield, including in center field, which can be incredibly valuable for a contender.
The 34-year-old signed a one-year deal worth $7 million this past offseason. It's a very moveable contract, and with Duvall expiring, it makes all the sense in the world to move him if Boston is out of it. Open up playing time for younger players while getting an asset back.
2) Red Sox pitcher James Paxton could be traded if the team falls out of postseason contention
One of the surprise stories of this season for the Red Sox has been the play of James Paxton. We all know how good he was in the past, but the southpaw had been limited to just six starts over the past three seasons due to injury.
Paxton missed the first month and a half of this season with injury, but since returning has looked like the Paxton of old. He has a 2.73 ERA in 10 starts and 56 innings pitched. He has 63 strikeouts to just 14 walks. He's been outstanding in a Red Sox rotation that desperately needed him to be.
Paxton has gone at least five innings in all but two of his starts and has allowed two runs or fewer in all but two of his starts. He's only really had one bad start this season.
While he's been awesome, Paxton's contract is up at the end of this season. That makes him a prime trade candidate if the Red Sox do decide to sell. With him making just $4 million this season, he should have a whole slew of teams bidding for his services.
Boston won't get a frontline prospect for Paxton, but his outstanding season thus far and his cheap contract should help net the Red Sox a decent asset for a guy they had no expectations for. With how expensive starting pitching is on the market, it's possible we get surprised with what he can bring back in a deal.
3) Red Sox pitcher Chris Martin could be traded if the team falls out of postseason contention
After last season's disastrous bullpen showing, the Red Sox made a serious effort to upgrade the bullpen this offseason. Kenley Jansen was the headliner, and that move has worked out with him being an all-star.
While Jansen is the headliner, Chris Martin has arguably been the best reliever in Boston's bullpen all season. Martin missed three weeks with injury, but when he's been healthy, he's been lights out.
Martin has an ERA of 1.69 in 29 appearances and 27.2 innings pitched. He's walked just three batters (one intentionally) in those innings, while giving up just one home run. With Martin also giving up fewer hits than innings pitched, it's easy to see how he's been so successful this season.
The Red Sox gave Martin a two-year deal this past offseason so trading him isn't as necessary as moving guys like Duvall and Paxton, but with Martin being as dominant as he has been and with relievers being as volatile as they are, getting as much value as you can for a 37-year-old having a career year makes all the sense in the world.
It feels like every contender could use some bullpen help. There likely won't be a better option for them to go after, especially with another year of control, than Martin.
4) Red Sox infielder Justin Turner could be traded if the team falls out of postseason contention
There's been a lot of talk about how Boston screwed up letting J.D. Martinez walk after his abysmal season because he's turned it around in Los Angeles and is an all-star again. As unfortunate as it is to see J.D. thrive again the second he left Beantown, Justin Turner has been no slouch as his replacement.
Turner has been primarily a DH this season, and he's slashed .288/.360/.461 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI. He has an .821 OPS and a 119 OPS+. He's been very good.
Turner is another guy who signed a two-year deal to come to Boston this past offseason. The only difference between Turner's and Martin's deals outside of the money is that Martin's second year is guaranteed while Turner's is only partially guaranteed. He has a player option worth $13.4 million for the 2024 season.
I have no idea whether he'll accept or reject the option. I'm leaning toward reject because of how well he's played, and I'm sure he can get a second guaranteed year again if he decided to test the market. Maybe even Boston would give it to him.
Rather than risk losing Turner for nothing, Boston can simply trade him and open up at-bats for others out of the DH spot. He's had a really solid year, and with the fact that he can play first base, third base, and even second base if needed, he should fetch something decent.
Turner has played in 86 postseason games and has an .830 OPS in playoff baseball. That's extremely valuable, and is another reason why other teams that need a DH or an infielder will go after him if made available.
5) Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo could be traded if the team falls out of postseason contention
This one is unlikely, but I do feel like if Boston does decide to sell, they've got to at least test the waters on a potential Alex Verdugo trade. I know he'd like to stay, and I'm sure they'd want to extend him, but Verdugo could simply be pricing his way out of Boston.
Verdugo is slashing .290/.360/.457 with seven home runs and 38 RBI. He's been excellent in the outfield and we all know about his outstanding throwing arm as well. Rafael Devers doesn't lead Red Sox position players in fWAR, Verdugo does.
If Boston does not want to extend him, which has been the case for many other homegrown players (inexplicably), now would be the time to trade him. He has one more year of control after this before hitting free agency. With how well he's played and the fact that he has another full year, his value might be at its peak right now.
Verdugo can play all three outfield positions, can hit anywhere in the order, and can get on base at a really high level. He's making just $6.3 million this season, and won't be making more than $10 million or so next season. A contender would get him for two postseason runs, and with how well Verdugo played in the 2021 postseason, that's definitely a good thing.
I'm not sure Boston ends up moving him, but they should at the very least explore the market if they don't want to extend him and are selling anyway.
manual