What will the 2023 Red Sox do at the trade deadline?
It largely depends on where they are in the American League Wild Card standings.
The Red Sox are good one week and terrible the next. They are not good enough to go all in and not bad enough to blow it all up.
In Red Sox’s chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom’s fourth season, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel that has been his “rebuild” — if you choose to see it. It’s not worth blowing up the entire team, setting back Boston’s competitive window even further, because of one mediocre season.
Things could be worse.
Long story short, we will likely see another trade deadline where the Red Sox try to thread the needle between buying and selling, keeping 2023, 2024, and beyond in mind.
Determining which players the 2023 Red Sox should trade and which they should keep isn’t an easy endeavor. Some should go no matter what; others should stay no matter what. For others, well, the standings will determine their fate.
Red Sox to Trade at 2023 Deadline/on the Bubble
Embed from Getty ImagesAdam Duvall – Duvall is the only player the Red Sox must trade by the 2023 deadline. Jarred Duran’s emergence has made him invaluable to this team. We all agree Duran should be playing daily and that Duvall is a bad fit, but to trade Duvall, he has to play, especially after missing two months due to injury. The Sox are not designating him for assignment before there’s zero chance they can trade him for a bag of balls. Boston has too many players worthy of playing every day and not enough spots, leaving someone the odd man out every day. That’s just the way it is right now.
James Paxton – Paxton is on the bubble. If the Red Sox are in it, they should keep him. If they’re not, they should trade him. The Sox are desperate for starters right now, down to three healthy starters at the moment. Brayan Bello and Paxton have made a fantastic, much-needed 1-2 rotation punch. Boston will need both during a postseason run. If the Sox choose to trade him, his value couldn’t be higher. Maybe get a big leaguer for a big leaguer?
Nick Pivetta – I would trade Pivetta. Sell high on him. The Red Sox need him right now for bulk innings, unfortunately. And he’s also been an excellent late-inning reliever, which they need, too. But he’s been so good in the bullpen; surely teams would be interested in him. The Red Sox can probably get another comparable reliever at the 2023 trade deadline. I’m not too worried about replacing him as a pure reliever. The decision to trade Pivetta could depend on how John Schreiber and Joely Rodriquez hold up/perform and the rotation’s health in the weeks leading up to the 2023 deadline.
Do Not Trade Under Any Circumstances
Embed from Getty ImagesKenley Jansen – The Red Sox must keep Jansen. Do we want to go into the 2023-24 off-season needing a closer? And he loves it in Boston and can handle the environment. Why trade guys that want to play here and can perform here? Isn’t that one of the criticisms of Chaim Bloom?
Justin Turner – Turner has to stay. He has a player option, so it’s up to him if he wants to return in 2024. Turner is just a professional hitter who is so good at not only hitting but baserunning, too. And he is a prominent leader of this team. The Red Sox could get something for him if they trade him. It would be a mistake, however. Like Jansen, he enjoys playing in Boston and is handling the environment with flying colors.
Chris Martin – I’m keeping Martin. As with keeping or trading Jansen, do we want to rebuild the back end of the bullpen two offseasons in a row? And he’s been lights out since returning from the injured list.
Alex Verdugo – An interesting decision, but I’m keeping Dugie. The decision to trade Verdugo does not have to come this year, as he is under control through 2025. His resurgent 2023 and his years of control make him the most valuable trade chip the Sox have, though. But he’s arguably more valuable to his team, this lineup’s spark plug. If Verdugo is traded this deadline, who’s replacing him? Ceddanne Rafaela? Let’s shut that idea down right now. That’s not happening.
For daily Red Sox coverage, follow me on Twitter. For more MLB coverage, follow @BellyUpBaseball and check out Belly Up Sport’s other MLB content.
