The Boston Red Sox are 27-30. It’s looking like it will take a massive turnaround for the team to become contenders, but a blockbuster trade could provide a spark.
In recent weeks, rumors of the Pittsburgh Pirates trading Paul Skenes have swirled. MLB insider Jon Heyman revealed that the Pirates are not even considering trading Skenes, but The Athletic’s Jim Bowden recently listed trade packages that would force the Pirates to at least weigh the possibility.
Skenes is under club control through 2029. He is already an All-Star and one of the best pitchers in the league. Acquiring him would take an unprecedented trade package. Bowden proposed this trade package from the Red Sox that could potentially land Skenes:
- Red Sox receive: Paul Skenes
- Pirates receive: Roman Anthony, Franklin Arias, Justin Gonzales and Luis Perales
Anthony, Arias and Perales are the team’s No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 prospects, respectively. Gonzales is the club’s No. 15 prospect. Anthony and Arias are also Top 100 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline and Anthony is the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball.
“To start the package, the Red Sox could offer Anthony, the top position-player prospect in baseball, whom the Pirates could promote to the majors immediately, giving him a chance to win NL Rookie of the Year this season,” wrote Bowden. “They’d also improve their longer-term future by acquiring a middle infielder in Arias, a power bat in Gonzales and a power arm in Perales. Meanwhile, for Boston, a rotation led by Skenes and Garrett Crochet would be a game-changer.”
Anthony is stuck in Triple-A as the Red Sox cannot find a spot for him in the big leagues. He has been crushing Triple-A pitching and is ready to make his debut. However, if the Red Sox like their trio of Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran, they could be willing to part ways with Anthony in a trade for a player like Skenes.
