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Red Sox Linked With Four Hitters Ahead Of Trade Deadline

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With the 2024 MLB trade deadline just a week away, rumors are heating up regarding some of the league’s best players. Organizations usually have three choices when approaching the deadline: buy, sell, or stand pat. Despite a four-game losing streak, it seems like the Boston Red Sox will attempt to buy, or at least somewhat, by July 30. And although pitching is the club’s first need, another bat in the lineup would definitely help as well. The Athletic baseball writers Tim Britton and Aaron Gleeman released an article on Tuesday on “The top 50 players who could be dealt” this season. They linked five pieces to the Red Sox ahead of the deadline, four of whom are hitters. Although some are more likely to be moved than others, it’s worth a look into how each would look in a Red Sox uniform. Here are the four hitters Britton and Gleeman tagged to Boston, and how the organization would go about acquiring them.

Baseball Writers Link Four Hitters To Red Sox For 2024 Trade Deadline

Bo Bichette – SS – Toronto Blue Jays – UFA 2026

Bo Bichette, according to Britton and Gleeman, was ranked as the fourth-best piece that could be on the move at the deadline. The shortstop signed a 3-year, $33.6 million deal in 2023, leaving him under contract until the end of the 2025 season. After starting his career with five consecutive years above a .800 OPS, Bichette looks like a shell of himself in 2024. He has just a .223 average and .597 OPS in 79 contests this season. His 70 OPS+ is nearly half of his previous career low. Bichette batted .299 with 89 homers, 312 RBI, and a .826 OPS in his first five campaigns.

Bichette’s struggles in 2024 have been coupled with multiple injuries. He’s currently on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain. It’s the second time Bichette has hit the IL with that injury, with the first coming just a month prior. Over the last year, he’s had issues with his right knee, quad, and calf. Bichette’s most recent stint started on July 20, meaning a return wouldn’t occur until after the deadline. 

Bichette’s struggles will most certainly bring his overall price down, but he still won’t be cheap. It’s more likely that the Blue Jays look to move him over someone like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., meaning Bichette is Toronto’s potential biggest trade chip. Any team that trades for the 26-year-old will almost certainly try to extend the shortstop before his contract concludes. Bichette has just under one and a half years left on his current deal and, in 2024, has posted just 0.2 WAR.

The Decision

Should Boston check in and at least inquire about Bichette’s price? Sure, that definitely makes sense. But should the Red Sox actually do this? No. A currently injured shortstop is all too familiar to the organization, with Trevor Story out for the year. The big splash for Boston shouldn’t be a batter. If the Red Sox somehow acquired Bichette, he would represent the bulk of what the club brings in at the deadline. And he would potentially cost one of Boston’s top three prospects, who all represent the future of its organization. Red Sox fans: take a pass on this one. Bichette impressed in his first five years, but coupling his price and current situation doesn’t make much sense. 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. – CF/2B – Miami Marlins – UFA 2027

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was next highest on The Athletic’s list, coming in at No. 16. He’s batted across the Marlins lineup in 2024 and is arbitration-eligible through the 2026 season. Chisholm is in the midst of a campaign that sits just below most of his career-average numbers. The 26-year-old is batting .246 with 13 homers, 12 doubles, and 19 stolen bases while posting a .731 OPS in 2024. Miami will most certainly be selling after an abysmal start to this season. Chisholm headlines a multitude of available Marlins.

The Bahamas native has never played more than 124 games in a season, which he did in 2021. As of Tuesday, Chisholm is sitting at 97 contests, the same as last year. Injuries have plagued his five-season career. After spending his first three years exclusively in the infield, Chisholm has played mostly in the outfield in 2023 and 2024. His defensive versatility is enticing for organizations that could use someone at multiple positions. Chisholm would decently fit into the Red Sox outfield and middle-infield rotation. 

He’s been much better this season when playing away from Miami, a positive sign for any trade suitor. Chisholm is batting .276 outside of Florida with a .769 OPS. It’s unclear exactly what the Marlins are looking for in return for him, and his reputation around the league isn’t the best. Chisholm hasn’t been able to eclipse his strong 2022 season when he became an All-Star for the first time and posted a career-high OPS of .860.

The Decision

This one makes more sense for the Red Sox than a trade for Bichette, but it still isn’t a perfect situation. A left-handed bat is always welcomed at the trade deadline, but Chisholm’s inability to improve over the last two years is somewhat glaring. He’s never had a WAR over 2.5 for any year and gets on base under 33% of the time in 2024. Is Chisholm cheap enough where this may make sense? Potentially. But should Boston jump head over heels into this deal? Probably not. Red Sox fans: it’s fine to look into this one but proceed with caution. It’s really unclear just how much a move like this would actually help the organization.

J.D. Martinez – DH – New York Mets – UFA 2025

J.D. Martinez is the first former Red Sox player linked to the organization, coming in at No. 29. He spent five years in Boston from 2018-2022, a period that included a World Series title in 2018. Out of the six teams Martinez has been a member of, he spent the most on the Red Sox. Since leaving Boston, he headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 and joined the New York Mets in 2024. Signed to a $12 million contract in an age-36 season, Martinez is still kicking. He’s batting .264 with a .794 OPS, 10 homers, 40 RBI, and 15 doubles. Those numbers are below his 2023 statistics where he had a near-.900 OPS, 33 home runs, and 103 RBI.

Martinez’s five years in Boston were very strong. He batted .292 with 130 homers and 423 RBI in nearly 640 games with the club. Martinez struggled in the shortened 2020 season but had an OPS+ above 115 in every other campaign. He led the league in RBI with 130 in 2018, batting .330 in 150 matchups. Martinez has proven his durability, even at his current age. New York’s trade deadline mentality is still up in the air, but the organization very likely won’t be heavy buyers. Martinez’s availability has something to do with how the Mets play over the next seven days.

Martinez has only appeared as a DH in 2024, handcuffing his versatility. The Red Sox currently have Masataka Yoshida as their designated hitter and have made it clear that’s where they plan on keeping him. Acquiring Martinez would mean one of two things: a platoon occurs between the two, or Yoshida returns to a corner outfield position. But his bat is proven. That shouldn’t be a concern for any potential trade partner of New York.

The Decision

There are plenty of success stories when players return to previous organizations at the trade deadline. Martinez has money attached, but that goes away after this season. It really comes down to whether Boston wants to add another designated hitter to the fray. With the return of first baseman Triston Casas still unclear, it may make sense to bring in another power bat to help bridge the gap. Red Sox fans: you should be very intrigued by this, but keep in mind his handcuffed position. Boston should check in, and probably make an offer, on its former star.

Justin Turner – DH/CI – Blue Jays – UFA 2025

Another former Boston player, Justin Turner, rounds out the hitters linked to the Red Sox at the deadline, coming in at No. 48. The 39-year-old played the 2023 season in Beantown, batting .276 with 23 home runs and 96 RBI. He signed with the Blue Jays on a one-year, $13 million deal heading into 2024. That contract hasn’t fully lived up to its expectations, with Toronto well under .500 and Turner batting just .228 with five homers. Through 83 games, it seems like the corner infielder will not be able to match his previous campaign.

As we’ve seen plenty of times, a change of scenery can do a lot to lock a player back in. That rings even more true when it would leave the hitter in a familiar spot. There are obvious glaring issues that have popped up this season with Turner’s game. His slugging percentage sits at .337 compared to his .455 from last campaign, a severe dropoff. Turner’s OPS+ is below 100 for the first time since 2012, and he currently leads the league by grounding into 15 double plays. That’s a lot of undesirable statistics.

However, in what may be the final year of Turner’s career, he has shown flashes of his former self. He batted nearly .370 towards the beginning of the season from April 6 to April 26. It’s been his only hot stretch of the current season, but it remains something for organizations to think about when considering trading for the veteran. Turner’s price won’t be high due to his current production and .666 OPS.

The Decision

This may not seem like the greatest idea, but the fit makes some sense in Boston. Turner adds a familiar face to a lineup that doesn’t necessarily need a star added. He could play third or first base at any point. Although filling in for Rafael Devers hopefully won’t be needed, creating a platoon with Dominic Smith at the other corner is a viable option. With what it would cost the Red Sox, there isn’t much risk in this move. If you want to make a splash, this isn’t it. Red Sox fans: grabbing Turner on a low-risk transaction could ignite a fire into the veteran’s bat. There’s no saying that would actually happen, but it may be worth the try. Don’t make this your biggest acquisition, but don’t simply rule it out from the start.

 

Photo Credit: © David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

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