Rumors of possible Boston Red Sox trade targets surfaced in the weeks before the trade deadline.
But the Sox only got better as the trade deadline drew near. They chose to buy instead of selling many of their finest trade goods. After the All-Star break, Boston had a tough start, but it has won its last three series since the trade deadline.
Kenley Jansen was the subject of some of the most well-known Red Sox trade deadline rumors. There were early in the season rumors that the front office would dole him out at the deadline after failing in its attempts to move the seasoned closer over the 2023–24 offseason.
With the exception of a couple difficult games against his old team in Los Angeles, Jansen has been dominant for several weeks. At the end of the season, he will become a free agent, and it is unlikely that the Red Sox will pursue an agreement with him. These are the other three Red Sox whose contracts with the team expire without an extension or who will be transferred.
Three Red Sox made it through the trade deadline, but their postseason destiny will differ.
O’Neill Tyler
With the Boston Red Sox, Tyler O’Neill is having his greatest season since winning the MVP award with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021. This season, he has smashed 22 home runs and 16 doubles, slashing.268/.357/.544. He’s also been a competent and adaptable outfield player.
However, the 29-year-old’s deal is coming to an end, and the Red Sox’s outfield is crowded. Wilyer Abreu and Rob Refsnyder have both been excellent defenders with dependable bats, Jarren Duran has become a star, Ceddanne Rafaela boasts center field defense worthy of a gold glove, and Masataka Yoshida can also fill in the meadows. Roman Anthony, who is guaranteed to play for Boston in the future, is also scheduled to make his debut in 2025.
One of the Red Sox’s greatest tools against left-handed pitchers this season, O’Neill has been a mainstay in the lineup. However, the Red Sox outfield is so talented, with even more on the horizon, that it doesn’t really make sense to look for a new contract with O’Neill.
Enmanuel Valdez
When the Sox need middle infield help, they’ve cycled Enmanuel Valdez up and down from Triple-A, but he hasn’t been the most consistent choice. The twenty-five-year-old is cutting.226/.282/.402 across 56 major-league games; however, in his most recent assignment with the Red Sox, he saw an improvement in his bat.
The main issue is Valdez’s defense, though. At second base, the infielder has minus seven outs above average. In addition, his arm strength is in the seventh percentile, while his sprint speed is in the 22nd percentile. In all defensive categories, David Hamilton surpasses Valdez, even with his own defensive shortcomings.
In addition, the Red Sox have a contract with Vaughn Grissom through 2029 and a large group of middle infielders in their development system. In the ideal situation, Boston would trade Valdez in exchange for starting pitchers.
Pivetta, Nick
Since joining the Red Sox in 2020, Nick Pivetta has regularly moved between the bullpen and rotation. Despite pitching to a 4.44 ERA this season, he has thrown a fair number of gems out of the rotation, so his status as a starter hasn’t gone entirely as planned.
If Pivetta’s contract isn’t extended by the Red Sox, which appears doubtful, it will expire at the end of the current campaign. This season, the right-hander has struggled with elbow problems, including a flexor strain and overall arm fatigue. As a result, Boston has decided to forego his next start in order to give him more rest.
Craig Breslow is determined to make the Red Sox’s pitching better, and the most obvious area for improvement is in the starting rotation. If the Sox pursue a quality free agent pitcher this winter, Pivetta’s slot may be taken by one of the top free agents available. Boston lacks star power and elite pitchers in their rotation.
The Red Sox had the opportunity to acquire a return on Pivetta’s expiring deal by trading him at the deadline, but teams were demanding absurd sums of money for elite players. After this season, the Sox will probably let Pivetta go unless they transfer him to the bullpen, where he has had better success.