The Red Sox have gone from potential sellers to a club with real deadline ambition, and that shift changes everything about how they can attack the market.
A few weeks ago, the conversation around Boston was centered on who might leave. Now the Red Sox are sitting in playoff position, with a record that would keep them in the division mix in the AL Central or AL West. In a league that feels wide open, that kind of standing gives them room to think bigger.
Boston already made one move, landing 3B Curtis Mead from the Nationals for young starter Connelly Early. The hope is that Mead’s power can help right away while also paying off down the line. The Red Sox are also waiting on reinforcements from within, with Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet still in the picture, though neither return is close.
Even with that, there are holes to address, and the market offers a few names that could fit. Here are six options Boston could chase as the deadline approaches.
One of the most tempting possibilities is CJ Abrams. The Nationals shortstop has been scorching hot, piling up 14 hits in a five-game stretch, and his overall production has put him among the best hitters in baseball this season.
He’s only 25, which makes him even more appealing, but it also makes a deal harder to pull off. Washington will eventually have to decide what Abrams means to its future, especially with free agency coming after the 2028 season, but that decision probably isn’t happening now.
For Boston, though, a shortstop with that kind of bat would be the kind of swing worth making.
Zach Neto is another shortstop who would fit the Red Sox’ long-term picture. The Angels have a controllable 25-year-old with power, defense and a track record that includes back-to-back 5-WAR seasons.
The catch is the contact issues this year, but there’s enough upside here to make him a real target. Reports have suggested the Angels’ front office, now in transition, is open to listening, which at least gives Boston a path to explore.
If the Red Sox decide the pitching staff needs another arm, Foster Griffin could make sense. With Garrett Crochet’s return possibly not coming until the postseason and Early already dealt away, Boston may need more starting depth.
Griffin has been a breakout story for the Nationals after returning to the U.S. from Japan this winter. He’s 12-2 with a 2.76 ERA and 113 strikeouts over 21 starts.
The predictive numbers suggest some regression is coming, but his control has been strong, and as a rental he wouldn’t require a huge return.
Luis Arraez is another name to watch, even after the Mead trade. Boston still has to sort out how Mead and Caleb Durbin fit defensively, and there’s still room for help in the infield.
Arraez would bring exactly what he always does: contact, not power, but plenty of production. He’s hitting .326 with a 130 OPS+, the best mark of his career, and because he’d be a rental, the price should stay manageable.
The bullpen could use a boost too, and Luke Weaver looks like a realistic possibility. The Mets appear likely to move him, and Weaver has been excellent in New York with a 1.93 ERA and 0.83 WHIP.
His 5.1 hits allowed per nine innings stands out, and he’s already pitched in the AL East. For a Red Sox club looking for late-inning help, he checks a lot of boxes.
At catcher, the market may force Boston to be practical. The Red Sox haven’t gotten enough from the position, and while Shea Langeliers is out with a torn meniscus and Hunter Goodman reportedly isn’t available, Tyler Stephenson could emerge as one of the better options.
His bat has dipped since a strong 2024, but he still owns a career 103 OPS+ and could benefit from a pennant race while rebuilding value before free agency this winter. Boston may not be able to be selective here, and Stephenson would come without a major cost.
In Other News...
Nationals Have Reached A Deadline Decision Their Season Cant Avoid
At 55-55 through 110 games, the Nationals have managed to stay in the thick of the race while also reminding everyone why this has been such a hard team to pin down. They lead Major League Baseball in runs, home runs and steals, a profile that looks like a contender on paper, but the pitching has been shaky enough to keep the club from separating itself in the standings. The result is a season that keeps hovering around the edge of relevance without ever quite breaking open.
Washington is still only about 2.5 games out of the third Wild Card spot, but the margin for error is getting thin and the club has not exactly built much momentum with long winning streaks. The next stretch should say plenty about whether this group is for real or just hanging around the conversation, especially with the deadline approaching and an eight-game run against the Braves and Phillies looming. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Suddenly Face A Deadline Decision Fans May Hate
With the trade deadline closing in, the Nationals are sorting through a familiar kind of July uncertainty, weighing whether to move a rental arm and how aggressive to be with the rest of the roster. Foster Griffin looks like the clearest candidate to go, and the club is at least listening as interest builds from teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays. Shortstop CJ Abrams is also part of the conversation, though his longer control window makes him a much different kind of decision for a rebuilding club trying to balance present value against what comes next.
The timing is made more delicate by the pitching picture, which took another hit when left-hander Mitchell Parker was placed on the 60-day injured list after surgery. For a Nationals team already trying to map out its deadline path, that kind of news only sharpens the question of how much short-term help it can afford to subtract. Griffin may be the easiest call, but the bigger choices are the ones that could shape how the organization looks well beyond this month. [Read more 🡒]