The Boston Red Sox are on the hunt for a shortstop before the MLB trade deadline, and New York Mets star Francisco Lindor has been floated as a possibility for the team.
But is Lindor actually a realistic trade target for the Red Sox given the five years and $160 million remaining on his contract?
In a recent MLB trade deadline mailbag for The Athletic, analyst and former executive Jim Bowden addressed a reader question about a potential deal involving Lindor and the Red Sox.
The inquiry asked what prospect capital the Red Sox might need to surrender if they absorbed the entire remaining portion of Lindor’s contract, and how that package might change if the Mets covered half or all of the salary. Bowden’s response was direct and left little room for speculation about Boston’s interest.
According to Bowden, the Red Sox are simply not engaged in any effort to acquire Lindor at this deadline. Rather than pursuing the star shortstop, the club has focused its attention on other shortstop options, specifically CJ Abrams, Zach Neto, and Jeremy Peña.
Bowden made clear that Lindor’s existing contract and his age present obstacles that Boston is unwilling to take on right now.
Those factors, in his view, make Lindor a non-starter for the Red Sox as they evaluate upgrades ahead of the trade deadline.
Bowden’s comments arrived against the backdrop of Boston’s recent activity. The Red Sox had already completed a significant move by acquiring Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Connelly Early.
Even after that addition, Bowden indicated the club was still working hard to secure another bat, ideally an upgrade at shortstop. Yet that search, he emphasized, does not include Lindor.
The combination of long-term financial commitment and the player’s age has kept Boston on the sidelines of any Lindor discussions.
The mailbag exchange underscores a broader truth about the current trade market. Contending teams carefully weigh not only a player’s present production but also the years and dollars attached to any acquisition.
In Lindor’s case, those remaining contractual obligations and his age profile have led the Red Sox to look elsewhere for help up the middle. Bowden’s assessment leaves the impression that Boston’s shortstop pursuit will continue, but Lindor will not be part of it.
