Boston Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell was recently demoted to Triple-A after a hot start to the season. He was named American League Rookie of the Month for March and April, but has fallen off dramatically since then, with a .176/.279/.231 slash line in his last 30 big league games.
Campbell's move back down to Triple-A has generated some crazy takes, including some calls for trades. Andy Hart, a co-host of WEEI Afternoons, said on June 23 that the Red Sox should trade Campbell.
"If teams want Kristian Campbell, if he is seen as a commodity, if he is seen as a guy that's good value, because I think that contract — that $60 million, eight-year deal — that's probably palatable for most teams," Hart said. "...I'm worried about what he is long-term, I'm not sure he's a star, if teams want him, I would trade Kristian Campbell."
If Campbell's contract is so palatable that even small-market teams could take it on, why is it a problem for the Red Sox, one of the biggest markets and the third most valuable team in MLB? Boston may have been hasty in its extension of Campbell in its attempts to become the Atlanta Braves of the north, but the deal is undeniably team-friendly.
"I would trade Kristian Campbell" - @JumboHart pic.twitter.com/QEID8cQlyH
— WEEI Afternoons (@WEEIAfternoons) June 23, 2025
Campbell began the 2024 season in High-A. By no means is he a finished product. The Red Sox have eight more inexpensive years of control over him to help him develop into whatever kind of player they need him to be. Sure, his defense needs work, but Boston put a lot of unnecessary pressure on him this season by adding him to the Opening Day roster before he was ready and by requesting that he learn first base when he wasn't perfect at his other positions. Campbell's contract isn't necessarily a mistake, but the way the Red Sox have used him is.
Campbell's foray back into the minor leagues could help him find his footing again to become the player he was in the first month of the season. Campbell was slashing .301/.407/.495 with eight doubles and four homers through April 30. Boston's offense is desperate for that kind of production, and if Campbell can provide it again, the Red Sox have no business trading his insanely team-friendly contract away if his offensive ceiling is that high.