4 potential trade targets for the Red Sox ahead of Winter Meetings
As the dust settled on the second season in a row where the Red Sox finished in last place, the message, from ownership to newly minted CBO Craig Breslow, was clear: things needed to change.
During his introductory press conference, Breslow made it clear that difficult decisions would have to be made this winter, some of which involve trading fan-favorite players and prospects in an attempt to improve the roster.
"Part of building a consistent winner at the major league level is making a lot of bold, difficult decisions, and some of those include favorite players."
While it's impossible to determine the specific targets the Red Sox are pursuing at this early stage, here are four trade options that could immediately enhance the Red Sox roster.
Juan Soto
The Padres are expected to slash payroll heading into 2024, and Juan Soto's projected $33 million arbitration figure is anticipated to fuel trade rumors for much of the offseason, making it the focal point of the offseason alongside the Ohtani sweepstakes.
Soto's resume speaks for itself. The 25-year-old has amassed three All-Star appearances, four Silver Slugger awards, and a World Series ring in his first six MLB seasons. He has shown no signs of slowing down, posting a 5.5 bWAR in his most recent season with the Padres proving to be possibly the best position player available this winter.
While the price may be steep, it's hard to see a much better fit for the Red Sox than Soto. They not only have the prospect capital to swing a trade for the Padres slugger but also the payroll flexibility to extend him as well.
Gleyber Torres
A Red Sox-Yankees blockbuster trade? While unheard of, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI, the two arch-rivals reportedly discussed a swap involving the Yankees' second baseman and the Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo as recently as last season.
Torres could provide a massive boost to the Red Sox offense at second base. In 2023, he showcased his offensive prowess with an impressive triple slash line of .273/.347/.453 and a 118 OPS+, establishing himself as one of the league's top offensive second basemen. However, despite Torres's offensive upside, his defensive metrics leave much to be desired. According to Baseball Savant, Gleyber posted -3 OAA (Outs Above Average) in 2023, landing him in the 17th percentile for second basemen—a statistic that might give pause to a Red Sox front office that has emphasized the need for defensive improvement.
While rumored, it may be difficult to see this trade come to fruition between the rivals as Jeff Passan of ESPN recently threw cold water on the deal calling the potential trade "nonsense" then further saying that trading Torres does not align with the Yankees offseason plans.
Corbin Burnes
No secret here: Boston's much-maligned starting rotation is in dire need of a significant boost this winter. Enter Corbin Burnes the Brewers ace brings both the star power and production necessary to steer Breslow's new rotation back on track.
Since his debut in 2018, few starters in baseball have been as consistently productive as Corbin Burnes. Finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young voting for the past four seasons and clinching the award in 2021, Burnes boasts an impressive track record. With a stellar 2.86 ERA and a 2.84 FIP over his last 622.1 innings pitched, he could emerge as the most coveted pitcher available this winter.
The Brewers won't be short on suitors vying for Burnes' services. The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Giants, and several other teams are all on the hunt to bolster their rotation for the upcoming season, presenting a competitive market for a potential trade. Nevertheless, the Red Sox are poised to play a role in this market, as big players in the arms race for starters this winter.
Brandon Drury
While a more under-the-radar option its hard to find a player who fits the Red Sox needs more than Drury this offseason. After signing with the Angels last offseason Drury quietly put together a very strong season in LA despite the Angels underperforming expectations.
Drury put together an impressive slash line of .262/.306/.497 with 26 homers and an .806 OPS from the right side of the plate. This performance demonstrated his ability to seamlessly slot into the Red Sox lineup at second base, a position where he contributed significantly on the defensive end with 5 OAA (Outs Above Average), landing him in the 89th percentile for second basemen.
With the Angels likely entering another rebuild, especially with Shohei Ohtani all but officially gone, a player of Drury's caliber could potentially become available for a reasonable price this offseason as Boston aims to fortify its middle infield.
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