The Boston Red Sox are 33-36 and nine games out of the American League East lead and 3 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. There is still time for them to turn things around.
The Red Sox could still make some trades to ignite a late postseason push, but the team will have to remain within striking distance of a postseason berth when the July 31 trade deadline rolls around. One of the biggest needs is in the starting rotation, where Garrett Crochet has been great, but everyone else has struggled.
In 2023, the Red Sox traded Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves, and he signed a two-year, $38 million extension just five days later. The move proved to be a mistake for Boston as Sale ended up winning the National League Cy Young Award. This season he has a 2.79 ERA in 14 starts, but the Braves are in danger of becoming sellers at the deadline.
Sale has a $18 million mutual option for next season, and if the Braves want to move on from the 36-year-old after the season, they might be open to trading him if they do not have a shot at making the postseason. FanSided’s Fred Owens proposed this trade that would bring Sale back to Boston in exchange for Jarren Duran and a couple of prospects:
- Red Sox receive: LHP Chris Sale
- Braves receive: OF Jarren Duran, SS/2B Franklin Arias (Red Sox No. 3 prospect) and SS/2B Mikey Romero (Boston No. 11 prospect)
Arias could be the Red Sox’s top prospect soon, since Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony are now in the big leagues. With Mayer and Campbell on the team, Arias may not have a clear path to the big leagues anyway.
As for Duran, trading him may become necessary for the Red Sox. Ceddanne Rafaela, Anthony and Wilyer Abreu figure to be the future of the Red Sox outfield. Anthony is the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, Rafaela is signed to a long-term extension and Abreu has proven himself as a productive player, winning a Gold Glove Award as a rookie. All three are younger than Duran and have more club control.
Duran was an All-Star last season and could solve the Braves’ left field situation. He has great trade value, and turning him into a pitcher like Sale for a postseason push could be great for the Red Sox. Duran has great trade value and the Red Sox may look to trade him at the deadline, regardless of their spot in the standings.
Sale spent seven seasons with the Red Sox and won a World Series with the team as well. He is an eight-time All-Star and could be the key in the Red Sox making a late push for October baseball.
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