The Red Sox used the All-Star break to add a little more depth before the trade deadline push, acquiring outfielder/designated hitter Jahmai Jones from the Tigers for a player to be named later.
Detroit designated Jones for assignment on July 9 after he hit .137/.219/.221 in 57 games during the first half. Boston had room to make the move after designating Danny Coulombe for assignment on July 12, and Jones now has to fit onto the 26-man roster once play resumes because he has no minor league options left.
Jones brings a familiar name with a winding big league path. The Angels took him in the second round of the 2015 MLB Draft, and he made his MLB debut with them in 2020. Since then, he has also appeared for the Brewers, Orioles, Yankees and Tigers.
His best stretch came last season in Detroit, when he put together a .287/.387/.550 line with seven homers and 23 RBI in 72 games. A big part of that production came against left-handed pitching: 104 of his 129 at-bats were against lefties, and he posted a .393 on-base percentage in those matchups.
Boston’s move also comes shortly after the club got an encouraging update on Roman Anthony’s hand injury. A hand specialist said the sophomore does not need surgery and can continue recovering normally, though the process is taking longer than the Red Sox anticipated. His rehab has been shifted to Florida in hopes of speeding things up, and Jones gives Boston another outfield option while they wait.
In Other News...
Ceddanne Rafaelas Favorite Former Red Sox Teammate Will Hit Fans Hard
At All-Star Game media day, Ceddanne Rafaela was asked to name his favorite former teammate, a harmless question that still carried a little weight for Red Sox fans watching the roster turn over around him. The Boston center fielder, now an All-Star himself, answered in a way that spoke to the kind of bond that can outlast a uniform change, especially when the player in question once sat at the center of the clubs lineup and clubhouse.
The timing gives the answer extra bite because the former teammate in question is no longer part of Bostons present, having been dealt to San Francisco during the 2025 season. For a team that has already seen enough moving parts in the trade market, Rafaelas reflection is a reminder of how quickly a familiar face can become a memory, even if the respect and appreciation remain very much intact. [Read more 🡒]
Willson Contreras Just Put More Pressure On Red Sox Deadline Plans
Willson Contreras has given the Red Sox another reason to think carefully as the trade deadline approaches. The newly minted All-Star has settled in as Bostons first baseman, and he made clear he has enjoyed his time at Fenway Park, where the atmosphere has only added to the appeal of staying put. With the club still in the playoff mix, his comfort level matters, especially for a team trying to balance short-term urgency with longer-term planning.
The timing also makes the situation harder to ignore because Contreras is under contract for two more seasons, which already makes a move less likely. Even so, the faint trade chatter around him has not disappeared entirely, and his preference to remain in Boston only sharpens the pressure on the front office as it decides whether to buy, hold, or reshape the roster in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]