The Red Sox have a few weeks before the August 3 trade deadline to sort out what kind of upgrade they want, and the name drawing plenty of attention from fans is Francisco Lindor. On paper, it’s easy to see why.
He’s been an All-Star in recent seasons, won two Silver Sluggers, and finished runner-up for NL MVP to Shohei Ohtani in 2024. Add in his track record from his Cleveland Indians days - four more All-Star nods, two Silver Sluggers, and two Gold Gloves - and you can understand why some Sox supporters are already picturing him at shortstop.
But this isn’t the same Lindor who built that résumé. He’s 32 now, and this season has been a rough one.
Injuries have limited him to 40 games, and the production hasn’t matched the reputation. He’s hitting .216/.298/.373/.671 with three doubles, three triples, five home runs, and 12 RBI.
When you factor in the five remaining years on his 10-year, $341 million contract, the price tag starts to look even steeper for a Red Sox team that would have to give up serious assets to get him.
That’s why Lindor doesn’t feel like the clean fit Boston fans might want. If the Red Sox are buyers - and that seems likely - the more pressing needs are catcher, DH, and shortstop.
In that mix, Jeremy Peña looks like the better shortstop target. He’s younger, he provides steady offense, he brings Gold Glove defense, and his swing is built for Fenway.
There’s another name worth watching too: Washington Nationals slugger James Wood. The two-time All-Star has been gaining momentum as a possible target if Boston is willing to spend, though the Nationals are only four games out in the NL Wild Card race, which makes a deal unlikely if they stay in the hunt.
If Washington falls out of contention, Wood could become available. And with nearly 30 homers at the break and the ability to drive the ball to all fields, he’d be the kind of bat that could change Boston’s lineup in a hurry.
If the Red Sox are still within striking distance of a Wild Card spot, they’re going to need offense. Lindor has the name value, but Peña or Wood look like the better answers.
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