When it rains, it pours for the Boston Red Sox. They're the only team in all of MLB without a free-agent signing, and while the additions of Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo, and Willson Contreras were all solid moves, losing Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow will have to get to work if he wants this team to keep up in the AL East. And, with the team's reluctance to spend big bucks or sign aging players to long-term deals, more trades might be the only solution.
The Red Sox will reportedly go all-in on Bo Bichette after letting Bregman walk. Given the competition and their recent history, though, it's hard to feel optimistic. With that in mind, the trade market could also help with Boston's big-game hunting, and if the front office wants to land a difference-making stud, one of these three Red Sox players will likely need to be included in said deal.
3 Red Sox Who May be Traded Before Spring Training
1. Wilyer Abreu, RF
The Boston Red Sox have more outfielders than they can play right now. That might make Wilyer Abreu, a great player but still not the team's main star there, a potential trade candidate. He ranked second in runs saved last season, trailing only Fernando Tatis Jr. in that regard, and he's just about to enter his age-27 season, thus making him an appealing trade asset for other teams.
Abreu has won back-to-back Gold Gloves and has four years of club control left. While not the fastest player or the hardest-hitting guy on the team, he's still a work in progress and a promising player whose best years are ahead of him. Whether the Red Sox can afford to wait for him to continue his development while they have so many arms in the outfield is another story. He has star potential, and the Red Sox could use help somewhere else.
2. Triston Casas, 1B
Injuries have limited Triston Casas to a total of 92 games over the past two seasons. Now, with the Red Sox trading three young pitchers for his replacement, it's hard to envision any scenario in which he's going to be out there often, even if he's healthy. The writing is on the wall, and even he admitted that he wasn't surprised about the trade, according to Red Sox insider Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
Casas isn't going to play over three-time All-Star Willson Contreras. He's recovering from a knee injury, and he may not even be ready for opening day. That being said, he's just 25 years old, and another team might be more than willing to take a flier on him at a reasonable price.
3. Jarren Duran, LF/CF
Jarren Duran's trade value may have taken a bit of a hit after some regression in 2025, but he's still the team's most valuable trade asset right now. Once again, the crowded outfield makes him a potential trade candidate, and while he's a better player than Abreu, he might also be the odd man out if the Red Sox aim to make a bigger move.
Duran has the physical tools to be a star. He's an elite base runner who's still young and has three years of club control. Even after a down year, his total bWAR of 13.4 in the past two seasons is more than impressive, and with former No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony rounding up into an everyday player, the Red Sox might make the most of the chance to sell high while they still can.