The Red Sox are still hunting, and shortstop keeps sitting right in the middle of the conversation.
Boston has already made one notable addition this summer, but ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the club is “not expected” to be done. Two names have surfaced most often: Jeremy Peña of the Houston Astros and Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that Boston has had interest in both.
Peña, though, appears to be a dead end.
Ari Alexander of 7News Boston WHDH reported that the Red Sox checked in with Houston on the All-Star shortstop and got nowhere fast.
"The Red Sox are indeed interested in SS Jeremy Peña and SS Zach Neto," Alexander wrote. "On Peña: A league source tells me the Red Sox approached the Astros about the star SS and were shut down immediately. The Astros do not want to trade Peña, and industry sources are treating the Astros as buyers."
That leaves Neto as the more realistic name if Boston decides to push for a major shortstop upgrade. And with the deadline closing in, the fit is easy to see. Shortstop has been one of the loudest talking points around this team, and Neto has been the most frequently mentioned option over the past few days.
The roster shuffle only adds to that pressure. Boston sent Tsung-Che Cheng to Triple-A to open a spot for newly acquired infielder Curtis Mead, which leaves Andruw Monasterio as the club’s everyday shortstop for now.
Meanwhile, Trevor Story and Marcelo Mayer are both on the Injured List and working back. Story appears closer to returning than Mayer, but both remain out for the moment.
With only a few days left before Aug. 3, the Red Sox front office has little time to wait. Craig Breslow and company have already been active, and Boston sits four games above .500 at 54-50. The shortstop market is still the one to watch, even if Peña is no longer looking like a real possibility.
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Red Sox May Have To Sacrifice A Familiar Name For Upgrade
The Red Sox are still looking hard at shortstop as the trade deadline approaches, and that search has naturally led to some familiar names and some expensive possibilities. Boston has been connected to Zach Neto, CJ Abrams, Jeremy Pea and Francisco Lindor as it weighs whether a move at the position could sharpen the roster for the stretch run, even if the path to doing so is not simple.
Trevor Story is part of the conversation because of both his place on the depth chart and the financial reality attached to him, since moving him would not be easy without Boston taking on salary. The clubs roster and payroll considerations could end up shaping the decision as much as the baseball fit, which is why the shortstop picture remains one of the more intriguing unresolved questions heading into the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Are Circling A Shortstop Move Fans Saw Coming
The shortstop market has been thin enough that every plausible name gets a hard look, and Boston has reportedly done more than just monitor the board. The Red Sox have inquired about Miami infielder Otto Lopez, a player who fits the kind of upgrade they could use as they try to patch an infield that has not offered enough offense.
Lopezs appeal is obvious beyond the fit. He is having a strong season, he remains under club control through 2029, and any team interested in prying him loose would likely have to pay a steep price. For Boston, that makes the pursuit both understandable and complicated, especially if the Marlins decide they are willing to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Former Red Sox Fan Favorite With Awesome Nickname Gets Another Shot
Jhostynxon Garcia is getting another look in the majors after the Pirates brought him up and put him in the lineup against the Diamondbacks. The former Red Sox outfielder has spent most of the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he put together a solid enough run to keep himself in the conversation, and he had already logged a brief big league stint earlier this year before getting this latest opportunity.
For Boston, Garcias path is a reminder of how quickly a familiar face can become part of a different organizations plans. He has already shown he can handle some major league pitching in limited action, and now he gets a chance to see if he can turn that into something more meaningful with Pittsburgh, with a familiar Red Sox connection waiting on the other side of the matchup. [Read more 🡒]