The Boston Red Sox are entering an important offseason, one in which they will be expected to make some pretty significant moves that will help them end their three-year postseason drought.
The club's most glaring need is at the top of their starting rotation, but they could also use a right-handed bat or two, as well as some bullpen help. There are certainly options available in free agency who would help fill those needs, but the Red Sox could also choose to deal from their prospect depth and explore the trade market.
In order to acquire a bonafide ace or a right-handed power hitter who will make a significant impact on their 2025 roster, the Red Sox will almost certainly have to be open to trading one of their top four prospects – outfielder Roman Anthony, shortstop Marcelo Mayer, second baseman Kristian Campbell or catcher Kyle Teel.
In a perfect world, of course, Boston wouldn't have to part with any of their promising young position players. But one Red Sox insider seems to think that the club would be more willing to move one of them than the others.
Red Sox insider predicts Kyle Teel is most likely of 'Big Four' prospects to be used as offseason trade bait
Red Sox might make big trade this winter; who would bring them back an ace? https://t.co/nrmPV5LpU3
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) November 8, 2024
While doing a Reddit AMA last week, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe was asked which of the four aforementioned prospects was most likely to be dealt this offseason. In his response, Speier said that he had a hard time imagining the Red Sox dealing Anthony or Campbell "under any circumstances" and that Mayer's trade value might be somewhat lower given that he has yet to stay healthy for a full year.
That leaves Teel as the odd man out and, therefore, the most likely to be traded, as Speier sees it. It's a somewhat surprising answer, considering that the Red Sox could use a backup catcher. However, as Speier points out, Teel's skill set is "theoretically more replaceable" — which means that the Red Sox would have to replace him. But there are plenty of options for them to sign in free agency.
However, if Teel has the lowest upside of the four prospects (and thus, the more replaceable skill set), it's possible that he would fetch the least impressive return in a trade. It shouldn't be difficult for Boston to entice teams with a young catching prospect who hit .288 with an .819 OPS, 13 home runs, 78 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 112 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester last season, but the Red Sox may have to sweeten the pot if they want to land elite MLB talent.
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