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Wilyer Abreu # of the Boston Red Sox.
The GM meetings are underway in Las Vegas as MLB’s hot stove season starts to heat up. That means that rumors are swirling from all angles, especially in the trade market.
It’s not very common that huge trades take place until at least December, but with MLB insiders across the league getting access to high-ranking front office executives, it’s fun to speculate based on the early reports. On Tuesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the Kansas City Royals are in the market for an outfielder, and the Boston Red Sox are “among possible trade partners”.
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Wilyer Abreu and Cole Ragans Featured in One-for-One Trade Idea
In this recent trade idea, the Red Sox would offload outfielder Wilyer Abreu to Kansas City in return for All-Star starter Cole Ragans.
Abreu may be on the trade block once again this offseason, as the Red Sox continue to have a surplus of outfielders. And considering the Royals may be searching for outfield help, Abreu is a really quality option. In 2025, Wilyer Abreu hit 22 home runs, hit .247, and posted an OPS+ of 116.
GettyWilyer Abreu # of the Boston Red Sox.
As for Cole Ragans being a part of the deal, he is on a very team-friendly contract of three years, $13.25 million. One that the Red Sox should certainly want to pick up to bolster their starting rotation. One of the top needs Boston has this winter is adding to its starting rotation, especially if they don’t retain Lucas Giolito.
Cole Ragans was limited in 2025 to just 13 starts, but Ragans was an All-Star in 2024 after making 32 starts and posting a 3.14 ERA in 186.1 innings. He suffered a left rotator cuff early in the season, which sidelined him for the majority of 2025, but he made a few starts in September and looked to be fairly healthy.
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Red Sox Outfield Outlook is Crowded
There are only so many outfield spots on the baseball diamond. And for the Red Sox, they have extended two of the players that occupy two of those spots in rookie phenom Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela.
The third option is down to Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, and Masataki Yoshida. It seems most likely that Boston will go with Duran as the third option, as he’s proven to have higher upside, which means either Yoshida or Abreu may have to depart. Yoshida has little trade value, but Wilyer Abreu has enough stock to be moved for a depth starter.
Last offseason, Boston was one of the most active teams in the trade market. They traded for Garrett Crochet in a blockbuster deal, and then he proceeded to finish second in AL CY Young voting behind Tarik Skubal after a phenomenal year.
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