The Red Sox’s 15-game winning streak didn’t just drag them back into the postseason picture. It also pushed them right back into buyer mode ahead of the MLB trade deadline, and Boston still appears to have one clear item on the shopping list: a shortstop upgrade.
They’ve already made a move to help the infield by bringing in Curtis Mead, but the search isn’t over. ESPN’s David Schoenfield floated a trade idea that would send Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena to Boston, and he called it a “no-brainer” for both sides.
“Houston Astros trade Jeremy Pena to Boston Red Sox,” Schoenfield writes. “Maybe Mayer is part of the trade.
The Red Sox have pitching prospects such as Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon who should interest the Astros. On paper, this looks like a no-brainer for both teams.”
In Schoenfield’s scenario, Boston would land Pena while Houston would get a package likely built around Witherspoon and Eyanson, with Marcelo Mayer also potentially included. It would be a hefty price, but Pena’s production explains why he’s such an appealing target.
The former Gold Glove winner is hitting .316 with an .872 OPS, 11 home runs and 2.8 bWAR in 231 at-bats this season. He’d give the Red Sox a major boost at shortstop, and he’s not just a short-term fix either, since he’s under control through the 2027 season.
That matters for Boston, which wouldn’t have to part with Franklin Arias or an MLB pitcher such as Payton Tolle to make the deal work. For a club looking for a true answer at shortstop, Pena checks a lot of boxes.
From Houston’s side, the logic is just as clear. Pena isn’t expected to sign an extension, and the Astros could choose to move him now rather than risk losing him for almost nothing later. Schoenfield also noted that this year’s Astros team “isn't a good one,” which makes a deal built around young pitching and Mayer easier to justify.
The Astros need more pitching help, and a return centered on two young pitchers plus Mayer would give them that while also making the infield younger and cheaper. For Boston, though, the appeal is simpler: Pena would be a major upgrade at a position they’re still trying to solve.
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