With Boston in last place in the AL East and still aiming to make the playoffs, Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow is reportedly fielding trade calls on Connor Wong, and could consider Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, and Justin Slaten if the team doesn’t
For the Boston Red Sox, the mood has shifted from hope to math. They’re in last place in the American League East, still holding onto the idea that they can contend for an American League playoff spot this season, and yet the path is narrowing fast.
The picture in front of Boston is stark. Even with a lineup that lacks power and includes multiple players who did not figure into the team’s offseason plans. the Red Sox are chasing the postseason anyway. They’re also only 3 1/2 games out of the last Wild Card spot. but the sense inside the organization is that the real problem isn’t just the standings—it’s the quality of the American League this year.
What makes this moment feel different is who Boston is looking up at in the AL East: the Tampa Bay Rays. New York Yankees. Toronto Blue Jays. and Baltimore Orioles. Staying patient may not be easy if the wins keep coming at the pace Boston needs—because general manager Craig Breslow may eventually conclude that the long winning streak required to become a legitimate playoff contender simply isn’t coming.
If that conclusion lands, the trade deadline could turn Boston into a seller.
Breslow is reportedly taking calls on players who could be moved at some point. and the names being discussed circle four specific parts of the roster—three of them on the pitching side. one at catcher. The Red Sox have three catchers in Connor Wong. Carlos Narvaez. and Mickey Gasper. and Wong appears to be drawing the most attention.
On the bullpen front, attention is also attached to relief pitchers Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, and Justin Slaten. Breslow. for now. isn’t interested in trading any of those relief pitchers—but the reporting is clear that stance could change quickly. The window is short: it could shift in “a matter of just a couple of weeks” if the Red Sox don’t show dramatic improvement.
That tight timeline matters, because it puts the stakes right where the postseason race always does—on momentum, and on whether Boston can translate optimism into results before the market decides for them.
The Red Sox’s situation is already defined: they’re last in the AL East. their lineup has been a struggle. and they’re counting on a turnaround strong enough to keep them from falling out of range. Now the organization’s next move—hold steady or cash in—depends on whether Breslow can justify hope with the kind of stretch that actually changes their season.
Boston Red Sox Craig Breslow Connor Wong Aroldis Chapman Garrett Whitlock Justin Slaten Carlos Narvaez Mickey Gasper AL East Wild Card trade deadline rumors