Insider: Red Sox 'would love' to acquire $12M slugging first baseman

The Boston Red Sox will be buyers ahead of the July 31 Major League Baseball trade deadline, and first base is a need.

The Red Sox lost starting first baseman Triston Casas for the entire season due to an injury, and Boston could look to replace him in a trade. MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic reveals Boston is hoping to acquire Yandy Diaz from division rival Tampa Bay Rays.

“At this point, the Rays could buy, sell, or do both. They are 1 1/2 games out of the final AL wild-card spot, and their plus-70 run differential ranks highest among teams on the outside looking in. The Red Sox would love to land first baseman Yandy Díaz from them,” Bowden wrote.

Diaz is earning $12 million this season and has a club option for $12 million in 2026, which Boston could trigger to add some insurance should Casas suffer any setbacks.

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“Tampa could trade him in a contender-to-contender type swaps that could work in the short- and long-term for their organization,” Bowden added.

Diaz would be Boston’s starting first baseman and add another middle-of-the-order bat for a playoff push. 

Bowden believes Tampa Bay would want an outfielder or a catcher in return for Diaz, and the Red Sox do have a surplus of outfielders, which could make them logical trade partners.

Diaz is hitting .293 with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs this season with the Rays. The 33-year-old was an All-Star in 2023 and was the AL batting champion that year. He also won the Silver Slugger Award.

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