The Boston Red Sox have put themselves in position to buy at the deadline, and one name that makes sense for them is Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto.
Boston’s 12-game winning streak, which was in place as of Sunday, July 19, has changed the conversation around the club. What looked like a team that might stand pat has started to look more like one that could push CBO Craig Breslow to add the right-handed power bat the roster needs.
The Angels, meanwhile, are headed in the opposite direction. At 38-61 and sitting in last place in the AL, they look like clear sellers, and this deadline offers them a chance to cash in on players who are still producing at a high level. Reid Detmers, Jose Soriano, Jo Adell and Neto are among the names most likely to draw interest.
Neto is the most intriguing fit for Boston because the Red Sox have the prospect capital to get involved. Since 2024, he has been a 5+ WAR hitter, but his numbers this season tell a more complicated story. He has 19 home runs, yet his underlying production has slipped compared with those earlier seasons.
The strikeout total stands out most. Neto has struck out 135 times, the most in the AL, and with the second half just beginning on Friday, that number could keep climbing. He has drawn 44 walks, which is better than the fewer than 40 he managed in each of his last two seasons, but the contact issues remain a major part of the profile.
His defense has also backed up a bit. In 2024, Neto led the AL in assists with 405 and double plays turned with 103. This year, though, he leads all AL shortstops with 14 errors at the position, and that drop-off on defense is a big reason his WAR has fallen to 2.4.
That dip in overall value matters because it could give Boston an edge in trade talks. The Angels would still need a strong return, but Neto’s current market may not command the same kind of haul it would have before the season.
Los Angeles does not have a deep farm system, either. Baseball America currently ranks the Angels’ system No. 23, though that will improve soon after they select two-way player OF/LHP Jared Grindlinger and others. Their notable prospects include RHP Tyler Bremner, OF Nelson Rada, LHP Johnny Slawinski, C Gabriel Davalilo and SS Joswa Lugo, but outside of Rada, most of those players are in High-A or lower.
If the Angels are serious about moving Neto, they would need a shortstop answer and more impact in the pipeline. Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer could come up in trade discussions, and an arm like RHP Anthony Eyanson would also fit the kind of return they need. If Los Angeles wanted another piece, another top 30 prospect could work, but another top 10 prospect would be too much.
Neto remains a strong fit for a number of clubs, including the Houston Astros with Jeremy Peña. Whether the Angels actually commit to selling is still the big question.
But if Boston wants to take advantage of the moment, Breslow should already be making the call. With the way the Red Sox have played in July, they’ve earned the chance to upgrade.
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