The Red Sox are in a precarious position, with a disappointing 23-31 record that has them at the bottom of the AL East. Despite a recent win over the Braves, the team's slow start means they are still within striking distance of a Wild Card spot. However, the front office is aware that their current pace of 69 wins is not enough to avoid a potential sell-off in the coming months. The Red Sox have already made changes, firing Alex Cora and hiring Chad Tracy as interim manager, and overhauling the hitting coach group in an effort to improve their underperforming lineup.
The Red Sox's struggles are evident in their ranking in the AL. They were 11th in scoring and last in OPS (.667) when Cora was fired. While they have improved to sixth in OPS since then, they are still second-to-last in runs scored, with the only team scoring fewer runs being Detroit. The absence of Roman Anthony, who was struggling even before a wrist sprain, has not helped, and the infield has contributed almost nothing offensively, aside from Willson Contreras.
With the team's performance not improving, the Red Sox are already gauging the trade market for offensive help. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow confirmed that they are aggressive in their outreach and trying to identify players who can help them. He noted that the league is compressed, with several teams still in contention despite poor performance. However, Breslow also mentioned that there are other teams who have not played well and could be interested in moving players.
The Red Sox have some big names they could dangle on the trade front if their performance doesn't improve. Sonny Gray, who will be a free agent when his 2027 mutual option is declined, is one such player. The team would need to cover a portion of the $10MM buyout if they trade him. Aroldis Chapman, the second-best reliever in MLB after Mason Miller, has a $13MM option for next year that will vest once he reaches 40 innings on the season.
Breslow's front office is focused on acquiring a right-handed bat to inject life into the offense. They could upgrade the middle infield duo of Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story, who is currently injured. Caleb Durbin, an offseason trade pickup, has hit poorly and is losing playing time at third base to Nick Sogard and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Durbin still has a couple of minor league options remaining and might need a reset at Triple-A.
The trade market is limited this early in the season, with the Giants potentially shopping Luis Arraez, who is holding his own defensively at second base. The Nationals' CJ Abrams is a prize of the infield trade market, but they are unlikely to move him while they are above .500. The Twins' Royce Lewis, a struggling former first overall pick, could be available as a reclamation target. The Mets' Brett Baty and Mark Vientos are also no strangers to trade rumors, with New York having a high ask on the lefty-hitting Baty.
In summary, the Red Sox are in a challenging position, with a need for offensive help and a limited trade market. The front office is taking a cautious approach, focusing on acquiring a right-handed bat and making strategic moves to improve the team's performance.
