by The arrival of July in Major League Baseball signifies the start of the trade season.
This year, the MLB trade deadline has returned to its traditional schedule, with teams having until 6 p.m. ET on July 31 to execute moves. Naturally, the Red Sox still made a significant trade sooner than that, sending Rafael Devers to the Giants in June.
There are hints that the Red Sox might be buyers at this year’s trade deadline despite that move. After winning five of their past six games, the club moved to 46-45 after completing their sweep of the Nationals on Sunday. The Sox are now within striking reach of earning a position in the AL Wild Card race thanks to this.
There aren’t many excellent hitters anticipated to be available if the Red Sox decide to take a buyer’s strategy; in fact, Boston may have a few of the best possible available batters before this year’s deadline. However, let’s look at the few batters that might still be able to contribute during the home stretch of the season.
Diamondbacks 1B Josh Naylor
With Arizona still in the NL Wild Card race, concerns about Naylor’s availability loom even if he might be the best hitter traded before this year’s trade deadline. However, Naylor is scheduled to enter free agency this offseason, so it would make sense for the Diamondbacks to move him if they eventually lose the playoff picture in the upcoming weeks.
In his first season with the Diamondbacks, 28-year-old Naylor is probably having a career year at the plate. After being traded by the Guardians in the offseason, he has played 81 games and is hitting.298 with a.811 OPS, 10 home runs, and 56 RBIs. Last season, he blasted a career-high 31 home runs.
Orioles 1B/DH/OF Ryan O Hearn
Despite some of the Orioles’ troubles this season, the soon-to-be 32-year-old is still hitting well, logging a.287 batting average,.839 OPS, and 11 home runs.
O Hearn is a free agent this offseason, just like Naylor. However, O Hearn’s at-bat stats this season are by far the finest of his career, in contrast to Naylor’s. It could be concerning if the Red Sox were pursuing O Hearn in free agency. However, after receiving his first All-Star selection, O Hearn clearly has a great incentive to finish the season strong.
Guardians 1B Carlos Santana
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Guardians are anticipated to relocate off Santana this summer. The Red Sox were also suggested by Nightengale as a possible bidder for the 39-year-old.
A move for Santana seems reasonable at first glance. As a switch-hitter, he would provide the Red Sox lineup with variety and cover a position of need. But the Red Sox already have right-handed hitter Romy Gonzalez at first base versus lefties and switch-hitting Toro at first base against righties. Up until now, both have performed their jobs rather well, and Santana would probably be considered merely another platoon option rather than a full-time candidate.
In 237 plate appearances this season, Santana has hit.230 with a.683 OPS and seven home runs as a lefty, while in 97 plate appearances as a righty, he is hitting.247 with a.717 OPS and three home runs.
Brewers 1B Rhys Hoskins
Another player whose transfer status could be determined by his team’s performance in the upcoming weeks is Hoskins. It seems doubtful that the Brewers would want to deal any significant players from their big league club because they are 50-40 and have one of the three NL Wild Card places.
However, if there is a buyout, the Brewers would have to pay $4 million for Hoskins’ $18 million mutual option for the upcoming season.Jim Bowden of the Athletics recently stated that even if Milwaukee is vying for a postseason berth, the cost could encourage them to deal Hoskins.
This season, 32-year-old Hoskins has been effective at the plate. The right-hander is striking.Two years after suffering an ACL tear, he has played 82 games and scored 242 runs with a.767 OPS, 12 home runs, and 42 RBIs. Additionally, he had a thumb injury on Saturday, but Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that his X-rays were negative and that he would only be sidelined for a few days.
Braves DH Marcell Ozuna
The Red Sox moved Rafael Devers in part to free up a slot for a designated hitter. The Red Sox will have an even worse outfield jam when they play musical chairs there and at designated hitter due to Mastaka Yoshida’s anticipated return this week.
Ozuna has been a designated hitter for the past two seasons, so acquiring him would probably require making another trade. However, if Ozuna breaks out of the rut he’s been in for the past month, it might be worth it to get a hitter of his level. Ozuna is among the worst hitters in baseball right now, hitting just.171 with a.518 OPS since June 1.
The 34-year-old Ozuna hit.280 with a.883 OPS and nine home runs in 54 games before his recent slump. That is more in line with his recent at-bat output, which includes at least 39 home runs and a.900 OPS over the previous two seasons.
Rockies 3B Ryan McMahon
For the Red Sox, McMahon might be a bit of an unconventional choice. Of course, Alex Bregman’s impending return means they don’t need a third baseman. However, McMahon has some first base experience because that was his primary position when he joined the league in 2017. Additionally, the 30-year-old has two more seasons left on his contract, which may provide the Red Sox with a backup if Bregman decides to go in free agency this offseason.
With the exception of the 2020 season, which was cut short due to COVID, the southpaw has hit at least 20 home runs in each of the previous five seasons, demonstrating some respectable pop throughout his career. This season, McMahon has mostly struggled at the plate, hitting.209 with a.684 OPS and 12 home runs in 88 games.
McMahon’s career splits also imply that he has greatly profited by playing his home games at the hitter-friendly Coors Field. At home, where he has a.263 batting average and.813 OPS, he has hit 85 of his 136 career home runs. McMahon’s lifetime batting average on the road is.216, with an OPS of.664.
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