The Boston Red Sox will have to make tough decisions about their outfield soon. They could use one of their young players as a trade chip to add a game-changing ace.
Ceddanne Rafaela could be the odd man out in the Red Sox group of young players. The outfield is already crowded with Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony looming. Masataka Yoshida will also have to return to the outfield since Rafael Devers now holds the designated hitter spot.
Rafaela has the ability to play shortstop or second base as well, but the Red Sox already have Trevor Story and recently extended Kristian Campbell. Without a clear spot on the team, Newsweek’s Zach Pressnell suggested the Red Sox could ship Rafaela to the Miami Marlins in this package to acquire Sandy Alcántara:
- Red Sox acquire: right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcántara
- Marlins acquire: utility Ceddanne Rafaela, shortstop/second baseman Franklin Arias, right-handed pitcher David Sandlin and shortstop/second baseman Mikey Romero
“If the Red Sox are serious about wanting to make a move in the right direction, a trade for Sandy Alcántara is the place to start,” wrote Pressnell. “Of all the pitchers who are likely to become available in a trade this year, Alcántara is the best, and he’s under team control for a few more seasons. It would be a costly trade for the Red Sox to make, but they can afford to make it. Boston has top prospect Roman Anthony banging on the door of the big leagues. Moving Rafaela clears room for Anthony to stick in the lineup.”
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The Marlins figure to be sellers at the deadline again and Alcántara could yield them a haul to build around. He signed a five-year, $56 million deal in 2022. He is under club control through 2027. Alcántara won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022 and could be key in helping the Red Sox take the American League East crown from the New York Yankees.
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