The Red Sox have played themselves right back into the conversation, and that changes everything.
Boston has won 11 of its last 13 games, swept three of four series, and did it with two of those coming against division leaders. A club that was nearly buried in the standings now sits just 2.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. At that point, the “sellers” label stops making much sense.
If the Red Sox are going to keep pushing, they have to address one of the spots that has been holding them back all season: shortstop. That’s where Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena comes in.
Boston has not gotten a stable answer there. Trevor Story opened the year at the position and hit just .206/.244/.303/.547 before landing on the 60-day IL after surgery for a sports hernia.
Marcelo Mayer got the next shot, but he only managed a .220/.282/.312/.594 line before going down with a bone stress reaction in his forearm. Right now, the Red Sox are scraping the bottom of the depth chart to cover the job.
Pena would look a lot cleaner in that spot. His swing fits Boston’s park, where he can punish the Green Monster for doubles and home runs.
He’s hitting .295/.356/.443/.799 this season with nine doubles, six home runs and 48 RBI in 48 games. In 10 games at Boston, he’s hit .349 with two homers and five RBI.
The glove matters too. Pena’s Gold Glove would raise the bar at shortstop and give Boston an even stronger defense. ESPN’s Jeff Passan also listed Boston as one of Pena’s best fits.
The Red Sox have the kind of pieces that could make Houston listen. Passan noted that the Astros need a lefty slugging outfielder and prospects to restock the farm, and Boston can match that ask with Jarren Duran, who checks the outfielder box, plus prospects it could part with while keeping Franklin Arias and Anthony Eyanson. Boston could also include Patrick Sandoval, who impressed in his debut after coming back from Tommy John surgery, since Houston needs pitching help too.
If the two sides can line up on a deal, it could make sense for both.
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