Red Sox trade idea would swap $50 million outfielder for 2-time All-Star ace

Acquiring Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox during this past offseason is already looking like one of the best trades the Boston Red Sox have made in recent memory. 

Crochet has a sub-2.00 ERA with 44 strikeouts through six starts and is clearly the No. 1 starter for Boston. But what if the Red Sox had two aces?

The Crochet trade has gone so well that Newsweek's Zach Pressnell thinks Boston could make a similar move for Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. 

Pressnell pointed to a suggestion by ESPN's David Schoenfield that the Red Sox could be one of the top contending teams for Alcantara at the trade deadline. But while Schoenfield wrote that Boston might have to part ways with Marcelo Mayer to acquire him, Pressnell shut that down. Instead, he suggested a swap for the team's starting center fielder.

"Trading Mayer should be a no-go for the Red Sox. The star shortstop should be as untouchable as a prospect gets this season," Pressnell wrote. "Still, a trade for Alcantara isn't out of the picture for the Red Sox if they're willing to part ways with a big leaguer like Cedanne Rafaela."

In an era where pitchers go seven innings on a good day, Alcantara is an old-school hurler, capable of going the distance on any given night. During his National League Cy Young Award-winning season in 2022, Alcantara led the majors in complete games (six) and innings pitched (228.2). 

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Having a starter who can give the bullpen days off like this is incredibly valuable, which is why it wouldn’t be cheap for the Red Sox to acquire his services.

But the Marlins might be intrigued by Rafaela, who has logged 15 RBI and six stolen bases already this season, after signing an eight-year, $50 million extension with the Red Sox in April 2024.

While it would be hard to give away Rafaela after agreeing to his extension, getting a player like Alcantara on a team-friendly deal (he’ll make $17.3 million next season and has a club option for 2027) would fortify a rotation that has struggled outside of Crochet this season.

More MLB: Red Sox's Aroldis Chapman sets franchise record amid stellar start