Report: Red Sox' Refusal To Trade 1 Player Holding Up Trade For Dylan Cease
According to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, the Red Sox have "no intention" of including Abreu in any potential deal, making a trade for Cease "a long shot." The Padres are open to moving Cease, who will earn $13.7 million in 2025 before hitting free agency, but their asking price remains steep.
Without Abreu in the deal, San Diego would likely demand a package of top prospects, which Boston has also been reluctant to entertain. Meanwhile, other teams, including the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles, remain in the mix, making it increasingly likely that Cease starts the season in San Diego.
Hear me out.
— Evan K (@SoxAndCoffee) February 13, 2025
Its time to over pay for a year of Dylan Cease.
A package of Wilyer Abreu, Kutter Crawford, Mikey Romero, and Triston Casas gets you another Ace in this rotation.
This is a huge overpay, but the organization wouldn’t feel it at all.
Abreu turns to Roman
Kutter… pic.twitter.com/k0JZaRec3w
Boston sees Abreu as too valuable to part with, given his breakout rookie season in which he hit 15 home runs with a .781 OPS and won a Gold Glove.
The 25-year-old finished sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting and is under team control for five more seasons, making him a key piece of the Red Sox’s future.
Trading a cost-controlled outfielder for a one-year rental in Cease, who is expected to test free agency with Scott Boras as his agent, doesn’t align with Boston’s long-term plans.
"It’s easy to see why the Red Sox are hesitant," Bradford noted, adding that there is "no urgency" to meet San Diego’s demands, especially with the team already bolstering its rotation by adding Walker Buehler, Garrett Crochet, and Patrick Sandoval.
Wilyer Abreu’s 50.5% Hard-Hit% was top 6% in Major League Baseball.
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) January 11, 2025
He does this with borderline elite bat speed at 74.6 MPH (top 15%)
Launch Angle soared from 11.9 °📈19.2 ° and his Con%, O-Con%, and Z Con% all improved.
I like him to take another step forward.#DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/3zjbK6b9hI
Despite missing the playoffs for three straight years, the Red Sox appear content to move forward with their current roster rather than overpay for a short-term upgrade.
With multiple teams still interested in Cease, the Red Sox’s stance has made it unlikely he will land in Boston, barring a significant change in approach from either side.
Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
