The White Sox and Red Sox have been frequent trade partners in recent years, and there’s every reason to believe that relationship could yield another deal soon. After pulling off the Garrett Crochet blockbuster and a couple of smaller moves-including relievers Cam Booser and Chris Murphy changing sides-the two front offices seem to have built a strong working rapport. And with both clubs carrying positional surpluses that align with the other’s needs, the groundwork is already in place for another mutually beneficial swap.
Let’s break down why a potential catcher-for-outfielder trade between Chicago and Boston makes a lot of sense-and what it could look like.
The White Sox: Deep in the Infield, Thin in the Outfield
The White Sox are in the middle of a rebuild, but they’ve quietly assembled impressive depth on the infield and behind the plate. At catcher, the duo of Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero is poised to become one of the more dynamic tandems in the league. Teel is already drawing high praise, and Quero, just 22, has shown flashes of being a long-term answer behind the dish.
The infield is another area of strength. Colson Montgomery is the headliner at shortstop, and he’s joined by a young and improving group that includes Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth, Lenyn Sosa, and Munetaka Murakami.
And the pipeline doesn’t stop there-Chicago’s farm system features several top-100 caliber infield prospects like Sam Antonacci, Caleb Bonemer, and Billy Carlson. Add in the fact that the Sox hold the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft-where UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is the early favorite-and it’s not hard to see why this front office might be looking to deal from a position of strength.
But while the infield and catching depth look promising, the outfield tells a different story. Outside of Braden Montgomery-who came over in the Crochet deal-there’s a noticeable lack of high-end outfield talent in the system.
That’s a problem for a team trying to build a sustainable core. Sure, they could try converting an infielder or dip into free agency, but right now, the outfield is arguably the biggest hole on the roster.
The Red Sox: Outfield Rich, Catching Thin
Boston, meanwhile, has the opposite problem. The Red Sox are loaded with outfielders, and it’s not just quantity-it’s quality.
Roman Anthony is tracking like a future star in right field. Ceddanne Rafaela, already a Gold Glove winner, is locked into center.
Jarren Duran has become one of the more underrated left fielders in the game, and Wilyer Abreu continues to prove himself as a valuable piece. That’s a crowded outfield, and there’s only so much playing time to go around.
Behind the plate, though, Boston’s situation is less settled. Carlos Narváez had a solid rookie year, but the Red Sox clearly aren’t satisfied.
They reportedly made multiple runs at reacquiring Kyle Teel this offseason and even kicked the tires on J.T. Realmuto before he re-upped with the Phillies.
That tells you everything you need to know-they’re in the market for a long-term answer at catcher.
A Trade That Makes Sense
This is where the two clubs’ needs intersect perfectly. Chicago has catching depth to spare, and Boston has more outfielders than it can realistically play. A deal centered around Edgar Quero going to the Red Sox in exchange for either Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu could give both teams what they need.
From the White Sox perspective, adding Duran or Abreu would instantly upgrade their outfield and give them a controllable, cost-effective player who can grow with their young core. Duran has three years of team control left, Abreu has four-either would slot in as a long-term piece. Plus, the financial flexibility gained by acquiring an affordable outfielder could open the door for Chicago to pursue a veteran starting pitcher in free agency.
On the flip side, Boston would land a potential franchise catcher in Quero. He’s young, talented, and under team control for six more seasons. That’s the kind of long-term stability the Red Sox have been lacking behind the plate.
Of course, given that Duran and Abreu are more established big leaguers, the White Sox would likely need to sweeten the pot. That could mean including someone like Lenyn Sosa, who’s MLB-ready and could slot into Boston’s infield rotation. Or perhaps a high-upside prospect like Sam Antonacci, who’s been climbing prospect rankings and could be big-league ready sooner rather than later.
A Win-Win Scenario
Trades like this don’t come around often-where both sides have a clear surplus and a clear need that align so cleanly. But with the White Sox and Red Sox having already built a solid trade history, and with both front offices showing a willingness to be aggressive, this feels like a natural next step.
A Quero-for-Duran or Quero-for-Abreu deal (with additional pieces involved) checks a lot of boxes. It helps Chicago shore up its weakest position and gives Boston a long-term answer at one of the most important spots on the field. And with Opening Day creeping closer, this could be the kind of move that sets both teams up for success-not just in 2026, but for years to come.