For most of the last month, a large part of the conversation surrounding the Boston Red Sox has been about the MLB trade deadline.
On one side is those who say that the club is not competitive enough this year to hold onto to expiring or declining assets, and that they should capitalize on their value in a trade before August 3.
On the other side is those who maintain that the underperforming group will find their stride this summer, aided by returns from Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony, and will be in a position to make another postseason push in a weak American League. A notable member of this camp has been Boston's chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who, despite the organization's recent public endorsement, could be at risk of losing his job if the Red Sox season continues down this path.
What has been lost at times in this debate is the simple question: Who? If the Red Sox do choose to sell, who would it be?
There are of course some obvious names that come to mind. Jarren Duran, who has been floated in trade talks for the last two years. Aroldis Chapman, who still looks like one of the league's most dominant relievers despite his age. Sonny Gray, who has dominated his way to an 8-1 record. And Willson Contreras, who has provided some of the only consistent production in an otherwise anemic lineup.
But going beyond that, a very important follow up question is for what? What could these potential trade chips net them if they are eventually put on the block?
In a June 16 article from MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, executives around the league weighed in on the value of the Red Sox top chips, revealing interesting perspectives on some of their best players.
On Duran, one NL executive believes he is currently a "sell-low" option considering his hot-and-cold season at the plate. Another executive from the AL told Feinsand that Duran's "down season" will limit his market.
The 29-year-old outfielder put together an impressive month of May where he posted a .261 batting average and a .879 OPS with nine home runs and 22 RBI. But Duran has batted well below the Mendoza Line in every other month and is currently slashing just .211/.268/.387 with 11 home runs through 64 games.
After the injury to Anthony, the Red Sox's inability to clear their outfield logjam has provided necessary depth. Still, Duran sticks out as the odd man out in the club's long-term plans at the position. With a salary of just $7.7 million in 2026 and two more arbitration-eligible seasons, plenty of contending teams would be willing to take a chance on a player with the kind of upside that Duran has when things are going right.
For Contreras, the temperature around the league seems to be more focused on his personality than his performance on the field, with the NL executive questioning his fit in other clubhouses and the AL executive calling him an "acquired taste."
Contreras has almost single handedly kept Boston's offense afloat this year, leading the team in home runs (16), RBI (43), batting average (.304), and OPS (.966). On top of that, his fierce style of play has provided a necessary edge at times to a group that lacks many other veteran leaders. If teams are not turning in a haul to land the slugger at the deadline, the Red Sox would be wise to keep him around on a contract that has a club option for 2028.
For Gray and Chapman, who are in their late 30s and both essentially on expiring deals, Feinsand's sources were hesitant to say that there will be teams lining up to trade for them. One AL executive pointed to Gray's $20 million salary as a red flag, also noting Chapman's status as a rental reliever as a negative.
But, as we know, contending teams always try their hand with expiring contracts at the trade deadline if they feel like the fit and impact is there. Both pitchers fit this bill, especially if the Red Sox are willing to eat a portion of Gray's contract to net a more valuable return of prospects.
Reported interest in Chapman has already emerged from the San Diego Padres, but any team with their eyes on a World Series would likely be in on a closer currently boasting a 0.44 ERA. Gray, who holds a 3.03 ERA across 12 starts, could be the perfect target for a Chicago Cubs team with a clear need for stability in the starting rotation.
With a month and a half still to be played before the deadline, it makes sense for rival executives to downplay the value of the Red Sox's assets. However, if the team continues to falter, they could still be poised to turn these aging stars into a haul.
