The Boston Red Sox‘s season has not quite gone to plan, and are once again looking like a very middle-of-the-pack team a little under three months into the regular season.
An underwhelming year that so far has culminated with the team’s veteran and highly paid shortstop, Trevor Story, being named one of the worst players in baseball over the past month.
Advertisement
As such, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report believes that the Red Sox are one of the teams most likely to hit the ‘panic trade’ button prior to the end of July’s trade deadline.
Whilst Miller acknowledges that it is not particularly likely at this point in time that the team trades third baseman, Rafael Devers; Devers’ lack of willingness to play first base for the team leaves them with a fairly large hole at the position. Particularly since first baseman, Remy Gonzalez, just landed on the IL earlier this month.
“Even before [first baseman, Triston] Casas’ season-ending knee injury, it’s not like things were going great at that position.” Miller writes, “Now, however, they’ve gone from a near-everyday first baseman with a .580 OPS to just a huge unknown from one day to the next…..As far as external options go, though, it’s not pretty—at least not compared to this time last year, when Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso, Christian Walker and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all looked like possible trade candidates.”
Miller then suggests that along with the Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle, the Rays‘ Yandy Diaz could well be the best trade option for the franchise.
Advertisement
“If AL East rivals don’t mind trading within the division, Baltimore‘s Ryan Mountcastle and Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz might be the best options.”
Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Diaz running after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox, April 2025Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
With Diaz unable to replicate his impressive 2023 form this year so far, and being owed just $12 million this season heading into free agency in 2026, it is unlikely that the middling 21-24 Rays would need much persuading to have the former All-Star pried from their fingertips.
And with the Red Sox in dire need of help at first base – this could be a smart, low-risk move for Boston.
Related: MLB Insider Connects Red Sox to 179 Home Run First Baseman Trade Target