Boston Red Sox
Even after adding Curtis Mead, Boston could still use another thumper in the middle of its lineup.
Hunter Goodman would be an impact bat in the heart of Boston’s lineup. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
The Red Sox added some much-needed power to their lineup on Saturday night, acquiring infielder Curtis Mead from the Nationals in exchange for young southpaw starter Connelly Early.
It stands as a sizable gamble for the Red Sox, who are banking on both Mead’s breakout season in Washington being the norm moving forward and Boston’s own track record as of late when it comes to replacing Early with its improved pitching pipeline.
Mead — who clubbed 17 home runs in 87 games with the Nationals — should help a Red Sox team that is tied for last in MLB with just 98 home runs on the season.
But, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Red Sox aren’t ready to close up shop ahead of MLB’s trade deadline on August 3.
“The Red Sox are not expected to stop with this deal, either, continuing to consider larger deals for another bat, sources said,” Passan wrote early Sunday morning.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow wasn’t quite as definitive when it came to Boston’s next move.
“I think it’ll sound vague or basic if I were to say we’re going to continue to look at opportunities to upgrade the team, but I think that’s kind of where we are, and there are a few different paths to do that,” Breslow said Sunday at Fenway Park. “But it’s not quite clear how the market is going to materialize.”
Early, a promising young left-handed starter with years of team control, was one of Boston’s top trade chips entering the deadline.
But, if a revitalized Red Sox team is still in the market for another impact bat, Breslow and Co. could turn to other blue-chip prospects or younger players on the big-league roster to see if they can get another team to bite.
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, who else can the Red Sox target in hopes of turning Boston’s lineup from an Achilles heel into an area of strength down the stretch?
Hunter Goodman, C
Mead addresses some areas of need when it comes to both his infield versatility and especially his pop at the plate.
But, if there’s another position where the Red Sox could desperately use an upgrade, it’s at catcher — where Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong have combined for just four home runs on the season to this point.
And with A’s All-Star (and top trade chip) Shea Langeliers now potentially out for the season due to a torn meniscus, Hunter Goodman is the top power-hitting catcher on the market — one who would cost Boston a pretty penny to pry away from the Rockies.
The 26-year-old Goodman isn’t exactly the strongest defensive backstop, and he is prone to some high whiff and strikeout rates. But he’d be a welcome remedy for a Red Sox team that needs more batters who can golf pitches into the Monster seats.
After slugging 31 home runs in 2025, Goodman is already at 31 home runs through 98 games this season with Colorado — batting .260 and driving in 60 runs while earning his second-straight All-Star nod.
There’s always concern when it comes to how Rockies hitters who stuff the stat sheet fare when they leave the thin air in Colorado.
But, Goodman has been even better away from Coors Field so far in 2026.
Entering Sunday, Goodman was slashing .233/.310/.506 with 13 home runs in 48 games in Colorado. In 49 road games, he’s slashing .283/.351/.610 with 18 home runs.
If Boston is looking for a potential 35 or 40-home run regular in the middle of its lineup, Goodman is another tempting target to hone in on.
Mead is already a solid pick-up for a Red Sox team banking on upside and in desperate need of more power from the right side of the plate.
Acquiring a sure bet like Goodman — especially at a position of need at catcher — on top of Saturday’s move would go a long way toward transforming a significant part of Boston’s lineup moving forward.
Jeremy Pena, SS
Even though the Red Sox already added to their infield with Saturday’s trade for Mead, Boston could still look to upgrade a shortstop position that could use a lot more stability — especially in the midst of what is looking like a lost season for Trevor Story.
As appealing as a few younger options like Zach Neto or CJ Abrams might be, a gifted shortstop with just one more year of team control after 2026 in Jeremy Pena might be a more realistic target — one who might offer higher upside than a swing-first slugger like Neto.
Pena’s calling card for most of his career has been his steady defensive game, playoff heroics (2022 ALCS and 2022 World Series MVP), and speed on the basepaths. But, he’s also rounded out his game at the plate over the last few years — batting .304 with 17 home runs over 125 games last season before slashing .317/.373/.504 over 59 games in 2026.
A well-rounded shortstop like Pena who can get on base and swipe a few bags would bring plenty of value to the Red Sox, especially as a right-handed pull hitter.
Pena — who grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and played college baseball at the University of Maine — has a .349 batting average in 10 career games at Fenway Park.
Ryan Jeffers, C
Even with Langeliers now likely out of the equation — the Red Sox should have no shortage of catching targets to hone in on if they’re set on upgrading that position before the trade deadline, with Tyler Stephenson standing as another viable option behind the plate if Hunter Goodman isn’t moved or the cost is too high.
But Ryan Jeffers — a pending free agent who missed a significant portion of the 2026 season due to injury — could be a solid rental option for the Red Sox, especially if the cost is well below what it would take to add another player like Goodman.
Even with Jeffers only playing in 46 games this season after suffering a broken hamate bone, he already accumulated 2.1 WAR over that stretch — slashing .293/.395/.535 with nine home runs and 35 RBI.
He may not have the same raw power as Goodman, but Jeffers has been one of the better bat-first catchers in the majors over the last few seasons, especially when it comes to getting on base.
Fernando Tatis Jr., SS/RF
If the Red Sox really wanted to get aggressive over the next week-plus, could they make a compelling offer for a star player still in his prime like Tatis?
The Padres — mired in mediocrity with a lackluster lineup — are seemingly set to sell off pieces before the deadline, with stars like Mason Miller potentially on the move.
San Diego GM A.J. Preller would ideally want to clear some burdensome contracts off the Padres’ books like Xander Bogaerts, although that seems unlikely.
But with a new ownership group about to take over in San Diego, could the Padres be enticed to move Fernando Tatis — especially if a deep-pocketed team is willing to both offer up a sizable haul for him and take on the remaining eight years and over $260 million left on his deal?
That’s a lot of money to take on. But, Tatis is still a legitimate superstar talent who is just 27 years old.
Like many of his Padres teammates, Tatis has had a quieter season by his standards, but is still slashing .277/.346/.393 with eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 25 stolen bases. He’s also an elite defensive outfielder, although Boston already has a Gold Glover in right field with Wilyer Abreu.
When he’s dialed in, Tatis is a legitimate 40-40 threat and one of the more electrifying players in baseball.
Even with Abreu in place, Boston could shift Tatis over to shortstop to be Boston’s long-term stalwart in the infield — either making top prospect Franklin Arias expendable in the process or potentially slotting him over to second once he makes his big-league debut.
A blockbuster deal might for Tatis might be a bit of a reach, especially with San Diego still hovering around in the Wild Card race in the National League.
But, if the Red Sox are willing to be aggressive and flex some of their spending power, Tatis is the type of franchise fixture that you slot in atop your lineup for the next five-plus seasons and reap the subsequent rewards.
George Springer, DH/OF
If the Red Sox are just aiming for a short-term rental to add more pop and playoff mettle to their lineup, George Springer makes some sense if Toronto opts to sell.
The 36-year-old Springer — now in the final year of his contract — has labored in 2026 with the Blue Jays, batting just .233 with 11 home runs and 30 RBI over 75 games.
But, the Connecticut native and former UConn star has an extensive track record of postseason heroics and clutch moments — winning World Series MVP with the Astros in 2017 and playing a key role in the Blue Jays’ run to a World Series appearance in 2025.
He is also just a year removed from batting .309 with 32 home runs and 84 RBI with Toronto.
If the Red Sox think they can make some noise in a wide-open American League this October, adding a proven playoff performer who can add some pop from the right side of the plate in Springer makes sense.
The New England native has also thrived at Fenway Park over the years, slashing .320/.398/.541 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI over 50 career games at Boston’s ballpark.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
