The Boston Red Sox didn’t waste any time getting into the trade deadline action, pulling off a bit of a surprise deal late Saturday night. They linked up with the Washington Nationals to grab infielder Curtis Mead, a right-handed hitter who’s probably slotting in at third or second base. Sounds like a solid move, right? But hold on a second, because USA Today’s Bob Nightengale dropped a bomb right after: the Red Sox “would love” to trade for a *star* right-handed hitting shortstop, either the Los Angeles Angels’ Zach Neto or the Houston Astros’ Jeremy Pena. Seriously, this team is going for it!
Mead Is In, But The Infield Upgrade Is Far From Over
So, the Red Sox gave up Connelly Early to land Mead, which totally screams “we’re buying at the deadline,” doesn’t it? Mead’s a right-handed bat, and with Caleb Durbin likely taking the other open infield spot, you’d think their infield picture was starting to look pretty set. But nope, according to Nightengale, Boston is still “in dire need of a right-handed bat” and wants even *more* infield upgrades this summer. It truly sounds like they see Mead as just the first step in a bigger plan. They’re clearly trying to build a seriously strong infield for the long haul, picturing Pena or Neto at shortstop, Mead and Durbin splitting time at second and third base, and Willson Contreras holding down first. This team is absolutely not messing around with incremental improvements. They want to make a splash.
The Price Tag for a Blockbuster Shortstop Is Gonna Be Massive
Now, let’s talk about Jeremy Pena and Zach Neto, because these guys are bonafide stars, plain and simple. Pena, at 28, is having a monster season, hitting a crazy .315 with nine bombs across just 58 games. With his 2.5 bWAR, he totally would’ve been an All-Star this year if he’d stayed healthy! He’s without a doubt one of the best possible trade targets this summer, but you know what that means: he’s gonna be incredibly, ridiculously expensive. Then there’s Neto, a bit younger at 25, who’s hitting .236 with a .771 OPS in 102 games, racking up an impressive 2.8 bWAR. While he might not have Pena’s current power numbers, his defense is decent, and he’s under club control for a few more seasons, through 2029, compared to Pena’s 2027. That long-term control is a massive asset. The huge problem? Both shortstops are under club control for a significant period, and both are on clubs that might not even want to sell these highly controllable, young players. This isn’t going to be some easy, low-cost acquisition, that’s for sure.
Red Sox chief Craig Breslow and his crew have got some serious momentum right now, especially with that wild 15-game win streak they’re riding. They’ve already bought with the Mead deal, clearly showing they’re serious about making a push. Now, chasing Pena or Neto? That’s another entire level of commitment, demanding a king’s ransom. A deal for either of those star shortstops won’t come cheap, and it’s gonna be incredibly tough to pull off given their contract situations. But if they manage to get one of these guys across the finish line? Man, what a bold statement that would make for Boston’s infield for years and years to come. You gotta wonder if they can actually pull off a move of this magnitude.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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