Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox still have several blue-chip prospects and young big-leaguers they could move in a blockbuster deal.
Franklin Arias could net a major return in a trade for Boston. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
The Boston Red Sox already added a potential impact bat to their lineup this weekend after trading Connelly Early to the Nationals in exchange for slugging infielder Curtis Mead.
But with MLB’s trade deadline set for Monday, Aug. 3, it seems as though Craig Breslow and the Red Sox are still on the prowl for more upgrades — especially now that Mead’s availability this season might be in doubt after he fractured his wrist in his debut with Boston on Monday night.
Even if Mead makes a return to the lineup at some point before the end of this year, Boston could still use another impact bat to help bolster an offense that ranks 29th in home runs (100) and 25th in runs scored (445).
But if Boston wants to add a slugger at the catcher position or plans to add a game-changing talent at shortstop like Miami’s Otto Lopez or Washington’s CJ Abrams, Craig Breslow and Boston’s top brass are going to have to give up a hefty package of prospects or young MLB talent to facilitate such a blockbuster deal.
With MLB’s trade deadline now less than a week away, here’s a look at some of the top trade chips at Breslow’s disposal if Boston wants to swing for the fences with a major deal.
Franklin Arias
If the Red Sox are seriously trying to add an impact bat and franchise fixture, potential sellers will likely focus in on Boston’s top prospect: Franklin Arias.
Arias — who ranks as the No. 7 prospect in baseball in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list — has all the makings of a future franchise shortstop, with strong defensive instincts and strong bat-to-ball skills.
Arias’ surge in power has also elevated his stock this year, with the 20-year-old shortstop batting .318 with 17 doubles, 19 home runs, and 52 RBI over 75 games with Double-A Portland before getting called up to Triple-A Worcester this past weekend.
Arias may not be ready for a call-up this September. But, there’s a good chance that the gifted youngster could be fighting for a regular role in Boston’s lineup at some point in 2027.
As is the case with every blue-chip prospect, the Red Sox will have to weigh whether or not Arias’ potential is worth holding onto — especially if dealing him brings in a player with proven production like Abrams or Lopez.
Marcelo Mayer
In an ideal scenario, the Red Sox would likely be more willing to move on from a talented young player like Marcelo Mayer as one of the centerpieces of a major deal — especially with Arias waiting in the wings.
Unfortunately, Arias has largely leapfrogged the 23-year-old Mayer in terms of trade value, with Mayer’s stock slipping after an underwhelming year so far in the majors.
In 70 games so far this season, Mayer is batting .220 with three home runs and 22 RBI over 70 games — and is currently sidelined with a bone stress reaction in his left forearm that has kept him out of the lineup since late June.
Concerns over Mayer’s durability and his potential to be at least a league-average bat in the majors are rather evident, with Boston also reportedly having questions over Mayer’s focus and approach both at and away from the ballpark.
A former top prospect like Mayer who might need a change of scenery would still likely hold some appeal to teams as part of a trade. But whereas Mayer might be the headliner in a major swap just a year or so, he might now just be part of a larger package required to get a deal done.
Payton Tolle
After dealing away one talented lefty in Early in order to bring in Curtis Mead, could Boston move another promising young starter in Payton Tolle?
Tolle, 23, would likely net a sizable return, given his profile as a power pitcher who has already put together strong returns in the big leagues (6-6, 3.32 ERA, 103 strikeouts over 95 innings) and has the makings of a future top-line starter.
But, if the Red Sox believe that their recent track record of cultivating and developing top pitching will continue, perhaps they might be at least willing to move one of their top young assets — especially if such a deal allows them to add a much-needed thumper to the lineup.
Even with Boston’s burgeoning pitching pipeline, Tolle would likely be the one arm that Breslow and his staff would be the most pained over moving — even for an impact player.
Jake Bennett
The emergence of Jake Bennett likely played a part in why Boston was willing to move Connelly Early in a one-for-one swap for Curtis Mead.
But, Bennett’s strong debut with the Red Sox this season (6-4, 2.72 ERA, 0.97 WHIP) could also make him a young pitcher that Boston could try to sell high on — especially if it allows Craig Breslow and Co. to protect a pitcher like Payton Tolle in a major deal.
Bennett — acquired by Boston in December 2025 as part of a deal with Washington for fellow prospect Luis Perales — may not have as much swing-and-miss stuff as other young arms in Boston’s rotation like Tolle.
But, the 6-foot-6 southpaw has a very high ceiling as an innings-eating stalwart who can befuddle hitters with a strong pitch mix and avoids putting himself in bad spots with strong command.
Jake Bennett’s fourth strikeout is a DISGUSTING changeup. He is cruising with only 77 pitches through 6 innings!
1-0 Athletics, T7. pic.twitter.com/ZDt27yeXyj
— John Martinello (@martinello_john) July 29, 2026
Anthony Eyanson
Boston’s trade capital when it comes to arms might be headlined by big-leaguers like Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett.
But, the Red Sox also have a rapidly ascending pitcher in their farm system in righty Anthony Eyanson.
Selected in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft, Eyanson has made an immediate impact in his first full season of pro ball, as concerns about his velocity were alleviated after working with Boston’s pitching personnel.
After a dominant stint with Single-A Salem to open the year (0.44 ERA over five starts), Eyanson is sporting a 1.45 ERA across 10 appearances (nine starts) with Double-A Portland, recording 50 strikeouts in 43.1 innings of work.
There’s a lot to like about the future of Boston’s rotation, especially if three of the Red Sox’ five starting spots are eventually occupied by the likes of Tolle, Bennett, and Eyanson.
But, much like how Boston ultimately viewed Early as an expendable asset amid a glut of promising pitching, a talented arm like Eyanson could be moved for the right price.
Roman Anthony
As much as this season has been a massive disappoint for Roman Anthony, the 22-year-old outfielder is still regarded as the future face of Boston’s franchise.
When healthy, Anthony has all of the makings of a legitimate All-Star talent and on-base machine who should be anchored at the top of the Red Sox lineup for years to come.
But, if the Red Sox wanted to put all their cards on the table in pursuit of a legitimate superstar talent, could Anthony be in play?
Anthony’s tantalizing upside and the security afforded by the eight-year, $130 million contract he signed last summer would make him the type of player that just about every team in baseball would line up to pay an astronomical price for.
But, is there even a realistic trade target out there that would entice the Red Sox to move on from their star outfielder? Unless a legitimate MVP candidate like Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. somehow hit the market, dealing Anthony feels like a non-starter for Boston.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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