With the trade deadline closing in, the Boston Red Sox are being tied to one of the more intriguing names on the market: Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported Thursday that Boston still views Neto as a “strong fit,” noting that the club had interest in him last offseason as well. Their reporting made clear this isn’t just idle speculation - the Red Sox have continued to keep Neto on their radar.
“Picture Zach Neto in a Boston Red Sox uniform. The idea, at least from the Red Sox’s perspective, is not far-fetched,” Rosenthal and Sammon wrote. “The Sox, after expressing interest in the Los Angeles Angels shortstop last offseason, continue to view him as a strong fit, according to people briefed on their discussions but granted anonymity to speak freely.”
Neto checks a lot of boxes for Boston. He’s 25, under control through the 2029 season, and already has the kind of production that makes teams pay up.
He posted 5.1 WAR in 2024 and 5.3 WAR in 2025, and this year he has 19 homers, 46 RBIs and 21 doubles in 100 games. Through that stretch, he’s slashing .238/.326/.446 with a .771 OPS and sits at 2.7 WAR with plenty of season left.
That kind of right-handed pop is exactly what Boston has been chasing. Since the offseason, the Red Sox’s lack of power from the right side has been a recurring issue, and Neto would address it immediately. He would also give the lineup a long-term answer in the middle infield.
There’s a catch, though: adding Neto would create a ripple effect in Boston’s infield. Trevor Story, who was great for the Red Sox last year, is 33 and appears closer to a return than Marcelo Mayer.
That opens the door to moving Story to second base. If Mayer comes back later, Story could slide to designated hitter and Mayer could take over at second.
If Boston decides Mayer still needs more time, Triple-A remains an option.
Defense is another part of the equation. Neto hasn’t been strong there this season, ranking in the second percentile with -8 outs above average. But at 25, he still has room to grow.
The bigger issue is cost. A player like Neto would not come cheap, and Boston would almost certainly have to part with at least one young starting pitcher.
On the big league side, that means Payton Tolle, Connelly Early or Jake Bennett. In the minors, Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon or Marcus Phillips could be in play.
And that’s before considering the possibility that the Angels would ask for more, with No. 1 prospect Franklin Arias, No. 3 prospect Justin Gonzales or even Mayer as names to watch.
That’s the price of landing a 25-year-old shortstop with star upside.
Still, it’s a move worth serious thought for Craig Breslow and the Red Sox front office. Neto would fit the age curve, fill a glaring need and strengthen a lineup that could look a lot more dangerous if Story finds his form at second base or designated hitter. Paired with Boston’s elite rotation, that kind of upgrade would push the club into World Series contender territory.
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