A star veteran is reportedly intrigued by the possibility of joining a division rival before Monday's trade deadline.
Sources told Julian McWilliams of CBS Sports that George Springer is interested in a trade to the Boston Red Sox. The Toronto Blue Jays outfielder can block a move to certain clubs with a limited no-trade clause.
"The fit makes sense," McWilliams wrote. "Boston is looking for right-handed power, while Springer, a Connecticut native who grew up a Red Sox fan, has long enjoyed hitting at Fenway Park. In 51 career games there, he owns a .323/.400/.540 slash line with a .940 OPS and 10 home runs."
According to McWilliams, Springer expected the Red Sox to pursue him when he entered free agency in 2020 following seven years with the Houston Astros.
"It's crazy they didn't make an offer," a source told McWilliams. "He loved hitting there."
Springer instead joined the Blue Jays and has batted .259/.340/.454 over 728 games. He played in Game 7 of the World Series after tallying 32 home runs with a .959 OPS in a resurgent 2025.
The four-time All-Star hasn't sustained that late-career revival, batting a more tepid .234/.317/.403 this season. But he's beginning to heat up this summer, hitting .326/.392/.565 with three home runs in a dozen games since the All-Star break.
Boston can still use a right-handed hitting upgrade after losing recent acquisition Curtis Mead to a wrist injury in his team debut. While a .168 ISO is down for Springer's standards, Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu are the Red Sox's only regulars (minimum 250 plate appearances) with a higher clip.
Springer could close out his contract as Boston's full-time designated hitter. The Red Sox have sprinted back into the playoff race in July, but Toronto is last in the American League East with a 50-59 record before a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Red Sox already conducted business with a division rival when acquiring Mead from the Tampa Bay Rays. Perhaps they can try again and call Toronto about Springer.