Red Sox trade rumors: Dylan Cease, Yandy Diaz among 8 best options for Boston at 2025 deadline

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The Red Sox have perhaps the widest range of possible outcomes this season of any American League contender.

On one hand, Boston has been in this situation before. The Red Sox hovered a handful of games above .500 entering the trade deadline in recent years and came out at or near .500 each time. On the other hand, Boston believes that this time it has the talent to compete in a wide-open AL, particularly with an ace in Garrett Crochet, a surging rookie in Roman Anthony, and the return of Alex Bregman.

The trade deadline will test whether the front office — and ownership — truly believe this is the time for the Red Sox to strike. Still facing a difficult path to an AL East title with the Blue Jays in control and the Yankees also ahead in the standings, will Boston show some aggressiveness ahead of the deadline or play it safe with 2026 in mind?

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Here are some potential targets for the Red Sox if they want to keep pace with the rest of the league's contenders.

MORE: 14 players most likely to be traded at the MLB trade deadline

Red Sox trade deadline targets

Dylan Cease, SP, Padres

The Padres are reportedly dangling Dylan Cease in hopes of upgrading their major-league roster. That could allow San Diego to match up with the Red Sox, who have a potentially expendable piece in Jarren Duran, but the deal would have to be bigger than just that, with Cease struggling and heading for free agency in the winter. When Cease is on, he's on. A potent arm with swing-and-miss stuff, no gem from Cease is a surprise — but he has a 4.79 ERA on the year and hasn't shown many signs that better days are ahead. Still, a rotation headed by Crochet and Cease would be an intimidating one in September and October. 

Yandy Diaz, 1B, Rays

The Rays appear to be selling, and there aren't many better bats available than Yandy Diaz. Diaz hit .330 in 2023 and has recovered from an uncharacteristic start to this season to hit .283 with 18 home runs and a 126 OPS+ over his first 101 games. The Red Sox have needed a true first baseman since Triston Casas went down in early May, and Diaz would give them one who has been a plus hitter his entire career before he hits free agency in the winter.

Merrill Kelly, SP, Diamondbacks

Kelly is a rental in the latter stages of his career, but the results are tough to argue. The 36-year-old has a 3.22 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 22 starts this season and has kept his ERA in the low 3s in each of his past three full seasons. Kelly also has postseason experience after posting a 2.25 ERA over four starts during Arizona's run to the World Series in 2023. The Red Sox would be getting a reliable arm for the stretch run in Kelly, even if he isn't the most exciting name available. 

MORE: Yankees' top trade deadline targets

Ryan O'Hearn, DH/1B, Orioles

The Orioles are likely to deal their rental pieces, including O'Hearn and Ramon Laureano. O'Hearn was an All-Star starter this season after a dominant start at the plate and has experience at first base. While the kind of contact hitting that allowed him to enter June with an AVG well north of .300 was never going to be sustainable, he is still having the best year of his career at the plate with a 134 OPS+ and excellent marks against right-handed pitching. 

Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen, SP, Diamondbacks

Gallen carried a 3.20 ERA from 2022-24, helping power the Diamondbacks to the World Series in 2023, but this season has been a bit of a nightmare for the 29-year-old. While he's stayed fully healthy, his ERA has remained in the mid-5s. Gallen's strikeout rate is down, and he allowed a whopping 23 home runs in his first 22 starts. A pending free agent, Gallen likely won't bring back a massive haul for Arizona, which could make him a nice buy-low opportunity for the Red Sox. 

Sandy Alcantara, SP, Marlins

The Marlins don't have to trade Sandy Alcantara, who is under contract through 2026 with an affordable team option for 2027, but they are certainly listening on the former Cy Young Award winner. Alcantara has had a mostly disastrous season after returning from Tommy John Surgery, but he recently had a strong outing against the Padres and could be a nice value for a team like the Red Sox if he even comes close to returning to form down the stretch or in 2026.

MORE: Cubs' top trade deadline targets

David Bednar, CL, Pirates

Bednar is a two-time All-Star, but he struggled mightily in 2024 and was optioned to the minors early in this season. That stint away from the Pirates seemed to fix him, as Bednar went more than two months without allowing an earned run from mid-May through July 28. Under team control through 2026, Bednar would give the Red Sox an intriguing late-inning relief option and give Aroldis Chapman a former teammate to work with. 

Edward Cabrera, SP, Marlins

The Marlins also don't have to trade Cabrera, who has multiple years of control after 2025 and is in the midst of a breakout season after reining in his control issues. Red hot since the start of June, Cabrera could bring back a major haul for Miami if he does get moved. Whether the Red Sox are willing to give up a major haul for anyone at this deadline remains to be seen, but adding Cabrera would instantly upgrade Boston's rotation both now and long-term.

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