Why Red Sox' chances at ‘absolutely perfect fit' may be increasing ahead of trade deadline
Tampa Bay's stance on not trading key players 'may be softening' because of how poorly the club has played in recent weeks, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, meaning Díaz could be moved before Thursday's trade deadline. ESPN's Buster Olney reported that the Rays 'could shift to become sellers' and painted Díaz as an 'absolutely perfect fit' for Boston. Earlier this month, as MassLive first reported, Red Sox decision-makers were privately wondering if the Rays could make Díaz available if they continued to struggle and identified him as someone at the top of the wish list should he be on the trading block. The Rays entered Sunday with a 6-14 July record (in part because the Red Sox swept them in a four-game set before the break) and at 53-52, are 2 ½ games out of the third and final American League wild card spot.
Díaz intrigues the Red Sox for a few reasons. The 33-year-old is a right-handed hitter with pop, as evidenced by his 18 homers and 19 doubles so far this season. After Boston's need on the right side of the infield increased earlier this week when Marcelo Mayer sprained his wrist, Díaz fits the roster perfectly as a clear upgrade over the Abraham Toro/Romy Gonzalez platoon at first base. Especially intriguing to the Red Sox, according to a baseball source, is that Díaz is under control beyond 2025. Privately, the club is not guaranteeing that Triston Casas, who is rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury, will be the starter in 2026. Díaz is making $10 million this year (about $3.33 million in the final two months), then has a $12 million club option for 2026 and a vesting option for 2027 (based on plate appearances) that becomes a cheaper deal if he plays less.
With Alex Bregman not under control past this year, the Red Sox would like some right-handed certainty in a 2026 lineup that's projected to include (barring trades) Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida, Mayer (and potentially Casas).
With four days to go before the deadline, the Red Sox continue to focus on pitching upgrades. They'll continue to look at controllable (but potentially unattainable) arms like Minnesota's Joe Ryan, Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller and Miami's Sandy Alcantara while also playing in the pool of rentals that includes Arizona's Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, Kansas City's Seth Lugo and San Diego's Dylan Cease. Baltimore first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, a rental, is another clear fit. Bullpen arms are readily available this time of year and the Sox are looking into that market as well.
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