Over the last two weeks, the Boston Red Sox have gone from likely sellers at the trade deadline to potential buyers.
That's because the Red Sox are surging, winning 10 of their last 12 games to climb out of last place in the AL East. They're now six games below .500 and just three games out of a playoff spot, improving their postseason odds to 27.7 percent at FanGraphs.
With Boston on the upswing, it may look to add before the Aug. 3 trade deadline for a potential playoff push.
A lot could change between now and then, however. Whatever happens, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal reported for The Athletic on Thursday (subscription required) that the Red Sox plan to "be realistic about their position as the deadline gets closer."
What we’re hearing about the MLB trade market: Latest on Corey Seager, Sonny Gray and more. With @WillSammon, unlocked and free to read: https://t.co/LwVI9M19Lt
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 9, 2026
That's good news for Boston. Craig Breslow has insisted all season that the Red Sox will be buyers despite their poor performance, and many Boston fans feared he would buy regardless in a desperate bid to save his job.
Fortunately, it sounds like the Red Sox will have a level-headed approach to the deadline. If they're in the playoff mix, they could look to add. If they fall out of contention, however, they shouldn't be afraid to sell and start looking ahead to next year.