Tyler O'Neill #17 of the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox face some tough decisions in the coming months.
Currently, Boston looks strong and holds third place in the American League East with a 26-24 record. With plenty of talent on the roster, the Red Sox could make a run for a postseason spot, especially as the team gets healthier.
However, if things take a turn for the worse and the team decides to sell at the trade deadline, outfielder Tyler O’Neill is seen as the “most likely” player to be moved, according to Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter.
“Despite an unexpectedly solid starting rotation, the Red Sox are still hovering around the .500 mark and facing a tough challenge to compete in the AL East race,” Reuter said. “If they do decide to sell at the deadline, outfielder Tyler O’Neill and starter Nick Pivetta are the team’s top upcoming free agents. Trading both for more prospect depth would be a logical move.”
O’Neill, who has a 150 OPS+ with 11 home runs in 161 plate appearances since joining from the St. Louis Cardinals in an offseason trade, is positioning himself for a lucrative multi-year deal in free agency.
The two-time Gold Glove Award winner has performed well this season but will become a free agent at the end of the campaign. If Boston isn’t in playoff contention, a trade could be a sensible option.
