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Red Sox Trade Idea Moves Young and Versatile OF to Replace Jose Siri

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated May 15, 2025 4:15 PM ET

The Boston Red Sox have to understand what they have with Ceddanne Rafaela, one of the worst hitters in Major League Baseball. While his offensive production hasn’t been much of anything over the first few years of his career, Rafaela plays an elite defense in the outfield and offers flexibility in the middle infield.

If the Red Sox want to move on from him in the next few months, it should come before the trade deadline. Waiting until the offseason to make a move on the 24-year-old wouldn’t make much sense unless nobody wants him around the league.

However, for his defensive versatility alone, a team should be interested in giving him a chance.

Bleacher Report recently proposed the idea of the New York Mets trading for him, and it makes perfect sense. The Mets need an outfielder, and with him being as good as he is defensively out there, he’d be an ideal addition in Queens.

“The Phillies, Mets and Tigers should all at least kick the tires on a possible trade for Rafaela, while the Diamondbacks, Astros and Guardians—who entered play this past Friday with a combined zero home runs from center fielders—would perhaps engage in a battle royale of a bidding war.

“Rafaela can also play either middle infield position, so it might actually be quicker to list the teams who wouldn’t be interested if he and his team-friendly contract hit the trade block,” Miller wrote.

Rafaela is currently hitting .242 with an 87 OPS+ and two home runs.

The Mets, or any other team that would want to trade for him, shouldn’t expect much more. Still, there are other reasons to be interested in them.

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

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