The Boston Red Sox, regardless of sitting in last place with a 25-33 record, are rumored to be buying at the deadline. CBO Craig Breslow is not ready to admit failure, and this roster is truly only a piece or two away from truly competing. While that should've been done this offseason, the trade deadline is a perfect opportunity for the Red Sox with their endless gob of prospects.
Even if they're in the AL East cellar, they're currently 3 games behind a Wild Card spot as of Tuesday. With that in mind, the Red Sox will need to part ways with some beloved (or scorned) players for a better short-term future...
...and this first player has the "SOLD" stamp on the center of his forehead.
No. 1: Masataka Yoshida (OF/DH)
Being swirled in trade rumors over the last couple of seasons, Yoshida is locked into the Red Sox's future after signing a five-year, $90 million contract back in the 2022-2023 offseason. Hyped as a hitting machine, Yoshida had done just that, batting .282 with an above-average .337 OBP throughout his first three seasons with the team.
While becoming an injury-prone player over the last couple of seasons, Yoshida is still a hitting machine when he steps up to the batter's box. He was red-hot to end his 2025 season, hitting a slash line of .375/.385/.563/.947, while recording 18 hits in 48 at-bats in 13 games. Most notably, he capped that off with a two-run single that gave the Red Sox the lead they needed to beat the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
But the question is: Is Yoshida actually worth $18.6 million a season? To most teams, he's definitely not. To be traded, Breslow is going to have to fork over a top-15 prospect for someone to take on that contract. Yoshida can be a starter on a team like Minnesota, and those are the teams to target when it comes to him, where his value will shine the most.
Best Fits:
Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks
No. 2: Greg Weissert (RHP)
Weissert had turned into one of the better relievers in baseball in 2025, recording a 2.82 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 67 full innings pitched. However, this year, he's become one of the aforementioned scorned players on their roster. So far, he's given up five home runs in just 23 1/3 innings, along with a total of 11 earned runs, which makes his ERA 4.24 in 25 games.
While it would be nice to see him get demoted, he's apparently a favorite of the organization. There's always one in the organization that favors one over another more deserving pitcher. Weissert may just be in a package for a trade at this point. If this season has anything to say about it, he may just be a throw-in rather than a headliner.
But even then, some teams will want to take a gamble on him.
Best Fits:
Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Washington Nationals, Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates
No. 3: Danny Coulombe (LHP)
The Red Sox were looking for their go-to lefty in the heart of their bullpen. It actually ended up becoming Tyler Samaniego, not Danny Coulombe. For him, he's struggled immensely this season, recording a 6.55 ERA with only eight strikeouts in his 16 appearances (11 innings). Coloumbe's given up eight earned runs in that timeframe.
At 38 years old, the Red Sox are better off cutting their losses with him, since he's on a one-year contract and will only be considered a rental to any team. Selling him now is completely worth it if Breslow wants to get rid of the bullpen holes.
To be completely honest, everyone is looking for a lefty pitcher that they can refine. But the three teams that are desperate for any arm are as follows:
Best Fits:
Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros
No. 4: Jarren Duran (OF/DH)
As for Duran, he is a maybe. If Yoshida is too much for teams to balk at, Duran is next on that list. While he's one of the only players who's hitting well, it may just get teams to want him over others. Many chose him over Yoshida in trade talks this past offseason, and he was rumored in deals left and right.
On the surface, it doesn't make sense to do so. But if you put your GM hat on, think about it: Duran is under control until 2028, he's the hottest hitter in that lineup, and most of all, he's a clubhouse leader. The deal has to be right, though. It can't just be Duran for Rangers' closer Jake Latz. It has to be for a player who can both lead and hit really well.
Think about the likes of a Yordan Alvarez, or, ironically enough, a Rafael Devers. He could go to the Royals, who are desperate for offense, but there's no one in particular besides Vinny Pasquantino that the Royals would be comfortable trading away, and it doesn't sound likely that Pasquantino will be traded. Overall, selling off Duran isn't idealistic, and that's why he's a maybe. He's the fill-in star player to sweeten the deal and possibly seal it, but that's as far as I believe Breslow will throw him in for.
Best Fits:
San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros
No. 5: Franklin Arias (SS)
Now this isn't because Arias isn't bad by any means. He's actually been arguably the best prospect in baseball since the start of the season. He's jumped up from being in the middle of the pack in the Top 100 Prospects List to 10th overall. That's huge.
But just how good has he been? Talk about a slash line of .331/.402/.624/1.026, while hitting 12 home runs and driving in 31 RBIs, and recording 52 hits in 157 at-bats. Many teams want him, and there will be plenty of rebuilding teams that want to bolster their farm system.
It has to happen for a package in exchange for someone like Yordan Alvarez, Ketel Marte, or anyone else. Otherwise, it's better to keep him until the offseason.
Best Fits:
Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins
Craig Breslow is running out of time to save his job with Red Sox
While there are still two months left until the trade deadline, at least two of these players will likely be shipped off.
Breslow is getting desperate to save his job. He's firmly on the hot seat, and it looks like ownership is getting closer and closer to pulling the plug. Once John Henry starts worrying, there should be alarms ringing in Breslow's mind.
Yet again, the Red Sox are looking to resurge, but they won't go far without a pure power bat. If they get it at the deadline, you bet they'll burst right through the ceiling.
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