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Red Sox Listed as Suitor for Rockies' All-Star Ahead of Trade Deadline

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sterling Bennett | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 11:05 AM ET

The Boston Red Sox have done a serviceable job patching the hole at first base after Triston Casas’ season-ending injury. Although Rafael Devers electing to take over the position was preferred, Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez are combining for a .281 batting average, five home runs, 19 RBIs, and a 0.3 WAR. Again, serviceable, if not surprising.

Despite the success of Toro and Gonzalez, Red Sox first basemen rank 25th in baseball, according to FanGraphs, including the short stints of Casas and Nick Sogard. As the trade deadline approaches, it is evident the Red Sox can improve the position.

While Diamondbacks' slugger Josh Naylor or Orioles’ Ryan O’Hearn would be tremendous acquisitions, NESN’s Jay Pritchard believes Boston should make a move for Colorado Rockies’ infielder Ryan McMahon as their deadline upgrade.

McMahon, 30, is primarily a third baseman but did spend time at first base through the first five years of his career. Though 75 games, McMahon is slashing .225/.311/.416 – all noticeably lower than the combined numbers of Toro and Gonzalez. Power is where McMahon makes up the difference. With 12 home runs and 25 RBIs, McMahon would become their best-hitting first baseman this season and the third-most home runs on the team.

McMahon is not just a slugger. He provides tremendous defense, especially at the hot corner, accumulating the second-most defensive runs saved among third basemen. Signed through 2027, McMahon will not come cheap, and prying players away from Colorado is never easy, but it is the insurance McMahon can provide that makes a deal worth considering.

Third baseman Alex Bregman has a player option for the 2026 season that he is not expected to exercise. With Devers now gone, Boston will do their best to retain Bregman, but if the two-time All-Star elects to leave, having McMahon, a former All-Star in his own right, on the roster cushions the potential blow.

The Red Sox deadline approach is unknown after the Devers trade. Will chief baseball officer Craig Breslow be aggressive or do just enough to keep the team afloat while preparing for a bigger free agency plan? For an organization currently in a transition period, acquiring McMahon might be the happy medium.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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