Red Sox could cut ties with $50 million star in trade for Dodgers veteran

The Boston Red Sox outfield is about to get very crowded. Roman Anthony is going to get called up soon, and Masataka Yoshida is now forced to play in the outfield as well.

Wilyer Abreu, Jarred Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela have been the primary outfielders in Boston this year. However, when Yoshida and Anthony are ready to play, one of them will have to go. Abreu has a .983 OPS and a Gold Glove. Duran was an All-Star last season and has been a reliable option for Alex Cora. That leaves Rafaeal, who, despite his versatility, will not have a real role on the team.

Rafaela can play both middle infield spots, but Trevor Story and Kristian Campbell have a hold on those spots. Newsweek's Jon Vankin thinks the Dodgers could trade for Rafaela to replace Michael Conforto. Manager Dave Roberts has gone so far as to consider benching Conforto to solve their outfield woes.

"Rafaela's hitting is less impressive than that of his two counterparts, but his defense is elite," wrote Vankin. "He currently leads all centerfielders (in a tie with the Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong and St. Louis Cardinals Victor Scott II) with six defensive runs saved. Who could the Dodgers send to Boston in return? Not the struggling Conforto. But the Red Sox have a vacancy at first base with the season-ending injury suffered by fourth-year first baseman Triston Casas last week. Dodgers 34-year-old third baseman Max Muncy has played 297 major league games at first. The switch across the diamond should be a natural one for him. "

Muncy is not having a good year at the plate, but he is an experienced player who could figure things out in a hurry. The Red Sox already were not getting great production out of Casas, so Muncy could not be much worse. Additionally, it would give the Dodgers an opportunity to get everyday at-bats for Hyeseong Kim, who is playing well after getting called up.

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Kim can play centerfield and second base. When Tommy Edman returns, he has the ability to take over at this base, leaving Rafaela, Kim and himself all in the lineup. Rafaela signed a $50 million extension in 2024 and is under club control through 2032.

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