On June 22, the Boston Red Sox were 31-45 and looked like a team preparing to sell. Today they’re 53-49, holding the second AL wild card spot, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale lists them among the five most aggressive buyers ahead of the August 3 deadline. A 19-2 run — including 15 straight wins — completely flipped the script. Now chief baseball officer Craig Breslow faces the biggest pressure test of his tenure.
From Sellers to Buyers in Under 40 Days
This is one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the American League this season. Boston closed July on a 19-2 tear that launched them from the bottom of the wild card race to second place. This isn’t a minor expectation adjustment — it’s a total role reversal in the trade market.
The buying power comes largely from the prospect capital Boston accumulated after trading Rafael Devers in the summer of 2025. The question isn’t whether Breslow has the assets to deal — it’s whether he’ll actually pull the trigger. His track record at the last two deadlines doesn’t inspire confidence: Danny Jansen posted just 0.1 fWAR in 30 games in 2024, and Dustin May went -0.3 fWAR in 6 games in 2025. Neither moved the needle.
The Biggest Hole: Shortstop
The most glaring roster need is shortstop. Trevor Story has played only 41 games in 2026 due to a sports hernia, and when he has been available, he’s posted a .547 OPS — backup numbers, not what a playoff-chasing team needs from its starting shortstop. That gap is pushing Breslow to look outside.
According to reports from Boston.com and Sports Illustrated, three names are on Boston’s radar:
- CJ Abrams (Washington Nationals): .286 AVG, 24 HR, 76 RBI in 99 games — the most exciting profile, but Washington is in wild card contention and may not sell.
- Zach Neto (Los Angeles Angels): .238 AVG, 19 HR, 46 RBI — the most realistic target given the Angels’ situation.
- Shea Langeliers (Athletics): .277 AVG, 31 HR — would address another lineup need, though Sacramento may hold onto him with the Las Vegas move on the horizon in 2028.
All three have more than two and a half years of control remaining, which makes them valuable — and expensive to acquire.
What Boston Needs to Make a Real Run
Nightengale places the Red Sox alongside the Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers, and Rays as the most active teams before the deadline closes. That’s serious company — and direct competition for the same available players.
The margin is thin. FanGraphs had Boston’s playoff probability at 58.2% before the hot streak took off, meaning the cushion is far from comfortable. If the young rotation starts showing innings fatigue and no impact acquisition arrives, this window could close as fast as it opened.
Breslow has the capital, the narrative, and a ticking clock. What remains to be seen is whether the moves he makes are actually worthy of the moment.
Player profiles mentioned
Teams mentioned in this article
- Boston Red Sox
- Washington Nationals
- Los Angeles Angels
- Sacramento Athletics
- New York Yankees
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Philadelphia Phillies
