The Boston Red Sox need a starter, and have more than enough young talent in their farm system to pull off a blockbuster.
After completing the 2024 season with a record of 81-81, the Boston Red Sox find themselves at an exciting crossroads. While they need to make improvements, their strong prospect pool gives them the potential to do so. With their infield and outfield already solidified, prioritizing the strengthening of the starting rotation should be a key focus this winter. Let’s explore three prospects the Red Sox could trade to help them contend in the standings next season.
3. Marcelo Mayer
Marcelo Mayer is rapidly rising through the Guardians’ system. After posting a strong .307/.370/.480 line in 300 at-bats with Double-A Portland in 2024, and recording an .850 OPS, he seems ready for the next level before reaching the majors. As the No. 2 prospect in Boston’s farm system, Mayer has great potential, but with plenty of depth already in the middle infield, the major league team may consider moving him.
Given that the team is already exploring options like Willy Adames to fill their shortstop position, the depth at shortstop in Boston’s system only enhances the potential for a remarkable offseason.
Trading a player like Mayer, who is ranked as MLB’s No. 7 prospect, would be a strong move to acquire an elite, ace-level pitcher for the rotation, complementing Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford next season. The Red Sox need to make a significant move to make an impact in the standings; otherwise, it may be difficult to realistically expect a return to the postseason anytime soon. While they reached .500 in 2024, something still seems to be missing.
2. Kristian Campbell
Kristian Campbell made a significant leap from High-A to Triple-A this season, and his impressive .330/.439/.558 slash line across three levels is no surprise. With 20 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases, Campbell’s exceptional skills have shown up consistently at every stage. So why trade him? Like Mayer, the Red Sox are already deep in the middle infield, and breaking into the majors will be a challenge.
Acquiring an elite starting pitcher is crucial for any team aiming for success, and for the Red Sox, trading Campbell could be necessary. While it may be a tough loss in the long term, these types of moves are essential for Boston if they want to contend in the short term and reenter the postseason race. With the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles being formidable opponents, Boston realistically can’t expect to compete for the AL East title without making bold moves.
1. Yoeilin Cespedes
Shortstop Yoeilin Cespedes faces a challenging path to the majors for several reasons. While he’s still a few years away from MLB readiness, even when he gets there, his opportunity remains unclear. Ranked No. 7 in Boston’s system, Cespedes has posted a .337/.395/.578 slash line over two seasons in Rookie ball.
However, he’s yet to accumulate 300 at-bats in his professional career. After being promoted to Single-A, Cespedes suffered a hand injury at an unfortunate time, just as he was set to show his skills at a higher level.
Boston has strong depth in its farm system, and all three players on this list have high potential. Fortunately, not all of them will need to be packaged together to upgrade the starting rotation. The Arizona Diamondbacks are open to trade offers for Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Jordan Montgomery, and trading for one of these pitchers wouldn’t significantly deplete Boston’s prospect pool. It will be interesting to see how the Red Sox approach next season’s competition.
