The Red Sox have spent the first half of the season making Craig Breslow’s job a lot more interesting.
Not long ago, Boston looked like a clear seller with the worst record in the American League. Then came a surge that changed the conversation fast: the Red Sox won 14 of 16 games, ripped off nine straight before the All-Star break, and suddenly found themselves back in the playoff mix. They’ll open the second half just a half-game out of the third AL Wild Card spot, and with the AL still wide open, Breslow has a real decision to make before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Boston’s 46-48 record still doesn’t exactly scream contender, but the landscape around it helps. Only the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, and Texas Rangers are above .500.
The next stretch will say plenty about what comes next, too. Series against the Rays, Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays should go a long way toward shaping whether Breslow is buying for a postseason push or standing pat.
If the Red Sox do decide to add, there are a few names that make sense.
Zach Neto sits at the top of the wish list, even if he’s the toughest get. The Angels shortstop would check a lot of boxes for Boston: right-handed pop, help in the middle infield, and years of control.
The Red Sox reportedly “took several tries” to land him over the winter, and Los Angeles’ asking price was high then. It may be easier to negotiate now with the Angels sitting at 38-59 and buried in the standings.
Neto has been their most valuable trade chip by far. This season, the 25-year-old is hitting .235/.326/.453 with 19 homers and 45 RBI in 94 games, and he posted WARs of 5.1 and 5.3 in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
If Boston wants a more realistic middle-infield upgrade, Gleyber Torres is another fit. The Tigers second baseman hasn’t played since June 15 because of an oblique strain, but he’s expected back shortly after the break and started a rehab assignment Monday.
Torres wouldn’t bring the same long-term impact as Neto, but he would give the Red Sox a proven power bat in the infield. He’s a three-time All-Star who has hit at least 24 homers four times in nine seasons, including 38 in 2019.
Before the injury, he had a .790 OPS in 43 games. With his contract up after the season, he profiles as a rental and should be more affordable for a Tigers team that’s been struggling.
Luis Arraez offers a different kind of upgrade. The Giants have been one of the few teams getting much from him, and the four-time All-Star and three-time batting champion has kept doing what he does best: put the ball in play and rack up hits.
He led MLB in hits the last two seasons, and he’s still one of the best contact hitters in the sport. What makes this season especially notable is the glove work.
Arraez, once viewed as a poor defender, has made a major leap at second base and now ranks near the top of the league in Outs Above Average (10) and Defensive Runs Saved (8). He wouldn’t give Boston the kind of slugging some fans want, but he would help an offense that has lacked consistency.
He rarely strikes out, gets on base, and has hit .345 with runners in scoring position this season. Like Torres, he’s headed for free agency after the year.
The bullpen is another area where Boston could use help, and A.J. Minter fits that lane cleanly.
The Mets have been a mess, but Minter has been excellent in 19 relief appearances. The 32-year-old left-hander has a 1.42 ERA and 0.842 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and only one walk.
Contenders always want more relief depth in late July, and the Red Sox could use a left-handed arm after designating offseason addition Danny Coulombe for assignment. Minter would be a rental.
Ryan Jeffers rounds out the list, and he could give Boston a real boost behind the plate. The Twins are only three games out in the AL Central and tied for the third Wild Card spot, so it’s still unclear whether they’ll even sell.
If they do, Jeffers would make sense for the Red Sox as a power-hitting catcher who can also fill in at DH. Carlos Narvaez has slipped after a strong rookie season, while Connor Wong has bounced back but still has a limited ceiling.
Jeffers would be an upgrade over both. He’s been limited to 39 games by a broken left hamate, but when healthy he’s been productive, hitting .292/.404/.538 with seven homers and 29 RBI.
He’s also set to become a free agent after this season.
In Other News...
Trevor Story Update Could Finally Change Bostons Lineup Outlook
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Red Sox Suddenly Have A Chance To Beat Yankees To Key Upgrade
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Colorados willingness to listen on a power-hitting catcher with three years of club control after 2026 would make this a particularly intriguing fit for Boston, especially with the deadline approaching and the market starting to take shape. The Rockies may still decide the long-term value is too important to move, but if the Red Sox get aggressive, it could alter how the rest of the market responds and put pressure on a rivals plans in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Fans Have Every Right To Be Furious Over Sonny Gray
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Grays omission also comes at an awkward moment for Bostons front office, because his name had been circling in trade chatter when the team was scuffling earlier in the year. Now, with the club riding a nine-game winning streak entering the break, the calculus may be changing fast, and what looked like a possible deadline move could start to feel more like a pitcher the Red Sox would rather keep around. [Read more 🡒]