Should Red Sox trade for former All-Star infielder?

"The Red Sox need to pivot, call the Nationals Paul Toboni, who left Boston, and go get CJ Abrams to play second base," Phillips said on  MLB Network Radio. "That's the move for the Boston Red Sox. He'll be a great second baseman. He's a bad shortstop. He'll be a very good second baseman. That's the move they need to make right now, didn't work out. They were in on Bregman, they were in on Bichette, they were in on Eugenio, they were in on Arenado, they were in on Donovan. Didn't get any of them now, go get CJ Abrams. Play them at second base, and you've got protection if you need it, at shortstop, that's where I go next. And you've got a connection there, like Heim Bloom has had with the Red Sox Toboni. He's got that relationship with the Red Sox too. He knows who he likes, what he wants. I think relationships matter in these deals, and I think that's the next pivot for Boston."

The Red Sox are thin with their options to start at second base, with Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, Nick Sogard and Kristian Campbell likely to get looks in spring training to see who can take the position. Campbell had the job last season, but underperformed in his first 67 games in the big leagues, batting .223 and having an OPS of .664. 

Red Sox trading for CJ Abrams may cost one of their top pitching prospects 

The Red Sox adding Abrams to fill out their infield would be beneficial for them, as he is only a couple of seasons removed from being an All-Star (2024). Abrams has the potential to be a productive bat in the lineup, showing the ability to hit home runs (career-high 20 in 2024), while also spraying the ball into the gaps and down the lines for doubles (35) and triples (five) in 2025. 

Abrams is a solid player, but the price tag to trade for him has been high, given his All-Star label and having three more years of control. He is in his first year of arbitration and will make $4.2 million in 2026 after agreeing with the Nationals on a deal. 

Since the price for trading for Abrams is high, the cost for the Red Sox may include one of their top pitching prospects, Payton Tolle, who ranks as the 19th-best prospect in baseball. Tolle wasn’t great in his seven appearances with Boston last season (6.06 ERA), but he can be an ace once he figures it out.