Now that the Red Sox have added Curtis Mead, the next move is starting to come into focus: Boston has already shown the kind of player it’s willing to move, and Connelly Early has become the measuring stick.
That matters because Early carries a pretty strong floor as a big league pitcher and could settle in as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter by the time he reaches his prime. With Boston’s farm system still thin, the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier believes the names to watch next, when the Red Sox go hunting for another slugger, are Marcelo Mayer and Jarren Duran.
Mayer is the more obvious candidate to be dangled. He’s already been mentioned as a possible trade chip, and the numbers help explain why. In his MLB career, he’s hit .223/.278/.346/.312 with 18 doubles, seven home runs, and 32 RBI across 114 games.
The injury history is part of the equation too. Mayer has not managed a full season at any level, minors or majors, and Boston’s market may be putting too much pressure on him. A fresh start could make sense for him, even though his ceiling remains high enough that another club could still be intrigued, especially with his team control.
Duran’s case is different, but he still brings enough to matter in trade talks. He was the All-Star MVP just two seasons ago, though this year has been a major step back. In 97 games, he’s slashing .198/.257/.345/.602 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs, and 54 RBI.
Even with that rough line, Duran still has real appeal. He has two and a half years of team control left, he’s already shown he can perform at an All-Star level, and he’s still dangerous with runners in scoring position.
If Boston decides to push in, the return could be significant. The idea is that adding mid-level prospects to either Mayer or Duran could get the Red Sox what they want.
And what Boston wants is clear: another right-handed slugger, ideally at catcher, DH, or shortstop. But the trade market at catcher and shortstop is thin right now, which leaves DH as the most realistic place for Boston to focus.
So if the Red Sox are willing to pay up, they could aim anywhere. If they want to keep the package centered around either Mayer or Duran, DH looks like the spot to target.
In Other News...
Red Sox Made A Tough Roster Call At Shortstop
The Red Sox made a quiet but meaningful roster shift by adding Curtis Mead to the active roster and sending rookie infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to Triple-A Worcester. Cheng had spent about a month on the major league roster and, even with modest production at the plate, gave Boston the kind of steady defense it needed while the club sorted out shortstop.
Cheng handled the position cleanly, working 116 innings there without an error and giving the Red Sox a reliable glove in a spot that can expose inexperience fast. The move opens a path for Mead, but it does not necessarily close the book on Cheng, who could still find his way back later as a bench infielder if Boston needs another dependable option. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox May Finally Have A Real Answer At Catcher
With the trade deadline approaching, the Red Sox are still weighing ways to stabilize a catcher situation that has lingered as a roster question. One name in the mix is Minnesotas Ryan Jeffers, a rental bat who would give Boston a much different look at the position and, at least on paper, help address the offense-first side of the job while leaving room for Carlos Narvez to handle more of the defensive burden.
The appeal is obvious for a club trying to stay in the Wild Card picture, but the rest of the equation is murkier. Jeffers has been productive when healthy, yet he also missed two months with a hamate injury, and there is no assurance the Twins will even entertain moving him, particularly to a direct competitor in the American League race. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Just Hit A Trade Deadline Crossroads With Zach Neto
After dealing Connelly Early to Washington for Curtis Mead, the Red Sox are still looking for ways to keep adding before the deadline, and Los Angeles Angels slugger Zach Neto has emerged as one of the more intriguing names on their board. He makes sense as an offensive fit for Boston, which is part of why the interest has lingered, but the appeal comes with the usual deadline complication: a player who fits a need can still be priced beyond what a front office wants to pay.
Bostons challenge is deciding how far it is willing to go if it keeps pushing on Neto. The Red Sox have other ways to structure a deal, potentially using different prospects to keep their top young talent intact, but that only underscores the crossroads they are facing. For a club trying to balance immediate help with long-term depth, the question is not whether Neto belongs on the radar. It is whether the cost of getting him is the kind Boston can justify. [Read more 🡒]