We are just over a week away from the MLB Trade Deadline, meaning deals are going to start coming in at a rapid fire pace. So far, the market has been unusually quiet, which is due in part to the MLB Draft being held later than usual. Even though things have been slow, that doesn’t mean they are going to stay that way for much longer.
The Boston Red Sox are firmly established as buyers at this point, and will be looking to bring in a couple players to help shore up their roster. Among their needs are probably another bullpen arm or two, and another bat to come in and help fill out the lineup. After mashing their way through the Toronto Blue Jays, the extra bat may not seem necessary, but a recent cold stretch before that mini series says otherwise.
One team that could look to be dealing players away is the Minnesota Twins. In a relatively weak AL Central, the Twins sit 17 games out of first place, and would be best advised to deal away some of their starters for prospects at this stage.
Even with their bad record, the Twins have numerous players who could come in and help out a playoff contender like the Sox. Let’s take a look at three players who could be trade targets for the Boston Red Sox as the trade deadline approaches.
Boston Red Sox Trade Target No. 3: Andrelton Simmons
As one of the best fielders in the game, Andrelton Simmons is likely to have trade value just based off of his fielding alone. That’s probably a good thing for the Twins, because Simmons certainly isn’t swinging a hot bat this season. Simmons season was disrupted by a case of COVID-19, and he has never really found his way at the plate this season as a result.
Simmons is only hitting .230 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in. While Simmons has never been a power hitter, his average has usually sat around .270 or higher for most of his career, which is a cause for concern. Still, Simmons could be a valuable addition for Boston as the deadline nears.
Simmons is a skilled fielder, and has already picked up four gold gloves throughout his career. While he has only played shortstop throughout his career, it probably wouldn’t be a stretch to expect him to be able to come in and hold down second base if the Sox wanted him to. The Sox have one of the worst fielding infields in the league, so adding another glove of Simmons caliber certainly wouldn’t be the worst thing.
Simmons lack of productivity combined with his age (he will be 32 by the end of the season), and the fact that he will be a free agent this offseason makes it likely Minnesota will be looking to deal him. As a result, the Sox could probably pick him up for cheap to come in and help shore up their infield fielding.
Simmons is probably a lower value trade target at this point, but he has the potential to bounce back and find his way at the plate. Even if he doesn’t, the Sox would add significant value with him just through his fielding. He may not be the most glamourous option, but Simmons could be a valuable addition at the trade deadline if the Sox opt to go this route.
Boston Red Sox Trade Target No. 2: Alex Colome
After being linked with the Red Sox all offseason long, it may be time to finally bring Alex Colome to Boston. The former closer has struggled in his first season with Minnesota, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be worth it to make a move for him.
After a pair of dominant seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Colome packed up shop and left for their AL Central rival in Minnesota. It’s safe to say the move didn’t work too well for Colome, who has posted a 4.72 ERA and only picked up two saves on the season.
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While Colome has struggled, his numbers are primarily due to a very rough start to the season, which led to his ERA sitting at an ugly 8.31 at the end of April. Colome has gradually been working his way back to normalcy throughout the season, and seems to be finding his groove as the season progresses.
Colome certainly hasn’t lived up to expectations, and Minnesota may look to get out of his contract while they can. Boston could look to take a flier on the once dominant closer and see if they can get him back to his peak performance. He’s only a year removed from posting a 0.81 ERA, so clearly he can’t be too far off from what made him great.
Colome is only the right option if Boston doesn’t have to give up too much to get him. He offers the potential to develop into another high leverage option out of the bullpen, but based on what we have seen this season, he’s not worth shelling out a ton to get him. If Boston can acquire him for a couple of midlevel prospects, then they may want to consider pulling the trigger here.
Boston Red Sox Trade Target No. 1: Byron Buxton
Admittedly this quite a far fetched trade idea, but if the Boston Red Sox really want to make a splash at the trade deadline, Byron Buxton may just be there for the taking. Reports have recently come out that Buxton is set to decline Minnesota’s latest extension offer, and teams around the league have gradually begun inquiring about his availability. Buxton has one more season of arbitration before becoming a free agent after the 2022 season.
Could Minnesota look to unload Buxton now rather than potentially lose him for nothing down the line? It seems unlikely, but if you may recall, the Red Sox did the same with Mookie Betts just last year. Albeit, the move took place during the offseason and not at the trade deadline, but you get the point.
Buxton has missed a ton of time with injuries this season, including his current stint on the injured list with a fractured hand, only further complicating a potential trade. But when he was on the field, he finally appeared the reach his massive potential as a five-tool player. He is hitting .369 on the season with 10 home runs and 19 runs batted in, all in just 27 games played.
If the Twins wanted to move Buxton, now would be the time. He has never played this good in his career, and at age 27, this is probably his peak value. Of course, being proactive and moving on from their stars in their prime is frowned upon in all sports, but Minnesota doesn’t exactly appear to be trending in the right direction right now.
Buxton would require quite a haul based on his performance so far, but Boston’s farm system is revamped, and they could probably put together a package for him if they wanted to. There would be a lot of work involved in making it happen, but that’s not to say it’s impossible from happening; just highly unlikely.
All in all, the Sox could probably make a splash for Buxton if they felt so inclined. He has the potential to be a five-tool player, and has shown to be capable of reaching his potential so far this season. There’s a lot of risk involved with a potential move, but for as valuable as Buxton is, his value is probably as low as it will be for a player who has put up his numbers so far this season, and this could be a move that cements Boston’s status as a legit World Series contender.