It appears that one of the Boston Red Sox’s veterans may be traded during this offseason.
This offseason will be busy for Boston. Though they haven’t been able to finalize a deal just yet, the Red Sox have already been connected to several elite starters. Craig Breslow, the club’s new chief baseball officer, will want to leave his mark on Boston.
Outfielder Alex Verdugo is the Red Sox player who is most under doubt this offseason. Prior to the 2020 season, Boston acquired him, and he has been a member of the team ever since. He once appeared to be a key member of Boston’s core going forward, but it now appears more likely that he will be traded. According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, one team that might be interested in this situation is the Atlanta Braves.
“Trade targets: Corbin Burnes, Shane Bieber, Tyler Glasnow, Anthony Santander, Max Kepler, and Alex Verdugo,” stated Bowden. “Aside from the rotation and left field, the Braves can essentially ‘run it back’ next season, as they were the best baseball team in the regular season. Since the beginning of the offseason, their main priorities have been to upgrade left field, add a big starting pitcher, and add depth to the bullpen. The Braves are anticipated to make a major impact as soon as possible because they have freed up roster space and increased payroll flexibility.”
Verdugo would undoubtedly be traded by the Red Sox this offseason in exchange for starting pitching support. There are too many outfielders in Boston, and Verdugo will be a free agent in 2019. It wouldn’t make sense to trade him away unless it was for pitching, even though the Red Sox may not have long-term plans for him. He’s bound to spark interest, and at this point, a move might be on the horizon.
