The Padres made an early September move on August 31, and it came with a familiar sting for Red Sox fans.
San Diego announced that top prospect Ethan Salas is headed to the big leagues, giving MLB an early look at one of its September call-ups. Salas is 20 years old, a catching phenom, and the No. 23 prospect in MLB.
For plenty of baseball fans, that’s the headline. For Boston, it’s a painful reminder of a trade idea that never got across the finish line.
The Padres were the club most publicly tied to Jarren Duran once Boston started listening on him, and the reported package they put on the table would have sent Dylan Cease, Leo De Vries and Salas to the Red Sox. Boston passed, and with the way things have played out, that decision looks rough.
Duran’s season has not gone the way the Red Sox wanted. Boston was counting on him as a veteran presence and a power bat, but he has hit just .207/.264/.369 with 148 strikeouts in 129 games. There is still something to point to - 19 home runs and 68 RBI - but the overall line has fallen well short of expectations.
The Red Sox had reasons to move him either last winter or at the 2025 trade deadline. His production dipped a bit in 2025 and then dropped more sharply this year after his 2024 season, when he finished eighth in American League MVP voting. Boston’s outfield mix also created a logjam, though that issue has been softened by Roman Anthony’s long-term injury and the more recent hamstring problem for Masataka Yoshida.
The catching side of the equation only makes the missed opportunity look worse for Boston. Since the Red Sox dealt Kyle Teel to the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet, the upper levels of the farm have been thin behind the plate.
Johanfran Garcia is in Double-A, Luke Heyman is in High-A, and Franklin Primera is in Single-A, but none of them are close to the majors. Boston brought in Adley Rutschman to help bridge the gap, but the former division rival has not delivered much so far.
Salas would have fit a major need. He hit .296/.374/.448 in 96 games across Double-A and Triple-A, and while his glove remains his calling card, the bat caught up this season too.
In Other News...
Red Sox Turn To Intriguing Young Arm As Roster Crunch Hits Boston
A roster squeeze brought a fresh look to Bostons pitching plans, with the Red Sox selecting the contract of right-hander Jedixson Paez from Triple-A Worcester and lining him up to make his major league debut as a starter. The move came as part of a broader shuffle, as the club created room on the 40-man roster by designating infielder Brett Harris for assignment.
The Red Sox also reinstated utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the 60-day injured list, while left-hander Eduardo Rivera was placed on the 60-day injured list after being recalled. For Paez, the promotion puts an intriguing young arm in the spotlight at a moment when Boston is balancing health, depth and immediate innings all at once. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Take An Unexpected Mound Gamble In Playoff Push
The Red Sox leaned into a little roster juggling before opening against the Mariners, and the most eye-catching move was the decision to bring up right-hander Jedixson Paez for a first major league start. Boston also reinstated Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the 60-day injured list, designated Brett Harris for assignment and recalled Eduardo Rivera before moving him to the 60-day injured list, a flurry of moves that gave the club a fresh look as it kept navigating a crowded stretch of the schedule.
For Paez, the assignment adds another layer of intrigue because it comes after he was returned to the organization earlier in the season. Boston does not often hand a start like this to a pitcher in that spot, which is why this one stands out in the middle of a playoff push. The Red Sox are clearly searching for the right combination of health, flexibility and upside, and Paez will now get a chance to show he can fit into that mix when the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Mickey Gaspers Wild Surge Just Gave Red Sox A Real Decision
Mickey Gaspers late-summer run has turned a spot call-up into something much more interesting for Boston. Recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 16 after Masataka Yoshida went down, Gasper wasted little time making noise, putting together an August surge that included six home runs in 42 plate appearances and his first one in a Red Sox uniform.
He was briefly sent back to Triple-A, only to find his way back soon after because of another injury elsewhere on the roster. For a club trying to sort out its lineup and keep its depth intact, Gaspers production has made this more than a temporary fill-in situation, and it leaves Boston with a real choice about how much leash his bat has earned. [Read more 🡒]