The Red Sox could swing a big trade with the Marlins for rotation help
Turning to the trade market, most fans have had their focus on the bigger names available like Dylan Cease, Corbin Burnes, or Shane Bieber. That makes sense from a name recognition standpoint, but the Red Sox could be eyeing a couple of young arms with loads of team control as they were recently connected to the Marlins' Jesus Luzardo and Edward Cabrera.
Both Cabrera and Luzardo have plenty of upside and, arguably more importantly, would come with several more years of team control than rentals Bieber and Burnes or the two years of control attached to Cease. Boston would also be dealing with the Marlins who seem like they will trade anyone at anytime especially if they start costing real money.
The issue here is with the prospect cost. The trade market may be a nice alternative to spending big on free agents, but teams have gotten smarter and have been much better about valuing major league contributors that also have lots of team control very highly. To land one of these guys, Miami would likely ask for one of Boston's top prospect bats like Roman Anthony or Kyle Teel to be included in any deal. It all comes down to how much the Red Sox like Luzardo and Cabrera at that point.
Given the cost, getting a trade done for the bigger names on the market might end up being more likely. While there will be a lot of competition for a guy like Cease, two years of team control of a known commodity with a relatively high arbitration number could end up being easier to value and justify rather than speculating on what the Marlins' young guns could end up becoming.