Boston didn’t add pitching just for stability - it may have unlocked its next trade chip.
The Red Sox didn’t sign Ranger Suarez just to stockpile arms.
They did it to give themselves options - and, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, one of those options now clearly runs through the outfield.
In the days since Boston failed to retain Alex Bregman, the organization has shifted aggressively toward pitching, culminating in the five-year, $130 million deal for Suarez. But McCaffrey reports that the ripple effects of that move extend well beyond the rotation. With so much starting depth now in place, the Red Sox are once again exploring how best to add a bat - and trading from positional surplus is very much part of that conversation.
That’s where the outfield comes into focus.
Earlier this winter, Craig Breslow suggested it was “never likely” the Red Sox would trade from a four-man outfield group that includes Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela. According to McCaffrey, that stance was formed before Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs and before the Red Sox committed long-term money to Suarez. With those two developments, the roster math has changed.
Boston has discussed rotating its outfielders through the designated hitter spot to spread playing time, but McCaffrey notes that solution remains imperfect. Packaging an outfielder - potentially alongside a pitcher - to acquire an infield bat now makes increasing sense, especially given how crowded both the outfield and rotation have become.
Anthony is widely viewed as untouchable. That leaves Duran, Abreu, and Rafaela as varying degrees of trade capital. McCaffrey reports that Duran, in particular, remains a logical candidate. His $7.7 million salary for 2026 could help the Red Sox dip back under the second luxury-tax tier, and his production in 2025, albeit worse than it was in 2024, is still enough to bring back a decent return. Abreu and Rafaela are cheaper and under longer team control, making them easier for Boston to retain and harder to part with.
What gives the Red Sox real leverage, though, is how their pitching depth pairs with that outfield surplus.
Sep 12, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) catches a line drive hit by New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. (Gregory Fisher/Imagn Images)According to McCaffrey, young starters Connelly Early and Payton Tolle have drawn notable interest from other clubs, even as the Red Sox would prefer not to move them. She also notes that Ken Rosenthal previously reported Boston had quietly shopped Brayan Bello earlier in the offseason. Bello’s contract - six years, $55 million through 2030 - is team-friendly, but his rising salary and the upside of younger arms could make him more expendable than once assumed.
With Suarez now slotted behind Garrett Crochet and alongside Sonny Gray and Bello, Boston has the flexibility to construct creative trade packages without weakening the rotation beyond repair.
McCaffrey outlines several potential targets that fit this framework. Ketel Marte, while reportedly off the table in Arizona, could resurface if the Red Sox are willing to offer a mix of pitching and outfield talent. Nico Hoerner becomes more interesting now that the Cubs have added Bregman, though his limited team control complicates matters. Brendan Donovan and Isaac Paredes represent lesser but cleaner fits depending on how aggressively Boston wants to push its chips in.
The common thread is clear.
According to McCaffrey, the Red Sox aren’t done reshaping this roster. Signing Suarez didn’t close doors - it opened them. And as Boston looks to replace Bregman’s offensive impact without forcing an ill-fitting free-agent solution, the outfield has quietly become the front office’s most valuable currency.
The next move isn’t about panic.
It’s about choosing which surplus finally becomes expendable.
May 25, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) bats against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Fenway Park. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Remember to join our RED SOX on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Red Sox fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.