What the Red Sox are Shopping for on the Trade Market
It is no secret that the Boston Red Sox lineup has underperformed this season.
Entering Saturday, the Red Sox ranked 29th in both home runs (36) and runs scored (187). Their collective .679 OPS is better than only four other clubs, marking a steep drop-off from their top-10 production (.745 OPS) in 2025. It is a large reason why the club is off to a 22-28 start.
Despite their record, the Red Sox sit just two games out of the final American League Wild Card spot. Plenty of time remains before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but there appears to be a growing urgency to upgrade the lineup before then.
In a radio interview Friday, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy told WEEI's Greg Hill that the club is exploring trade possibilities. The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reported Saturday morning that Boston's preference is to add a right-handed hitter, though the club is looking to add any offense in general regardless of position.
Sam Kennedy asked on @TheGregHillShow if the Red Sox are trying to add a bat:
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) May 22, 2026
"There's been conversations going on earlier than ever before on that front… There's urgency and that's something that's important, and hopefully something that can be done earlier rather than later." pic.twitter.com/ybj8hwr9ec
While Jarren Duran has struggled and Roman Anthony is still on the injured list, Boston's outfield is likely too crowded for a major addition. Wilyer Abreu has been especially impressive, batting .295/.360/.442 through his first 49 games. The Red Sox have also gotten solid production from Ceddanne Rafaela, who ranks third on the team with a .777 OPS.
The most glaring needs are in the infield, with the exception of first baseman Willson Contreras, who leads the Red Sox in RBIs (31) and OPS (.869). Boston has gotten little production from Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, Caleb Durbin and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, each of whom entered the weekend with an OPS of .591 or lower.
Durbin, 26, has been a standout defender at third base, ranking in the 94th percentile for range (+4 OAA) and second in the AL with seven defensive runs saved. But he has struggled heavily at the plate, batting .166/.244/.241 with one home run in 162 plate appearances.
DURBIN WITH A SPINNING THROW TO NAB TURNER!? pic.twitter.com/rstdTqytV0
— NESN (@NESN) May 14, 2026
Boston has left Durbin out of the starting lineup in four of its past six games, giving recently recalled infielder Nick Sogard the nod against right-handed pitching. While it is too early to give up on the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year finalist, Durbin's role could be reduced further if a more consistent bat is found on the trade market.
The Red Sox are expected to be without Story for at least six weeks as he recovers from hernia surgery. While Mayer is expected to get the majority of reps at shortstop in his absence, Story's uncertain recovery timeline may increase Boston's urgency to add infield help.
It is not yet clear which teams will become sellers in the coming months, but a few struggling clubs worth watching are the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants. Each has right-handed-hitting infielders who could interest Boston, including Isaac Paredes, Zach Neto and Matt Chapman.
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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 1:06 PM.