Boston Red Sox Trade Rumors and Latest News

MLB.com is keeping track of all the latest free-agent and trade rumors involving the Red Sox right here.

Dec. 7: Red Sox reportedly showing interest in Imanaga
Determined to add starting pitching this offseason, the Red Sox have been connected to a number of top free-agent arms in recent days. 

Boston’s list of targets has grown to include Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. Although he hasn’t received as much hype as countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is reported to be one of Boston’s “top priorities,” Imanaga was an ace in his own right in Japan.

Heyman notes the Red Sox considered a reunion with Eduardo Rodriguez before he reached a four-year deal with the D-backs, but Boston preferred to wait on Yamamoto and Imanaga.

Dec. 5: Red Sox have interest in Gurriel (report)
The Red Sox and Yankees made a rare trade on Tuesday that sent outfielder Alex Verdugo to New York. That move could open up a spot for a free-agent outfielder that the Red Sox are reportedly interested in.

MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported shortly after the Verdugo trade that the Red Sox are interested in Lourdes Gurriel Jr. With Verdugo out of the picture, everyday at-bats are now open in the outfield for a hitter coming off a strong 2023 season.

Gurriel spent the first five seasons of his career with the Blue Jays, hitting .285/.329/.468 in 468 games in Toronto. With one year of club control remaining, Gurriel was included in the trade that sent Gabriel Moreno to the D-backs last offseason. Arizona reaped the benefits in Gurriel’s contract year, as the outfielder hit .261/.309/.463 with 24 home runs and was a first-time All-Star for NL Pennant-winning D-backs. 

Dec. 5: Red Sox continue pursuit of rotation help
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that the team is “actively engaged” in the free-agent and trade markets for starting pitchers. That’s no surprise as the Red Sox finished 2023 with a 4.68 rotation ERA, and Chris Sale is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract (he carries a $20 million club option for 2025).

But Breslow is also willing to deal from the team’s glut of position-player prospects in order to obtain controllable pitching, and he said no prospect is untouchable.

“Untouchable, it’s a tough word, right?” he said via The Athletic (subscription required). “Because, in reality, our goal is to win as many major league games as we possibly can. And I think that there are prospects who are going to contribute toward that. But if we have the opportunity to win more games by making them available in a trade, we need to consider that. I think the tricky part is balancing the short-term and long-term interests of the organization. So I would not say that a prospect is untouchable. I would say it will be very, very difficult for certain prospects to line up on value.”

Tyler Glasnow, Corbin Burnes and Shane Bieber have been some of the more popular starters in the trade market, but all of them are one year away from free agency. So perhaps better fits for Boston are pitchers such as the White Sox Dylan Cease or the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert, who have two and four years of club control remaining, respectively.

The top eight prospects in the Red Sox’s system are all hitters. That group is headlined by shortstop Marcelo Mayer, outfielders Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela, and catcher Kyle Teel, all of whom are on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list.

Dec. 2: Red Sox expected to be finalists for Yamamoto
No free-agent starter is in higher demand than Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has been linked to a double-digit number of clubs and is likely to receive a contract north of $200 million.

Yamamoto was expected to begin talking to teams this week via phone or Zoom, per SNY’s Andy Martino. After those meetings, he will meet in person with his chosen finalists. Those meetings will reportedly take place after the upcoming Winter Meetings, which end Dec. 6.

Nov. 27: Why Montgomery could be an ideal fit with the Red Sox
Earlier this month, MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported that Boston officials spoke with Jordan Montgomery’s agent Scott Boras at the General Manager Meetings. Could Boston have a geographical advantage for signing him?

According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam, Montgomery is “spending the winter in Boston and calling the city his offseason home”. While Montgomery’s wife begins her dermatology residency in the greater Boston area, Montgomery has been working out and throwing at Boston College, according to MassLive’s sources.

Cotillo and McAdam make it clear that Montgomery’s relocation to Boston this winter isn’t directly related to his free agent process, but it is notable considering the two sides have already been in contact. Montgomery, who is expected to clear the $100 million mark after a strong season for the World Series-champion Rangers, is an ideal fit for a Red Sox rotation that finished with the ninth-worst ERA (4.68) in ’23.

Nov. 15: Will Yamamoto’s friendship with Yoshida give Red Sox an edge?
Once Yoshinobu Yamamoto is posted by his Nippon Professional Baseball club, the Orix Buffaloes, he will likely be one of this offseason’s most sought-after free agents. Yamamoto is expected to be posted soon, and once he is made available, the Red Sox may have an edge in the bidding.

According to SNY’s Andy Martino, Boston is a possibility to land the right-handed pitcher in part because of his friendship with former NPB teammate and Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida. The two played together with the Buffaloes from 2017-22. The presence of new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow may also work to Boston’s advantage. Per Martino, Breslow was said to be highly regarded by Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki when Breslow worked in Chicago’s front office. Suzuki came to the Majors in 2022 following nine seasons in NPB.

The Yankees, Mets and Dodgers are just a few of the other teams reportedly interested in the 25-year-old Yamamoto. More >

Nov. 14: Red Sox ‘targeting front-of-the-rotation type’ (report)
The Red Sox are part of a long list of teams looking for starting pitching help this offseason, and they apparently have lofty goals when it comes to their rotation. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan (subscription required), Boston is “targeting a front-of-the-rotation type.”

Chris Sale, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta and Garrett Whitlock make up team’s current starting options.

Free-agent lefty Jordan Montgomery is one potential target after the Red Sox reportedly met with his agent, Scott Boras, during the GM Meetings. Montgomery was previously viewed as more of a mid-rotation option, but he raised his stock significantly with a breakout 2023 campaign and an excellent postseason for the World Series-champion Rangers. Passan puts him in Tier 1 among free-agent starters.

The Red Sox are expected to be involved in the bidding for Yoshinobu Yamamoto once the Japanese ace is posted by the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to Passan.

Another top free-agent option is former Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez, while Tyler Glasnow, Corbin Burnes, Dylan Cease and Shane Bieber could be available on the trade market.