The Boston Red Sox are not out of any playoff race yet. This year’s team currently sits at 40-40, six games out of the American League East division, and just a game and a half out of the last wild card spot. Of course, this roster recently went through a major shake-up as the franchise dealt three-time All-Star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. 

The Red Sox traded one of the best hitters in the league, partially due to the offseason drama around the third base position. Boston signed two-time All-Star Alex Bregman before the 2025 season, which caused an uproar from Devers, who was also in the same position. 

So far, the Red Sox’s newest third baseman has been highly productive in his 51 games of action. Bregman is dealing with a right quad strain, which has kept him out since late May but is inching closer toward his return. However, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan believe that the 31-year-old could be on the trading block. 

The two MLB columnists compiled a list of the league’s 50 best trade candidates before the deadline. While, unsurprisingly, Red Sox outfielder Jarren Durran was included near the top of this list, Bregman came in at No. 1. The ESPN list assessed that the chances of the Red Sox’s dealing their newest star are at 10% but gave the following explanation on Bregman’s spot on the list. 

“Bregman has been an elite big league hitter since he entered the league in 2016, but has leaned more into power this year, with his highest isolated power since 2019,” the article argued. 

“Most of his underlying power indicators (barrel rate, maximum exit velo, average launch angle, and hard hit rate) are at career highs. His $40 million salary -- and the chance to opt into two more years at $40 million annually -- significantly shortens the list of teams that would take on his deal.”

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With all that has happened, it would be an odd move for the Red Sox to move on from Bregman now. Despite his contract situation, the third baseman certainly would demand a lot in return. In particular, for Bregman, Boston could get back a haul from teams like the New York Yankees or Detroit Tigers, who both need upgrades in the infield. But, for now, despite the two-time World Series winner’s spot on the list, the odds of him being dealt before July 31 are still slim.

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