Red Sox Rumors: 4 Big Names Surface As Trade Candidates

The Boston Red Sox continue to wallow around in last place in the AL East, and rumors are brewing about a sell-off come the trade deadline next month. The BoSox are 14.5 games back in the division and 5.0 games back in the Wild Card.

MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal said on The Fenway Rundown podcast that it's "more than likely" that some prominent names on expiring contracts will be moved if the team doesn't turn things around quick. 

"At this point, the fans are upset enough where if you did that, are you going to upset them that much more? Team is not very good," said Rosenthal.

Here are four names in particular, he opined, that could be dealt:

Adam Duvall

The 34-year-old slugger was a great last-minute free agent add by the Sox on a one-year deal, as he started the season on a world-beating tear, leading the MLB in slugging and OPS. But he's just back now from a two-month absence from a fractured wrist. He's still sporting a .333 average with an 1.139 OPS, and if he can regain his stroke, he could fetch a nice return from a team looking for offense in the outfield.

Kike Hernandez

A 10-year veteran, Kike is hitting in the .220s with an OPS+ about 25% worse than league average for the second straight season. With Trevor Story seemingly set to return from the IL in the second half, Hernandez won't be needed at shortstop any longer, and he simply doesn't provide the lineup spark that he used to.

Kenley Jansen

He signed a two-year, $32M deal with Boston in the offseason, and with 14 saves already, he'll have interest around the league, says Rosenthal. “He’s got another year (on his contract) and Jansen will have value. Probably value to his former team (the LA Dodgers), by the way. They could do that."

James Paxton

The Big Maple has surprised with his impressive comeback to the mound since arriving about a month ago. He's surrendered two runs or less in five of his six starts, with a 3.09 ERA. It's the 34-year-old's first sustained MLB run since 2019, but it's looking like he's back. Teams will come a-calling. 

Will the BoSox tear it down at the end of July? “The average Red Sox fan would not want to sit there and watch two more months of what they’ve been watching,” concludes Rosenthal.

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