Boston Red Sox
“Boston could kill two birds with one stone and get a Lopez-Liam Hicks package.”
Craig Breslow and the Red Sox are on the prowl for more lineup help. (Photo by: Barry Chin/Globe Staff)
July 30, 2026 | 6:42 PM
3 minutes to read
With MLB’s trade deadline rapidly approaching (6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3), Craig Breslow and the Red Sox continue to be linked to some of the top impact bats floated out on the market.
Even though Boston jumped the gun on the trade-deadline frenzy by acquiring Curtis Mead from the Nationals in a one-for-one swap involving Connelly Early, the Red Sox have plenty more work to do.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Mead’s status for the remainder of the 2026 season might be in jeopardy — with the slugging infielder suffering a broken wrist after getting hit by a pitch in his first game with Boston on Monday.
But even if Mead was healthy and producing in the heart of Boston’s lineup, there was a valid case to be made that the Red Sox could use another thumper or two in a lineup that ranks 29th in baseball in home runs (102) and 25th in runs scored (449).
As such, ESPN’s Jeff Passan tabbed the Red Sox as one of the teams that expects to be “going big” between now and Monday’s trade deadline — stressing that the Red Sox’ top priorities include upgrades at shortstop, catcher, and in the bullpen.
Despite the steep cost, Passan mapped out a potential scenario in which Boston crosses two of those deadline needs off their to-do list in one deal — noting that the Red Sox could try to orchestrate a blockbuster deal with the Marlins that includes both shortstop Otto Lopez and catcher Liam Hicks.
“Miami is open to dealing anyone but right-handers Eury Perez and Sandy Alcantara. Boston could kill two birds with one stone and get a Lopez-Liam Hicks package, though with the amount of control for each — three more years for Lopez, four more for Hicks — the cost would be painful,” Passan wrote. “Maybe it’s Marcelo Mayer and pitching.
“Or perhaps the Red Sox, knowing that covering two vital positions in one fell swoop is a rare opportunity, center a package on shortstop wunderprospect Franklin Arias, who in his third Triple-A game homered off Chris Bassitt, he of 1,300 big league innings.”
Even with the sizable price that the Red Sox would have to pay to reel in Lopez and Hicks, both players would stand as immediate upgrades for a Boston team that is looking to take advantage of a wide-open American League.
Lopez doesn’t exactly have the profile of a potent power threat, but the 27-year-old shortstop fits what the Red Sox might be looking for in a dynamic leadoff hitter with elite bat-to-ball skills and strong defensive play.
Lopez has been a force this season with the Marlins, batting .329 with 27 doubles, nine home runs, and 50 RBI with 22 steals across 105 games. Lopez is also a plus defender at short — ranking in the 93rd percentile of range, according to Baseball Savant, while posting six outs above average.
Otto Lopez is a much different profile than Neto or Pena, but he’d become a fan favorite in Boston. Gamer.
If you didn’t like that Mead was DFA’d… you won’t like Lopez. DFA’d twice.
Leads MLB in BA. 17th in OPS. 95th percentile OAA. 22/25 SB. FA in 2030 pic.twitter.com/JU3zEgoYE8
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) July 28, 2026
If Boston is looking for a bit more pop in their lineup, a player like Hicks would also fit the bill.
The 27-year-old Toronto native is batting .279 with 14 home runs and 60 RBI this season. With A’s slugger Shea Langeliers potentially out for the season and the Rockies reportedly setting a high price for Hunter Goodman, Hicks stands as an appealing contingency plan for a team looking to add more power at the catcher spot.
As much as the Red Sox would have to deplete their farm system and crop of young big leaguers to reel off a trade like this, Boston does have several blue-chip talents that it could part with to get such a deal done with Miami.
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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