The Boston Red Sox have already been busy in the trade market this offseason, and the chatter around what comes next is only getting louder.
Boston has moved Nate Eaton to the Athletics, Tsung-Che Cheng to the Detroit Tigers and Eduardo Rivera to the St. Louis Cardinals.
So far, those deals have been more about clearing space on the 40-man roster than landing headline-grabbing returns. But that could change soon, with the Red Sox looking like a team ready to make a real push to add offense.
One name that keeps popping up is Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds. The idea has gained traction enough that it now feels like Boston’s dream target of the winter. The appeal is obvious: if the Red Sox could somehow land De La Cruz without giving up Roman Anthony or Payton Tolle, the move would instantly change the look of the American League East.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden said Boston is still exploring multiple paths.
"The Red Sox will also continue to call the Nationals regarding a possible CJ Abrams trade and the Reds if Cincinnati decides to move Elly De La Cruz. Either way, expect them to be aggressive with the aim of adding at least a bat or two," Bowden wrote.
De La Cruz would be the splashiest name by far. A 24-year-old coming off a 30-30 season, he would slot into a Boston lineup that already includes Anthony, Adley Rutschman, Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Curtis Mead, Caleb Durbin and Trevor Story, among others. On paper, that kind of addition would give the Red Sox what might be the best lineup in baseball.
The obstacle, of course, is the price. De La Cruz would be extremely difficult to pry loose from Cincinnati, and the source material makes clear the cost would be massive.
Franklin Arias, Boston’s No. 1 prospect, would have to be part of the discussion. With the farm system not as deep as it once was, a deal would likely require a mix of prospects and established big leaguers.
If Anthony and Tolle are not included, there are not many others who should be considered untouchable.
Abrams is the other name to watch, even if he doesn’t carry the same ceiling as De La Cruz. He would still be a major boost for Boston, and he comes with two seasons of team control left, compared with three for De La Cruz. In 2026, Abrams put up 33 home runs, 106 RBIs and 34 stolen bases, production that would fit neatly into what the Red Sox are trying to build.
The fit would need to be sorted out, though. De La Cruz would clearly handle shortstop, while Abrams would likely end up at second base if Boston got him.
That would allow Trevor Story to stay at shortstop and move Curtis Mead to designated hitter. Another possibility would be Abrams at second base and Arias at shortstop, but that scenario does not appear likely.
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