The Red Sox didn’t wait long to start shopping.
After ripping off nine straight wins before the All-Star break, Boston has pushed itself into the thick of the AL Wild Card race, sitting less than a game behind the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners for the third and final spot. That kind of surge changes everything. A team that looked like it might be on the fringe now has every reason to act like a buyer.
And the first move is in.
According to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, Boston has acquired outfielder Jahmai Jones from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for a player to be named later.
Jones was designated for assignment by Detroit last week after a rough stretch at the plate. In 57 games, the 28-year-old hit .137/.219/.221 with two home runs and a .440 OPS. That came after a strong year offensively in 2025, but the Tigers’ usage told the story of how they viewed him: mostly as a fourth outfielder, with most of his chances coming against left-handed pitching.
That split was where Jones did his best work. Of his 150 plate appearances last season, 122 came against southpaws, and he hit .288 with a .970 OPS in those matchups.
The concern has been the swing-and-miss. Jones’ strikeout rate has climbed from 21.3% to 33.3%, while his walk rate has dropped by 2.5%.
Boston is betting it can clean some of that up. The Red Sox are taking a shot that a few mechanical adjustments can get him back on track, and they’ll have to do it without the benefit of minor league options, which Jones no longer has.
For a club that suddenly looks like a real deadline player, this is just the opening move.
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Karaban said he is settling in as he gets used to the pace and athleticism of NBA play, a different test than college basketball and one that can make even polished shooters hesitate. His next chance to build on it comes against the Hornets, where he could run into former UConn teammate Liam McNeeley, adding another layer to a summer that is starting to feel a little more like home. [Read more 🡒]