The Boston Red Sox have actually been hot lately, having won seven of their last nine games to somehow wriggle their way into the American League Wild Card race.
The Red Sox are currently five games out of the final Wild Card spot, four in the loss column. They’re just 39-48, but the fact that they are still in contention may be enough to prevent them from selling before the MLB trade deadline.
However, if Boston slides again between now and Aug. 3, it will almost certainly start unloading some of its valuable veterans. Among them is first baseman Willson Contreras, who just received a seven-game suspension for his role in a fracas against the Washington Nationals. He was also involved in a dust-up with the New York Yankees just days prior.
Nevertheless, Contreras is a terrific hitter who owns a .285/.378/.536 slash line to go along with 19 home runs and 56 RBI over 352 plate appearances this season. He has also played some solid defense at first base, owning a plus-2 DRS and plus-1 OAA.
Contreras should drum up considerable interest in the coming weeks, and Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller has proposed a trade that would send the 34-year-old to a shocking team: the Miami Marlins.
In the deal, the Red Sox would receive infielder Starlyn Caba as well as pitcher Nate Payne from the Marlins.
Miller noted that Miami is lacking power in its lineup and doesn’t really have a designated first baseman at the moment, so Contreras would represent a tremendous fit for a team that went 20-6 in June and is smack dab in the middle of the National League playoff picture.
Boston acquired Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals during the offseason, taking on the final two guaranteed years of his five-year, $87.5 million contract. He is making $18 million this season and is slated to earn another $17 million in 2027. He also possesses a $20 million club option for 2028.
Financially, Contreras may prove to be a bit too expensive for the Marlins’ taste, but for a team that is knocking on the door in the National League, Miami may choose to go all in.
Caba is the sixth-ranked prospect in the Marlins’ system. Payne, meanwhile, is down at No. 21.
Would that be enough to get the Red Sox to pull the trigger on a Contreras trade? There will almost surely be numerous suitors in play for the Venezuelan slugger, so Boston may choose to hold out for more.
Contreras owns a lifetime .260/.354/.465 slash line.
