The Boston Red Sox find themselves in a familiar position, hovering around the .500 mark and showing signs that they may not have what it takes to contend in the 2024 season.
Given their current trajectory, it’s likely that opposing clubs will be circling around the Red Sox as the July 30 Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches, unless a sudden surge in performance propels Boston into the buyer’s conversation.
Should the Red Sox continue on their current path, they’ll likely shift gears into sell mode and consider which players to offload in exchange for prospect compensation. Certain names are almost certain to be part of these discussions.
“Despite facing a constant barrage of injuries, they’re managing to stay afloat around .500 and wouldn’t be inclined to sell in their current state,” noted Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller. “However, if the situation changes, Tyler O’Neill, Kenley Jansen, and Nick Pivetta will all become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season and could emerge as valuable trade assets.”
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has consistently emphasized the organization’s focus on the future, a stance that was evident in their offseason approach characterized by a lack of major splashes. However, it’s worth considering that maintaining a .500 record at the deadline doesn’t necessarily ensure that the aforementioned trio will remain with the team.
The speculation surrounding potential trades involving Jansen and O’Neill is nothing new, and recently, Pivetta’s name has also surfaced in trade talks. With all three players set to enter free agency after the season, they could be viewed as expendable assets to be moved at the deadline in order to bolster the team’s prospect pool and complement the core of promising prospects such as Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel.
While these potential trades remain speculative, rumors have already emerged suggesting that the Red Sox may not have any intentions of retaining Jansen beyond this season.
