A big article came out on ESPN the other day with Jeff Passan and Kiley McDonnell addressing the "Top 50 Trade Deadline Candidates", where they listed players that could quite possibly be shipped out by that time. Four Red Sox players were on this list: Walker Buehler, Aroldis Chapman, Alex Bregman, and Jarren Duran.
Walker Buehler, after his atrocious performances in June, gives a definite possibility that he'll be gone. Many think he'll be gone even before June is over.
It most likely won't happen, and many believe that he'll be demoted to the bullpen, but he's still a trade candidate regardless. He's posted a 6.29 ERA this season, giving up an average of five runs in his past five appearances. Fans want him exiled from Boston, and with good reason. Most likely, it'll be a salary dump, given his $21M is on the books for his one-year "prove-it" deal.
Aroldis Chapman is the other man ready for his departure with Boston, as he's been one of, if not THE best, closer in baseball. He's recorded 14 saves with 45 strikeouts in his 35 games he's appeared in so far this season, all while maintaining a 1.41 ERA.
He's currently under a one-year deal as well, only worth $10M ($11M less than Buehler). He'll be getting some nice value in return, and if he's gone, Justin Slaten (when he returns) or Brennan Bernardino will most likely take his slot in the closer role. Although Tanner Houck was a great closer in 2022, so there's an idea, Cora.
Alex Bregman was #1 on the list, but there's only a 10% chance that he could be traded. The reason why this is the case is for two reasons: He's dealing with a quad injury and is currently on the IL, along with the fact that Scott Boras just made it public that Alex Bregman is open to talking an extension with the Red Sox to keep him long-term.
Whether that officially is in talks is a different story entirely, but as of right now, he's still under a technical one-year deal with a choice of staying or opting out these next two seasons. He's also under a massive contract, worth $40M a season with deferred money. That complicates things, and with how teams evaluate his age and the contract, it'll limit the returns the Red Sox can get for him. He's beloved in Boston, and he's a clubhouse leader, so there's a higher chance of him staying than anything else, but trading him is always a possibility that can be thrown out there.
But here's the heartbreaking one on this list: Jarren Duran. Since Devers left, he has been the clubhouse leader that everybody looks up to because of his story. From a failed suicide attempt to one of the best outfielders in the AL is an amazing turnaround for him.
He captured the fanbase's hearts, he's a beloved player, and a fan favorite to most. He's the heart and soul of that locker room, but there's a possibility that he could be the next person traded at the deadline this year. He's the more likely candidate because of three things:
He's under control until 2029, and he's 28 years old. This means he has at least five more years of valuable production left in him, and most of that is under his rookie contract. The last thing is that there's a serious logjam in the outfield, and the Red Sox need to get rid of either Abreu or Duran. With Duran being the oldest and most proven on this team, Breslow may waive that white flag and trade Duran, which will break the fans' hearts. It may be a stinker for the fans, but it may have to be done.