Yankees Blockbuster Trade Idea Steals $120M All-Star From Ailing Red Sox
The New York Yankees’ infield could use an upgrade after some recent defensive struggles and poor production at the plate.
Through 33 games, DJ LeMahieu is slashing .245/.321/.337 and has not been the best defensively. His playing second base also means Jazz Chisholm Jr. is playing in the hot corner, which is not his best defensive position. The Yankees could move Chisholm back to second base if they can find a star third baseman at the trade deadline.
ESPN MLB insiders Kiley McDonald and Jeff Passan suggested the Yankees could be potential suitors for superstar third baseman Alex Bregman of the Boston Red Sox. Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million deal in the offseason.
Bregman’s deal includes an opt-out after the season, and after a .299/.385/.553 slash line through 51 games, before his quad injury, he could exercise his opt-out and look for a more lucrative deal on the market.
After a stretch af strong play, the Red Sox have struggled since trading away Rafael Devers. They are 40-40 and 1 1/2 games out of a wild card spot. In a recent press conference posted on the team’s YouTube channel, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow noted that the team is not giving up on the season and does not intend to be sellers.
However, if the Red Sox are out of contention by the end of the summer, that mindset could change. ESPN gave Bregman just a 10 percent chance to be traded, and a trade to the Yankees would have a significantly lower chance.
However, the Yankees may be trying to go all-in on this season. Aaron Judge is having another MVP-caliber year. Max Fried is pitching like a true ace and Luis Gil is on his way back. If a star third baseman is all that stands in the way of the Yankees and a World Series, they could do the unthinkable and trade for Bregman. He is a two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger Award winner and a Gold Glove Award winner.
Even after trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, the Boston Red Sox are still in the postseason race this year. Regardless, they will need to address some holes in their roster next offseason.
The Red Sox will reportedly save $250 million by trading Devers, and MassLive’s Chris Cotillo suggested they could use the money to find a new first baseman. Triston Casas was struggling even before his injury, and the future of first base in Boston is unclear.
“Casas’ injury is so severe — and the recovery is so long — that the Red Sox shouldn’t count on him being a lock to play every day in 2026,” Cotillo wrote. “There’s a real question of who projects as Boston’s long-term first baseman and there’s no perfect fit on the roster (or in the system). It’s too early to know exactly who will be available at the deadline. But in Boston’s search for a big bat, the club should look for a big-name, everyday option at first, and one with control, too.”
