Pink Sox have the top-two commerce chips in baseball

Red Sox

“His $40 million salary — and the chance to opt into two more years at $40 million annually — significantly shortens the list of teams that would take on his deal.”

A Red Sox season that opened with so much promise has left a lot to be desired.

Entering Tuesday’s game against the Angels, the Red Sox sit at 40-40 and have just a 25.6 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. 

Even though the Red Sox have already dealt their top slugger in Rafael Devers, Boston could continue to sell off assets before MLB’s trade deadline, especially if the team opts to shift its focus toward letting younger players like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer develop. 

If Boston decides to sell, Craig Breslow should have no shortage of suitors lining up, given the number of veteran players who could help other teams for the stretch run in 2025. 

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel revealed their top 50 MLB trade deadline candidates, with those 50 players ranked by their value for their new team if traded.

Four Red Sox players made the list: 

3B Alex Bregman: No. 1

OF Jarren Duran: No. 2 

RP Aroldis Chapman: No. 18

SP Walker Buehler: No. 28

Even though Bregman is on the IL due to a quad injury, the veteran third baseman was playing like a top-five MVP candidate through his first two months with the Red Sox. 

In 51 games with Boston, Bregman is batting .299 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI while posting a .938 OPS. 

Bregman could be a free agent this winter if he opts out of his contract, although the Red Sox might also want to retain the veteran as the team’s long-term third baseman after dealing away Devers. 

As such, Passan and McDaniel give the Red Sox just a 10 percent chance of trading away Bregman by the end of July. 

“Bregman has been an elite big league hitter since he entered the league in 2016 but has leaned more into power this year, with his highest isolated power since 2019,” Passan and McDaniel wrote. “Most of his underlying power indicators (barrel rate, maximum exit velo, average launch angle and hard hit rate) are at career highs. 

“His $40 million salary — and the chance to opt into two more years at $40 million annually — significantly shortens the list of teams that would take on his deal.”

There’s a 25 percent chance of Duran being moved, according to Passan and McDaniel. 

The Red Sox currently have a glut of outfielders already in place between Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Duran. Moving Duran — even in a down year — could give Boston a solid return while also clearing up that logjam. 

Last week, The Athletic also tabbed Duran as the top trade target in baseball. 

“To be clear: There’s little reason for Boston to even entertain offers for Duran unless the return is substantial,” The Athletic wrote. “His production has predictably fallen short of his 2024 breakout, but Duran remains a solidly above-average hitter with lots of speed and the ability to play center field.

“Perhaps most importantly, he’s under team control through 2028, making him a player teams can build around. Of course, even with a sudden influx of stud prospects joining the lineup, the Red Sox could continue to build around him, too. The Padres have already been linked to Duran and surely they won’t be alone.”

Both Chapman and Buehler have a 35 percent chance of being dealt, per ESPN.

Chapman has arguably been the best closer in the AL so far this season, which means Boston could get a nice return if they flipped the 37-year-old reliever to a contender in the coming weeks.

A struggling Buehler may not boast all that much value after yet another poor start against the Angels on Monday night. 

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for July 31 at 6 p.m.

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.