Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have been linked to several impact bats over the last few weeks.
Craig Breslow and the Red Sox are reportedly still on the prowl for an impact bat. Barry Chin/The Boston Globe
August 2, 2026 | 5:07 PM
7 minutes to read
The Red Sox have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the last month, closing out July with a record of 21-4.
But if Boston wants to carry momentum into the fall and make a run in a wide-open American League, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow likely will need to make another major move before MLB’s trade deadline at 6 p.m. Monday.
Breslow and Boston have already made one move — acquiring Curtis Mead from the Nationals in a one-for-one swap for Connelly Early. But, Mead’s season is now in jeopardy after fracturing his wrist in his Red Sox debut, and the case can be made that Boston was still in need of another bat or two even if Mead was healthy.
Given all of the smoke surrounding the Red Sox when it comes to their reported interest in several top players out on the trade market, Boston might have an appetite to orchestrate another blockbuster deal or two by Monday evening.
As MLB’s hot stove continues to heat up, follow along with us over the next few days as we post the latest updates of both the Red Sox’ trade deadline plans, as well as the top stories across baseball.
LIVE UPDATES
Sunday, August 2
5:55: Even a MLB manager like Chad Tracy acknowledged that it’s tough at times to tune out all of the noise that gets drummed up around this time of year on MLB’s calendar.
Chad Tracy, on the trade deadline: “I don’t have notifications on on any of that stuff. That would be a disaster.”
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) August 2, 2026
3:30: It looks as though the Yankees are also improving, as New York is reportedly acquiring Luis Garcia Jr. from Washington. Garcia is batting .283 with 23 home runs and 76 RBI this season, and should take advantage of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.
BREAKING: The New York Yankees are acquiring infielder Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals, sources tell ESPN. Garcia, 26, leads the National League in slugging percentage and is hitting .283/.313/.560 with 23 home runs. He’s under club control through end of 2027.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2026
2:00: One of the Red Sox’ top rivals in the AL East is loading up, as the Rays are acquiring starter Freddy Peralta from the Mets for a package of prospects.
The 30-year-old righty has struggled this year in New York (5-9, 4.99 ERA), but was one of the best pitchers in baseball during his time with the Brewers. The Rays — who sit atop the AL East — now add Peralta to a rotation that already boasts names like Drew Rasmussen and Shane McLanahan.
The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring right-hander Freddy Peralta in a trade with the New York Mets, sources tell ESPN. Rays get their starter, who joins Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan and Nick Martinez in one of the American League’s best rotation. First on news was @WillSammon.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2026
1:45: According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox likely aren’t going to be in the mix for Marlins star shortstop Otto Lopez. Miami reportedly took him off the market.
“According to multiple major league sources, the Marlins — who entered Sunday trailing the Phillies for the final wild card spot by just 1 1/2 games —are showing no inclination to move shortstop Otto Lopez, their All-Star who has hit .322/.355/.481 with nine homers, 44 extra-base hits, and 22 steals. Lopez remains under team control through 2029. The Sox have been engaged at various points — including in the past week — with the Marlins about Lopez, but Miami isn’t inclined to make everyone available,” Speier wrote.
But Speier — and Jon Morosi — noted that the Marlins might “consider” moving catcher Liam Hicks — who has posted a .283/.364/.434 line with 14 homers this year. The 27-year-old Hicks, who also DHs for Miami, has four more years of team control, so he’d cost a pretty penny.
Liam Hicks is a name to watch in the next 24 hours. The Marlins are engaged in trade conversations on him.
Hicks has an .800 OPS, but multiple contenders need catching and the Marlins are very high on a younger LHH catcher on their roster (Joe Mack).@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 2, 2026
Last week, ESPN’s Jeff Passan floated a potential blockbuster deal between the Red Sox and Marlins centered on acquiring both Lopez and Hicks as two impact bats for Boston’s lineup.
10:00 a.m.: Zach Neto has been linked to the Red Sox for a little over a year now as a power-hitting shortstop with years of team control still in place. Even with his high whiff rate, Neto would cost a lot to pry him from Los Angeles, per the Globe’s Tim Healey.
“With two days until the deadline, the Sox continued to face a significant asking price from the Angels in their ongoing talks about shortstop Zach Neto,” Healey wrote. “The Angels seek shortstop Franklin Arias, a source said, to headline a package that would include other prospects.
“Neto, 25, has hit .247/.320/.450 — solidly above-average — over the past three seasons but rates poorly on defensive range statistics. He comes with an additional three years of contractual control, through 2029, so the Angels are under little pressure to trade him — unless a club gives them what they want. Arias, 20, ranked by Baseball America as the No. 3 prospect overall, has hit well over a week-plus since being promoted to Triple-A Worcester. He started at second base for a second game in a row Saturday.”
Franklin Arias has now homered twice in his first 6 games at Triple-A.
Up to 21 now in only 81 games between both levels. pic.twitter.com/a7xA7m3LgB
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) July 31, 2026
Saturday, August 1
11:55: Well, the rich get richer.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Dodgers have won the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes — acquiring the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and adding him to already one of the best rotations in baseball.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring Tarik Skubal for outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-hander River Ryan and right-hander Brady Smith, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2026
Per Passan, outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-hander River Ryan and right-hander Brady Smith are going to Detroit. It’s a pretty underwhelming return, given that Hope is the only top-50 prospect dealt in the trade, per MLB Pipeline’s rankings.
In 16 starts with the Tigers this season, Skubal is 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 96.2 innings. The southpaw joins a rotation that already includes names like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Gasnow, and many others.
The Dodgers sure look like a wagon as they attempt a three-peat in October.
10:00: The Mariners, a team that fell just a game short of the World Series last year, seem to be selling off pieces in what has been a major step back for them. Luis Castillo, who has seemingly been mentioned in trade talks with the Red Sox for years, is heading to the White Sox for reliever Seranthony Domínguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith.
Per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, the White Sox will absorb all of the remaining money on Luis Castillo’s contract in the trade. So, a pro-rated portion of $22.75M this year and $22.75M next year.
BREAKING: The Chicago White Sox are acquiring right-hander Luis Castillo in a trade with the Seattle Mariners for reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2026
7:20: Franklin Arias might be the best asset for the Red Sox if they want to acquire an impact player by Monday evening. But, Boston is being selective as far as who would actually move the needle in a potential deal for their top prospect.
CJ Abrams 2nd half home runs in:
2025 in 62 games: 7 HR
2026 in 14 games: 8 HR ‼️
Abrams has been on a different planet since the All-Star break! https://t.co/mw19UAWOei
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 1, 2026
“One rival executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity to be candid, said he believes the Red Sox might only trade Arias for the Washington Nationals’ CJ Abrams,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey wrote on Saturday. “The Red Sox are not necessarily as high on other shortstops who’ve been linked to the team, such as the Los Angeles Angels’ Zach Neto and Miami Marlins’ Otto Lopez. Abrams is under club control for two additional seasons, Neto and Lopez for three.”
Arias, who is already making an impact at Triple-A Worcester at just 20 years old, could be Boston’s potential franchise fixture at short as soon as next season. But, the 25-year-old Abrams is an intriguing fit. Abrams is batting .290 with 28 home runs and 85 RBI so far this season with the Nationals.
7:00: Well, the Red Sox sure seem to be leaving no stone unturned when it comes to big fish out on the market.
According to MassLive’s Sean McAdam, Boston made a hefty offer for Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz — but the prospect-heavy package was not enough to entice Cincy, who is reportedly looking for more young major-league talent in any swap.
“The Red Sox told the Reds that they weren’t willing to subtract from their major league roster in order to make a deal,” McAdam wrote.
Elly De La Cruz records his third double of the night to put himself in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied pic.twitter.com/JhXAg9Rbzt
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 31, 2026
De la Cruz, 24, would fit the bill as a franchise shortstop and star talent for the Red Sox — blending speed (67 steals in 2024) with plenty of pop and high hit tools. He is also under team control for another three seasons after this current campaign.
Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic added that the Red Sox were also interested in Reds starter Hunter Greene, who has been hindered this season while returning from injury. In 2024 and 2025, the talented righty had a combined 16-9 record, a 2.75 ERA, and 301 strikeouts over 258 innings of work.
3:00: One minor move for the Red Sox, as Boston is sending lefty pitcher Jojo Ingrassia to the Tigers as the player to be named later to complete the Jahmai Jones trade. Jones has been a solid pickup for Boston, especially as a platoon option in the outfield who can hit against lefties.
1:30: He may not be as flashy of a name at this stage of his career, but CBS Sports has tabbed George Springer as a potential target for Boston.
“One destination that interests Springer, according to a source familiar with his thinking, is Boston,” CBS Sports’ Julian McWilliams noted, adding: “The Red Sox have interest, but only under the right circumstances.”
Springer, 36, is having a tough year for the Blue Jays, batting .237 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI over 81 games this season. But, the slugging outfielder/DH played a key role in Toronto’s run to a World Series appearance last year, and has dominated at Fenway Park over the years.
In 51 games at Boston’s ballpark, he’s slashing .323/.400/.540 with a .940 OPS and 10 home runs.
1:00: According to Julian McWilliams of CBS Sports, the Red Sox are willing to trade outfielder Jarren Duran before Monday’s trade deadline, noting that the outfielder still has some semblance of a market despite his poor play this season.
“Despite Duran’s struggles this season, he is still believed to have a market, though not nearly the one he would have commanded had Boston moved him at last year’s trade deadline,” McWilliams wrote. “The Padres, who have long been linked to Duran, remain in the market for a left-handed-hitting outfielder, making them a logical fit.
12:00: In terms of primers for deadline coverage, here’s a look at some names still out on the trade market that Boston can target, as well as some of Boston’s top trade chips — headlined by blue-chip prospect Franklin Arias and other prospects like Anthony Eyanson.
Anthony Eyanson struck out 10 and generated 19 whiffs in less than 5 innings in Portland tonight.
4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 Ks pic.twitter.com/9NxhasnfiA
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) July 31, 2026
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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