The Red Sox have forced their way back into the trade deadline conversation after ripping off 14 straight wins, and that surge has put Boston in position to buy. Shortstop sits near the top of the shopping list.
That’s why the latest update on Jeremy Pena is a tough one for the Red Sox. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan listed the Astros shortstop at No. 7 on their trade odds board and gave him a 35% chance of being dealt.
“7. Jeremy Pena, SS, Houston Astros Chance of being traded: 35%,” Passan and McDaniel write.
"... The one potential drawback from Houston's perspective: There aren't a whole lot of contenders in the market for a shortstop, and it might make more sense to wait until the winter."
For Boston, Pena checks a lot of boxes. He’s a Gold Glove-winning shortstop, he’s 28, and he’s under control through the 2027 season. He also brings a .798 OPS, which only adds to the appeal for a club looking to strengthen the middle of the diamond.
But the market may not line up in the Red Sox’s favor. Passan and McDaniel pointed to the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, and Atlanta Braves as the other best fits for Pena, and they noted that Houston could simply decide to hold him until the offseason.
That’s the catch here: even with Boston back in the hunt, the shortstop market may not be strong enough to push the Astros into a summer move. Pena is still in play, but the odds don’t look great for the Red Sox right now.
Meanwhile, McDaniel and Passan gave higher trade chances to players such as Mason Miller and Tarik Skubal, underscoring how crowded the top of the deadline board is compared with Pena.
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One name that keeps surfacing is Shea Langeliers, though the fit comes with a major complication because Oakland controls him through 2028. That kind of team control makes a deal a long shot, even if the Athletics are open to listening, particularly if Boston is willing to talk pitching prospects. For the Red Sox, the question is whether a hot streak has changed the calculus enough to justify pushing on a deal that looks difficult from the start. [Read more 🡒]