The Boston Red Sox are officially eliminated from the 2025 MLB postseason. This was to be expected, honestly, don't fool yourself. This team is talented, yes, but way too inexperienced in all facets compared to the New York Yankees.
Falling in the Wild Card round to their biggest rivals is definitely a sting, and it leaves the front office with difficult questions that they've been worrying about dealing with since the season started. For all the progress they've made, the Red Sox still face roster shortcomings, namely in their pitching staff and middle-of-the-order power.
To address those needs, Boston has no choice but to dip into its deep farm system, and three prospects are more likely to be trade pieces than others.
1. Jhostynxon Garcia, CF
Nicknamed "The Password", Jhostynxon Garcia has the raw tools to become a starting outfielder at the big-league level, but Boston's depth chart complicates his path. With Jarren Duran hopefully departing this winter, this will still leave the team with Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Masataka Yoshida as well. With how hot Yoshida was this postseason, it seems very well that he'll be staying put.
This leaves Garcia with the risk of being buried if he stays here. He has to go. Packaging him now, while his prospect value is still high, could help net Boston some much-needed rotation depth. He's got top-tier value right now, slugging 21 home runs, while maintaining a .267 batting average in the minors this year (Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester).
2. Franklin Arias, SS
Franklin Arias faces a similar roadblock. The 20-year-old shortstop has been highly regarded for his defensive polish and steady bat, but with Trevor Story entrenched at shortstop for at least two more years and Marcelo Mayer most likely taking his spot when he leaves, it'll complicate things even more if Arias is involved.
For a team looking to upgrade its bullpen or add a veteran power hitter, Arias could be a centerpiece in discussions. He's improving his bat as well, striking out less times (53) than he did last year (65). He's also made his way through the system, coming from Single-A Salem, to High-A Greenville, all the way to Portland. He hasn't missed a beat, and the Red Sox have seen that.
3. Mikey Romero, IF
Mikey Romero, once seen as part of the infield of the future in the old Chaim Bloom regime, now finds himself squeezed out by Mayer, Story, Kristian Campbell, and possibly Alex Bregman. His bat-to-ball skills still hold intrigue for rival teams, but like Arias, the Red Sox simply have too many young infielders ahead of him.
Rather than let Romero's stock plummet, Boston can easily move him to balance the roster. This season, he was hitting very well, hitting 17 home runs in the minors. Getting called up to Triple-A in the middle of the year, he, yes, had a hard time adjusting. But once he did, he was hitting multiple home runs a game in September. From three home runs entering the month, he hit six more to end his season with the WooSox. He'll be an up-and-comer bat this next year or so, and he's only 21 years old.
Where Might These Red Sox Prospects End Up?
So, where do the Red Sox look to deal? Two potential trade partners stand out. The Minnesota Twins with Joe Ryan and the Pittsburgh Pirates for Paul Skenes (yes, Skenes is a reach, but you can't count anything out with the Pirates). Ideally, the Red Sox, out of anyone this offseason, have the capital to do such a trade if they wanted to. They could even include Kutter Crawford as well, if they think it means adding a legitimate game-changer.
One thing's for certain, though: the Red Sox cannot trade Connelly Early nor Payton Tolle. Those two arms should be the lefties of the future, and have proven that they are a solution and not part of the problem..
Regardless of what happens, the Red Sox cannot stand pat. That's not an option. If the front office is genuinely serious about advancing and becoming World Series contenders, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow & Co. must turn the tide, and if trading one of Garcia, Arias, or Romero means taking one step closer to championship glory, so be it.