Selling at the trade deadline was hardly the objective for the Boston Red Sox at the start of the season, but the results just haven’t been there to justify other courses of action.
Granted, that deadline is still nearly two months away, so mathematically, there’s still a path to win enough games to avoid surefire seller territory. But the Red Sox’s play on the field has been lifeless for most of the season, and they’ve hardly shown us glimpses of having enough offensive firepower to get back in the hunt.
So if things continue on their current course, a sell-off at the Aug. 3 deadline seems quite likely. The Red Sox have a lot of talent they can unload to restock the chest for next season and avoid a full-on rebuild, so these three players would seem to be locks to move.
Aroldis Chapman - RP
The 38-year-old Chapman is a true marvel, as he still regularly hits 100 mph with two variations of fastballs and has only allowed one earned run through the first two months of the season.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported last week that the industry “expected” Chapman to be dealt at this deadline, and while that might just be eyewash when the deadline is this far away, it’s not hard to see why every team in contention for the playoffs would want to add this eight-time All-Star (soon to be nine) to its bullpen.
Sonny Gray - SP
Speaking of veteran pitchers over 35 who are having standout seasons, Gray has been one of the only steadying forces for the Red Sox. He missed some time in April with a mild hamstring pull, but he’s still leading the rotation in wins and has struck out far more batters since that injury than he did before.
As a true rental who will only be owed about $7 million for the rest of the season after the deadline, Gray should be one of the top starters on the market if he’s available, which would net the Red Sox at least a couple of decent prospects in return.
Jarren Duran - OF
Unlike Chapman and Gray, Duran is under full club control for next season, so there’s a world in which he doesn’t get traded. This is more of a prediction than a guarantee, but this feels like the year the Red Sox finally cave into whatever the trade market is determining the 29-year-old speedster is worth.
Duran’s electric May minimized the damage his awful April did to his trade value, and he’s still going to be an awkward fit on this roster whenever Roman Anthony returns from his lingering finger ligament injury. If the Red Sox can get a prospect who fits into the everyday lineup someday, particularly at catcher, this is a move they’ll feel compelled to make.