1 last-minute trade Red Sox must make before deadline

August 1, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

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A little over a month ago, the Boston Red Sox were at the bottom of the American League and the 2026 season looked like an unmitigated disaster. They had lost two of three games to the Colorado Rockies and it appeared that general manager Craig Breslow could start preparing for the 2027 season.

But the script has most definitely been flipped. Despite a number of injuries that took stud pitcher Garrett Crochet out of the rotation and potential star Roman Anthony out of the lineup, the Red Sox reversed course and swept a four-game series from the New York Yankees. Shortly after that, the Red Sox tied a team record with a 15-game winning streak, and they have continued to play sharp baseball after the winning streak came to an end.

They have a 58-51 record and are in the No. 2 spot in the American League Wild Card race. They may not be done as they are attempting to chase down the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.

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Pitching has been the key to Boston’s success

The strength of the Red Sox has been their pitching staff. Even with the Crochet injury and the trade of young left-handed Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals, the starting pitchers have been quite effective. The bullpen, led by closer Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, has been elite this season.

However, there have been a number of holes in the lineup and the Red Sox can’t afford to sit quietly and stay with the overachieving players that have been performing well — particularly at shortstop and second base.

The biggest need is at shortstop, and Breslow needs to bring in a key player like Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels or Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins to take over the position from the surprising Andruw Monasterio.

Neto would give the Red Sox a significant upgrade

Monasterio has been in the lineup for Boston because starting shortstop Trevor Story underwent sports hernia surgery in May. There has been talk that he might be able to return some time in August, but the Red Sox cannot count on that.

Monasterio has delivered for the Red Sox, particularly with his bat. He is slashing .259/.319/.455 with 6 home runs and 23 RBI, and he delivered a number of big hits in the team’s brilliant performance in the month of July.

While the Red Sox are happy with Monasterio’s performance, they should make a move for a more accomplished shortstop.

The Red Sox would certainly be interested in C.J. Abrams of the Washington Nationals because he has blasted 27 home runs and could become a fixture in the middle of the lineup. However, he would likely cost two or three of the Red Sox best young prospects and there’s no need to mortgage the future.

That’s why the Red Sox should take a long look at Neto and make a significant offer to the Angels. Neto has had an excellent offensive season by current MLB standards. He is slashing .232/.324/.433 with 19 home runs and 46 runs batted in. He has struck out 149 times and that is concerning, but he has shown the kind of power that could make a huge difference in the lineup.

The Red Sox have been getting clutch hits throughout the month of July, but there have been significant holes in the lineup and they need to address them.

Trading a young pitcher and a minor league prospect — but not shortstop phenom Franklin Arias — would be a great move that could help the Red Sox get to the playoffs and perhaps have an impact in the postseason.

Lopez may be a strong shortstop alternative as well

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The Miami Marlins were having an excellent season through early July, but a 12-game losing streak dashed most of their hopes. However, the Marlins rebounded with a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies and they have a 55-55 record.

The Marlins are not in the National League playoff structure, but they are just 2.5 games behind the Diamondbacks and the Phillies. Those two teams are tied for the last two playoff spots in the National League. The point is the Marlins may feel they are still in the race and they may not want to go into sell mode.

But if they are willing to trade some of their assets, the Red Sox would be wise to go after Lopez. He is having a brilliant offensive season, slashing .322/.356/.484 with 9 home runs and 50 RBI. Lopez has also stolen 22 bases and struck out just 63 times — less than half as many as Zeto.

He could be the player that helps the Red Sox continue to write their improbable story and have it continue deep into the postseason.

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