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Red Sox Trade Idea Ships Starting Pitcher for Prospects

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sam Bernardi | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 1:30 PM ET

There is still plenty of time for the Boston Red Sox to right the ship.

A difficult start to the season has put the Red Sox at 29-33 and nine games back of the New York Yankees for the American League East lead. Boston is also four-and-a-half games back of the third Wild Card spot.

Should the Red Sox continue to underwhelm, they could become sellers at the trade deadline. It is a discouraging notion, considering the preseason hype surrounding this team, but not one without promise.

Jeff Passan of ESPN had this to say about their trade assets:

“The Red Sox shouldn't be under .500. Regardless of the wounds -- both external and self-inflicted -- they are replete with enough talent to secure an AL playoff spot. If the ugliness continues, though, turning an eye toward 2026 is on the table.”

“They’ve got an attractive array of players. [Walker] Buehler or Lucas Giolito for the rotation. Aroldis Chapman at the back end of the bullpen and Brennan Bernardino or Justin Wilson for teams in need of a left-handed reliever.”

Passan also mentioned the Los Angeles Dodgers as a potential fit for Buehler. Here is what a reunion could look like:

Red Sox receive: LHP Justin Wrobleski (No. 10), RHP Kyle Hurt (No. 20)

Dodgers receive: RHP Walker Buehler

Buehler is having a decent season, going 4-3 with a 4.44 ERA, a 4.73 FIP, and 42 strikeouts to 15 walks over 46 and 2/3 innings. However, he is on a one-year, $21.5 million deal, and Boston may look for organizational depth instead of losing him for nothing this offseason.

The Red Sox likely want to keep Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and perhaps rookie Hunter Dobbins around for the long haul. Giolito is another tempting trade piece, but Buehler’s history and familiarity with Los Angeles would make for a seamless fit.

Boston’s return package is headlined by Wrobleski, a highly-regarded prospect who has not quite put it all together, yet. He has struggled over his 10 career MLB outings with a 6.15 ERA and a 6.13 FIP, and those figures are not much better than his Triple-A output (5.31 ERA over 40 and 2/3 innings).

However, Wrobleski would also join a tantalizing group of Red Sox prospects with guys like Dobbins, Richard Fitts, and Luis Perales.

Hurt is a sweetener in this hypothetical deal, and despite his current injury, he impressed in Triple-A in 2024 with a 3.07 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 14 and 2/3 innings.

It is not an ideal situation for Boston, but one that could be necessary to avoid another season like 2025.

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

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