The Red Sox have played themselves right back into the conversation, and that changes everything.
Boston has won 11 of its last 13 games, swept three of four series, and did it with two of those coming against division leaders. A club that was nearly buried in the standings now sits just 2.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. At that point, the “sellers” label stops making much sense.
If the Red Sox are going to keep pushing, they have to address one of the spots that has been holding them back all season: shortstop. That’s where Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena comes in.
Boston has not gotten a stable answer there. Trevor Story opened the year at the position and hit just .206/.244/.303/.547 before landing on the 60-day IL after surgery for a sports hernia.
Marcelo Mayer got the next shot, but he only managed a .220/.282/.312/.594 line before going down with a bone stress reaction in his forearm. Right now, the Red Sox are scraping the bottom of the depth chart to cover the job.
Pena would look a lot cleaner in that spot. His swing fits Boston’s park, where he can punish the Green Monster for doubles and home runs.
He’s hitting .295/.356/.443/.799 this season with nine doubles, six home runs and 48 RBI in 48 games. In 10 games at Boston, he’s hit .349 with two homers and five RBI.
The glove matters too. Pena’s Gold Glove would raise the bar at shortstop and give Boston an even stronger defense. ESPN’s Jeff Passan also listed Boston as one of Pena’s best fits.
The Red Sox have the kind of pieces that could make Houston listen. Passan noted that the Astros need a lefty slugging outfielder and prospects to restock the farm, and Boston can match that ask with Jarren Duran, who checks the outfielder box, plus prospects it could part with while keeping Franklin Arias and Anthony Eyanson. Boston could also include Patrick Sandoval, who impressed in his debut after coming back from Tommy John surgery, since Houston needs pitching help too.
If the two sides can line up on a deal, it could make sense for both.
In Other News...
Red Sox Suddenly Have A Catching Prospect Fans Can't Ignore
Johanfran Garcia has turned his first run at Double-A into one of the more intriguing developments in the Red Sox system. The catcher, who has been in the organization since 2022, has handled the jump to Portland with a level of production that stands out even in a loaded farm system, hitting .299 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs in 52 games as of July 9, 2026.
What makes the start even more notable is that Garcia was sent straight to Double-A out of spring training, and he has answered with the kind of offensive showing that forces a team to pay attention. For a player already regarded as a promising prospect, this is the sort of performance that can start to shape how Boston thinks about its catching depth going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Finally Got The Connelly Early Elbow Update They Needed
Connelly Earlys stint on the injured list had already put the Red Sox in wait-and-see mode, but the early signs around his left elbow have at least given the club some relief. Early was sidelined with inflammation and Boston wanted a clearer picture before moving forward, especially with a pitcher the team would rather not lose for long.
The latest update matters because it points away from something more alarming and keeps the timeline relatively manageable. Early went on the 15-day injured list July 1 and is eligible to come back on or after July 17, leaving Boston to balance caution with the hope that his next step back to the mound comes without any lingering concern. [Read more 🡒]