As the 2025 season is officially over and the offseason is in full swing, the trade chatter is ramping up as of late. Boston sits atop one of the most promising farm systems in baseball. The organization's depth has been widely praised, recently receiving an A- grade, with evaluators pointing to a strong core of both pitching and position-player talent as the foundation of sustained success.
Among the system's crown jewels are 18-year-old outfielder/first-base prospect Justin Gonzales and soon-to-be 18-year-old Dorian Soto. Both show traits that suggest, if they fulfill their promise, they could become core offensive contributors and, potentially, MVP-caliber players.
Gonzales stands out even as one of the youngest prospects in full-season ball. In 2025, he slashed .281/.363/.390 across multiple levels, earning himself some serious recognition as a Carolina League All-Star, and drew notice for his prodigious raw power and plate discipline.
Gonzales stands at 6'4", packs bat-to-ball skills with a surprising contact rate for his size, and already demonstrates the kind of strength and swing path that could lead to 30-plus home run seasons down the line, provided he's able to put more lift to the ball.
Dorian Soto, meanwhile, is perhaps one of Boston's highest-upside international signings in years, arguably, since Rafael Devers.
As a 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop with advanced bat instincts and athletic upside, Soto raked in the Dominican Summer League, showing he can hit for both average and emerging power.
Standing at 6'2" with room to fill out, Soto projects as a future bat-first infielder, likely moving off short and eventually to third base, but will also potentially offer middle-of-the-order juice with switch-hitting versatility and long-term control.
Trading either of these young men, especially right now, would be shortsighted. Boston's near-term plans likely include pitching upgrades and perhaps a big addition to its lineup, whether that's via trade or in free agency. Regardless, sacrificing the next generation of in-system difference-makers undercuts the foundation for sustained long-term success.
Gonzales and Soto represent the youth in more ways than one, and in a league increasingly dependent on homegrown income and internally run development, giving them away now would seem out of character for CBO Craig Breslow.
If Breslow really wants to win a World Series, these two men should stay in his back pocket. Their ceilings are way too high, and their long-term potential is too rare to view as chips to be spent lightly.