The Boston Red Sox’s sweep of the New York Yankees may have stirred up a little fresh optimism, but the bigger picture still looks rough. Boston sits at 37-47, and that record makes it tough to view the club as anything other than a possible seller ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline on August 3.
If the Red Sox do go that route, Aroldis Chapman is one obvious name to watch. Sonny Gray is another, and the twist here is his no-trade clause, which gives him control over where he would go if Boston decides to move him.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is predicting that the Red Sox will pay Gray $10 million for his mutual option, then deal the starter to another team, with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox mentioned as possible landing spots.
"Prediction: The Red Sox will pay his $10 million mutual option, and trade Gray to a team of his choosing, perhaps Atlanta or the Chicago White Sox, unless they somehow claw back into this weak wild-card race," Nightengale predicts.
Boston could still hang around the fringes of the AL Wild Card picture because the race is so weak, but a deadline sell-off still feels like the more likely outcome.
Gray’s no-trade clause changes the calculus. If the Red Sox put him on the market, he gets to help steer the process, and the Braves or White Sox would both make sense for a pitcher of his caliber.
Both clubs need more help in the rotation, and if Gray’s option is exercised, he could be more than a short-term fix. That would make him a far more attractive target than a pure rental.
Gray is 36 and in the last year of a three-year, $75 million contract, so the price tag is real. Even so, he has been excellent for Boston. He owns a 2.69 ERA with a 9-1 record and 75 strikeouts in 83.2 innings over 15 starts this season.
That kind of production is why he would draw plenty of attention if Boston shops him. And according to Nightengale, the Red Sox may end up doing exactly that.
In Other News...
Red Sox Suddenly Face A Tough Deadline Call On Trusted Closer
The Pirates have taken a step forward in 2026, but their bullpen still looks like the kind of area that can undo a promising season in a hurry. ESPNs David Schoenfield pointed to the closer spot as the obvious place to upgrade, noting that Pittsburgh could use a steadier late-inning answer as it tries to keep pace in the postseason chase.
For Boston, the wrinkle is less about whether a veteran arm can help and more about how long it can afford to keep him. A 38-year-old left-hander with a 2.19 ERA is exactly the sort of reliever contenders ask about in July, but the Red Sox also have to weigh the value of that short-term stability against a contract situation that could become more complicated as the season wears on. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Veteran Bat Suddenly Entering Blockbuster Trade Buzz
A potential trade fit is starting to surface around a Red Sox bat who has quietly become one of the more intriguing names on the market. ESPNs David Schoenfield floated the idea of Seattle pursuing Boston first baseman Willson Contreras, pointing to the Mariners need for more punch against left-handed pitching and the appeal of adding a right-handed hitter with real thump in the middle of the lineup.
Contreras has been productive this season, carrying a .906 OPS and a strong track record against lefties, which is exactly the kind of profile that can change how opposing staffs attack a team. He is also under club control through 2028, so any move would be about more than a short-term rental, but for now it remains only a suggestion rather than a confirmed push toward a deal. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Fix Their Biggest Problems Without Making A Trade
A seven-game losing streak has only sharpened the Yankees sense of urgency, but the bigger question in the Bronx may not be who they can buy. Even with needs at catcher, third base and in the bullpen, MLB.coms Mark Feinsand suggested the club could lean heavily on internal fixes as the 2026 trade deadline approaches, banking on roster movement and reinforcements already in the organization rather than a splashy external addition.
Carlos Lagrange and George Lombard Jr. are among the names being floated as possible depth answers, which would give the Yankees another path if they decide the market is too expensive or too thin. For a team trying to stop the slide and stabilize its roster, the possibility of solving some of its biggest problems from within may be just as important as any deadline pursuit. [Read more 🡒]