Drawing Up a Perfect Red Sox Deadline

• Red Sox receive: C Carson Kelly
• Cubs receive: C Carlos Narváez, SP/RP Tyler Uberstine (MLB Pipeline’s 14th-ranked Red Sox prospect)

​Though not to the level of some of the Red Sox’s other slumping sophomores – Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony – Carlos Narváez has been a massive disappointment at the plate.

​After hitting a respectable .241/.306./.419 as a rookie, Narvaez has seen his line plummet to .193/.261/.283, which has understandably caused him to lose playing time to Connor Wong. The main culprit is a 32.3% strikeout rate that represents a nearly 7.5% increase from 2026

​To his credit, Narvaez hasn’t let his offensive woes carry over to his work behind the plate. He ranks in the 88th percentile in framing runs and in the 91st percentile in blocks above average, which has kept him on the roster despite his woeful offensive production.

​Yet for a team that desperately needs more offensive thump, Narvaez’s glove alone isn’t enough to guarantee him playing time. His profile would fit much better on a team like the Cubs, who rank third in MLB in runs scored but are middle-of-the-pack in ERA.

​The Red Sox, meanwhile, would acquire the Cubs’ reportedly available backstop Carson Kelly. A 31-year-old journeyman on his fourth team in four seasons, Kelly has batted a perfectly adequate .254/.340/.406 in 191 games as a Cub to go along with an excellent 128-to-77 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

​The Red Sox would certainly sign for that line given what they are currently getting from their catchers, but there is reason to believe that Kelly could level up in Boston. His 23.9% pull-air percentage in 2025 ranked in 59th out of 316 qualified hitters, and while that number has dropped in 2026, it could be an approach he gets back to while hitting in front of the Green Monster.

​While Kelly is only an average defender across the board, his experience would help him acclimate quickly to his new pitching staff.

​Given the dearth of starting-caliber backstops available at this year’s deadline, it can be assumed that every catcher-needy contender has checked on Kelly, including the division rival Yankees and the Rays.

​What gives the Red Sox the edge is their ability to give the Cubs a starting-caliber catcher in return, a necessity for the wild-card-leading Cubs.

​To further sweeten the deal, the Red Sox will also send back swingman Tyler Uberstine. Though he has made just one appearance in the big leagues this year, Uberstine has been excellent in Worcester, most notably during a 13-inning July sample in which he posted a 2.08 ERA and struck out 17 batters against just three walks.

Ubestine’s ability to both attack the zone and pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen would be a huge boost for a Cubs team that is on the hunt for any sort of competent relief help.

Trade 2: Red Sox Receive Otto Lopez

• Red Sox receive: SS Otto Lopez
• Marlins receive: SS Marcelo Mayer, SP Anthony Eyanson (Just Baseball’s 69th-ranked prospect and second-ranked Red Sox prospect), OF Enddy Azocar (MLB Pipeline’s fifth-ranked Red Sox prospect)

As unproductive as the Red Sox’s catching tandem has been, the revolving door at shortstop has been an even bigger issue.

​The Red Sox came into the season crossing their fingers that Trevor Story could come close to replicating his 157-game, 4.1 bWAR 2025 season, but it quickly became apparent that would not be the case.

​The 33-year-old attempted to play through a hernia that limited him in both the field and the plate before eventually succumbing to surgery in mid-May. The club shifted Marcelo Mayer from second base to replace Story, but the former top prospect saw his defensive metrics plummet while continuing to be one of the least productive hitters in baseball.

Like Story, Mayer was also limited by a nagging injury, attempting to play through a forearm injury that eventually landed him on the injured list on June 26.

​While Story, Mayer and utility infielder Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, who landed on the injured list a week before Mayer with the same forearm issue, are all making progress in their rehab, none of them have earned the right to be penciled into the everyday shortstop upon their return.

​The last month has seen the Red Sox piece together an interesting-but-flawed platoon of Tsung-Che Cheng, who is a slick fielder but managed just a single extra-base hit in 44 plate appearances, and Andruw Monasterio, who has caught fire at the plate but has accumulated -3 Outs Above Average in just 230 innings at shortstop.

​Though the duo obviously hasn’t hurt the Red Sox much during their 20-4 run, they are both overexposed at everyday shortstop for a team with postseason aspirations.

​It’s therefore no surprise that the Red Sox have been linked with nearly every potentially available shortstop, including the Angels’ Zach Neto and the Nationals’ CJ Abrams. Yet while Neto (45 home runs since 2025) and Abrams (46 home runs since 2025) would each be the Red Sox’s best power hitter not named Willson Contreras, their shoddy defense makes them a poor fit for a team centered around its pitching staff.

​The real best shortstop option for the Red Sox is a guy who ranks second in MLB in bWAR this season despite hitting just nine home runs. Just over two years removed from being designated for assignment by both the Blue Jays and Giants, Otto Lopez has been the game’s most complete shortstop this side of Bobby Witt Jr.

​The 27-year-old Lopez currently leads MLB with 138 hits and 27 doubles while trailing only Luis Arraez with a .325 batting average. Though his exit velocities are middle-of-the-pack, Lopez’s combination of bat-to-ball skills (88th percentile strikeout rate) and ability to make consistently hard contact (90th percentile squared-up rate) have transformed him into one of the game’s best pure hitters.

​While Lopez’s offensive breakout has been years in the making, his defense has been rock solid since he arrived in Miami in 2024. He has accumulated +29 Outs Above Average over the last three seasons, including a +6 mark this year that ranks in the 93rd percentile.

​The speed and athleticism that have helped him in the field have also made him one of the most effective baserunners in baseball, as he ranks fifth in the National League with 22 stolen bases while being caught just four times.

​With the Marlins losing 13 of their last 16 games and falling out of playoff position, it is understandable why they are reportedly willing to listen on every player besides ace Sandy Alcantara. As good as Lopez is, his .358 BABIP indicates this current level of production may be unsustainable, which could lead the Marlins to look to sell high on their All-Star shortstop.

​Yet even if Lopez settles in as a .290 hitter instead of a .320 hitter, he would fix one of the Red Sox’s most prominent roster issues. He would provide them with a true leadoff hitter instead of the current rotating cast of Masataka Yoshida, Jahmai Jones and Anthony Siegler and shore up their shoddy defense at shortstop.

​Under team control through 2029, Lopez will not come cheap, and it will require the Red Sox to get uncomfortable with their return package. The headliner of this proposal is right-hander Anthony Eyanson, Just Baseball’s 69th-ranked prospect, who has absolutely dominated in his pro debut with a 1.13 ERA in 63.2 innings.

​Though Eyanson hasn’t been able to sustain the triple-digit velocity he showed in spring training, his fastball now sits in the mid-90s after operating in the 92-93 mph range during his college days. That velocity bump, along with his elite feel for spin and solid control, gives him an excellent chance to remain in the rotation long-term.

​Having posted a 1.45 ERA in 43.1 Double-A innings, Eyanson is likely due for a Triple-A promotion by the end of the season. This would position him to join the Marlins rotation sometime in 2027, which is also the last year of ace Alcantara’s contract.

​The second prospect going back to Miami is High-A outfielder Enddy Azocar, who has arguably been the Red Sox’s most impressive position player prospect besides Franklin Arias.

​The 19-year-old began generating buzz when he posted a .511 slugging percentage in 39 Single-A games and, after an understandably slow start in High-A, he has batted .338/.378/.740 with 8 home runs over his last

​Giving up prospects of Eyanson and Azocar’s caliber would hurt, but with Eyanson appearing to be squeezed out of an overcrowded rotation and Azocar still multiple years away from contributing at the big-league level, it would be a necessary sacrifice to acquire one of the best shortstops in MLB.

​Acquiring Lopez would also mean waving the white flag on Mayer, a sentiment that has grown increasingly inevitable over the last month. With Caleb Durbin looking like a long-term fixture at third base, Arias getting promoted to Triple-A and Mead being acquired to play second base, Mayer’s long-term future in Boston is murky even before considering Lopez.

​Yet while a variety of injuries have hampered his development and prevented him from establishing himself in Boston, Mayer has flashed his upside at both the plate and the field, and his 10% reduction in strikeout rate from his rookie season was encouraging.

​Perhaps getting out of the bright lights of Boston and the massive expectations that come with being the fourth overall pick will be what he needs to get his career back on track.

​While the Marlins will certainly begin negotiations by asking for Arias, who is Just Baseball’s third-overall prospect, this trade would give them two potential building-block players, as well as an MLB-caliber shortstop who is just a year removed from looking like a franchise cornerstone.

​Trade 3: ​Red Sox Receive Michael Wacha

• ​Red Sox receive: SP Michael Wacha
• ​Royals receive: OF Jarren Duran, RHP Blake Wehunt (MLB Pipeline’s 19th-ranked Red Sox prospect)

​Despite their abysmal 46-64 record, the word out of Kansas City is that they are unwilling to part with any of their non-rentals with the hope of competing in 2027. This includes veteran right-hander Michael Wacha, who just earned his first All-Star appearance since 2015 and is under contract through 2027 with an affordable $14 million club option for 2028.

​For the Red Sox, the appeal of Wacha is obvious. He has proven he can pitch both in the postseason and in Boston, where he posted a 3.32 ERA and a career-high 3.2 bWAR in 2022.

​The 35-year-old innings eater can provide a much-needed shot in the arm for a rotation loaded with workload question marks and serve as a safety net if Sonny Gray leaves in free agency.

​The biggest concern for the Red Sox is finding a way to pry him away from the Royals. The only way they would be tempted to move him is if they are given a piece that helps them contend in 2027, which the Red Sox could provide in Jarren Duran.

​It’s no secret that Duran has had an absolutely dismal year at the plate. His .195 batting average is the lowest of any qualified hitter, and his .589 OPS ranks ahead of only Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar.

​The tools, however, are as loud as they have ever been, as he ranks in the 83rd percentile in bat speed, 92nd percentile in sprint speed and has accumulated +7 Outs Above Average in left field.

​Duran is as clear a change-of-scenery candidate as there is in baseball, and perhaps a move to Kansas City, a team that is in dire need of outfielders and had reported interest in him in the past, could be the spark he needs.

​To further persuade the Royals, the Red Sox could send back a near-MLB-ready starting pitcher in right-hander Blake Wehunt. Like so many others in the Red Sox pitching pipeline, Wehunt stands at a monstrous 6-foot-7 and possesses a mid-90s fastball that plays up due to his plus extension.

​Wehunt recently earned a promotion to Triple-A after striking out 72 and walking just 16 in 53.2 Double-A innings, and has promptly allowed just two earned runs over his first two starts in Worcester. He could be an intriguing option to a Royals rotation that is nearly as left-handed heavy as the Red Sox.

Trade 4: ​Red Sox Receive George Springer

• ​Red Sox receive: OF George Springer.
• Blue Jays receive: SP John Holobetz (MLB Pipeline’s 13th-ranked Red Sox prospect), OF Miguel Bleis (MLB Pipeline’s 25th-ranked Red Sox prospect)

​With Duran shipped out for some starting pitcher help in this hypothetical, the Red Sox have an opening in left field. That would have seemed impossible at the beginning of the season. The instinct may be to patch it together until Roman Anthony comes back from his finger injury, but that is a risky game to play given that he just started doing tee work.

​While the addition of Lopez will give the Red Sox a true leadoff hitter and stabilize their infield defense, he won’t add much thump to a lineup that has hit the second-fewest home runs in all of baseball. The same can be said for Kelly, who is an upgrade over Wong and Narvaez but has slugged over .400 just once over the last five seasons.

​At first glance, George Springer would seem to fall in that same category. He has just 12 home runs in 78 games this season, and his .403 slugging percentage this season is the second-lowest mark of his career.

​Yet as Red Sox fans have come to learn over the years, Springer seems to find another gear when he comes to Boston, posting a .306/.383/.534 line with 21 home runs in his career at Fenway Park.

​And even if he doesn’t have the juice he once did, Springer can still be counted on for a quality at-bat, something the Red Sox aren’t getting from their current left fielder.

​The Blue Jays may not be thrilled about sending a fan favorite to their division rival, but their options might be limited due to Springer having 10-and-5 rights, which gives him the ability to veto any trade.

​Having grown up and gone to college in Connecticut, you would think that the Red Sox would be one of the teams Springer would be willing to be dealt to, and his playoff experience would be a welcome addition to a position player group that has little of it outside of Contreras.

​The biggest concern with Springer would be his willingness and capability to play defense. In an effort to keep Springer healthy, and in an indictment on his declining defensive performance in 2025, the Blue Jays have given Springer just three innings in the outfield this season.

​There’s no denying that the 36-year-old Springer is not the defender he once was, but still moves around well enough that you can shield him in front of the Monster a couple times a week until Anthony returns.

Springer could take DH duties against left-handed starters while rotating left field responsibilities with Masataka Yoshida, who has his own defensive challenges, against right-handers.

​The main piece going back to Toronto is John Holobetz, a near-MLB-ready pitcher who could feasibly see big-league action this year if the Blue Jays sell off members of their rotation.

​The 23-year-old right-hander earned a promotion to Worcester after turning in a sterling 93-to-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in Portland and allowed just one run over 5.1 innings in his Triple-A debut.

​Bleis’ star has dropped considerably since the beginning of 2023, when he was a consensus top-100 prospect entering the 2023 season. He is currently slashing just .221/.282/.358 in Double-A and has walked just 19 times against 75 strikeouts.

​Still, Bleis is somehow just 22 years old and continues to flash the tools that made him so highly regarded during his Florida Complex League days, such as when he hit four homers in a three-day span at the end of June. He would be a fascinating reclamation project for a Blue Jays team lacking high-upside position player talent.

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