The Boston Red Sox just fired things up at the trade deadline, making noise a full week early when they shipped Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for Curtis Mead. Clearly, they aren’t planning on stopping, but who they actually *get* could be a massive problem. Their top target, Los Angeles Angels slugger Zach Neto, might just be out of their price range because of one huge name: Franklin Arias.
Neto’s Bat Is Built for Fenway, But His Price Tag Ain’t Pretty
Let’s be real: if Boston could get Zach Neto without worrying about the cost, he’d be an absolute fit, maybe even a great one. This season, the guy is slashing .234/.323/.441/.764, piled up 21 doubles, blasted 19 home runs, and snagged 46 RBI in 103 games. Sure, his average is a little low, but imagine that heavy pull tendency from a right-handed swing in Fenway Park? He’d be slamming singles and doubles off the Green Monster all day, bumping that average up easy. He profiles as a great hitter for Boston, which is exactly why the Angels know they can ask the moon for him.
Combine that perfect fit with the fact Neto still has three and a half years of contract control left, and you’ve got a price tag that’s through the roof. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, if the Red Sox really want Neto, they’re gonna have to cough up their No. 1 prospect and the No. 7 prospect in the Top 100: Franklin Arias. Yeah, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Franklin Arias: The MVP-Level Prospect Boston Can’t Afford to Lose
So, who is this Franklin Arias guy that’s messing with Boston’s trade plans? Arias isn’t just a prospect, he’s got an MVP-level ceiling. He’s a fantastic hitter, plays stellar defense at shortstop (which, fun fact, is also Neto’s position), and he’s super close to making it to the MLB. With that kind of talent and proximity to the big leagues, the Red Sox are, understandably, adverse to trading him away. It’s a huge ask from the Angels.
Could Boston still try to snag Neto without giving up Arias? Maybe. They’ve got other prospects they could move, like Marcelo Mayer or Jarren Duran, though they’d apparently save Anthony Eyanson too. As for where Neto would even play, his defense is reportedly “pretty bad,” so Boston would probably just make him the full-time designated hitter and move Masataka Yoshida to everyday left field until Roman Anthony gets back. Bottom line, Neto would be a great boost to the Red Sox, but if the Angels are sticking to “Arias or no deal,” then it sounds like it’s going to be “no deal.”
This whole situation is a massive headache for the Red Sox. The trade deadline is coming in hot, and they gotta figure out if Zach Neto is worth giving up a potential MVP in Franklin Arias. Decisions, decisions!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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