When the Boston Red Sox were unable to pull off a reunion with All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow wasted little time shifting gears. Rather than continuing to pursue an infield bat, Breslow redirected his focus to an area where he could still make a significant impact: the starting rotation. Almost immediately, the Red Sox pivoted toward adding another high-end arm to further strengthen an already impressive pitching staff.
At the time of this move in January, Boston’s rotation was hardly thin. In fact, it was already shaping up to be one of the deeper and more reliable groups the club had assembled in years. Still, Breslow surprised much of the baseball world by swooping in and signing left-hander Ranger Suárez away from the Philadelphia Phillies. The deal seemed to come out of nowhere, but it instantly elevated the ceiling of the Red Sox pitching staff and gave manager Alex Cora even more flexibility heading into the new season.
The addition of Suárez creates a formidable one-two punch at the top of Boston’s rotation. Paired with Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox suddenly boast a duo that can go toe-to-toe with nearly any pairing in the American League. Crochet’s power arsenal and upside, combined with Suárez’s polish, consistency, and ability to neutralize opposing lineups, give Boston a legitimate foundation to compete night in and night out. For a team looking to reassert itself as a serious contender, that kind of stability at the front of the rotation is invaluable.
Across the division, there are few combinations that can rival what Boston now brings to the table. In fact, Crochet and Suárez are widely viewed as one of the strongest pitching duos in the American League East, if not the entire league. The only pairing that clearly stands alongside them is Detroit’s Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, who headline a Tigers rotation that helped fuel their recent surge. Being mentioned in the same breath as that duo underscores just how impactful Breslow’s move could be for the Red Sox.
MORE: 3 players Red Sox regret letting them go
What makes the situation even more interesting is that Boston’s rotation strength doesn’t stop with its top two starters. Beyond Crochet and Suárez, the Red Sox have assembled a group of capable arms that provide both depth and options. As spring training begins this week, the rotation picture is crowded in the best possible way. There are veterans who have proven they can handle meaningful innings, younger pitchers pushing for expanded roles, and swing options who could thrive either in the rotation or the bullpen.
That surplus of starting pitching has naturally sparked speculation around the league. With so many viable options, Boston may be in a position where keeping everyone simply isn’t practical. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report recently floated the idea that Breslow could look to deal from that surplus before Opening Day. The logic is straightforward: while pitching depth is crucial over the course of a long season, having too many starters can create roster logjams and limit opportunities for players who deserve regular work.
A trade involving one of Boston’s excess starters could help address other areas of need, particularly after missing out on Bregman. The Red Sox could use that pitching depth as leverage to acquire help at third base, add another impact bat, or bolster the bullpen. From a roster-construction standpoint, it’s often easier to trade from a position of strength, and few teams are stronger in starting pitching right now than Boston.
Of course, there’s also a compelling argument for patience. Injuries are inevitable, and what looks like a surplus in February can quickly turn into a necessity by June or July. Breslow may prefer to see how things play out in spring training, evaluate which pitchers separate themselves, and reassess the market closer to the season. Still, the mere fact that a pre-season trade is even being discussed speaks volumes about how effectively the Red Sox have built their rotation.
In the end, missing out on Alex Bregman could have left Boston scrambling. Instead, Breslow responded decisively, landing Ranger Suárez and giving the Red Sox one of the most intimidating rotation cores in the American League. Whether that depth ultimately leads to a trade or simply provides Boston with a massive competitive advantage, it’s clear that the Red Sox are entering the season with pitching strength as one of their defining traits.
Boston Red Sox Starter Bryan Bello Predicted to Be Traded to the San Diego Padres
Craig Breslow has been busy reshaping Boston’s pitching depth, making a series of moves that could have ripple effects well beyond the players directly involved. Earlier in the offseason, the Red Sox front office acquired veteran right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by the addition of Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Those two moves alone significantly altered the makeup of the rotation, but they were only part of a broader effort to stockpile starting pitching options.
In addition to the veterans brought in via trade, Boston also has a pair of young arms in Payton Tolle and Connelly Early who are pushing their way into the organizational picture. The presence of these prospects gives the Red Sox even more flexibility, particularly when it comes to balancing the rotation and planning for the future. With Tolle and Early added to the mix, Boston now has an abundance of left-handed starting options, creating a scenario where the club may feel comfortable dealing from that depth.
MORE: Orioles fans rake Mike Elias over the coals after Framber Valdez lands with Tigers
That surplus is one reason Brayan Bello’s name has emerged in trade speculation. According to reporting from Kelly, Boston’s collection of left-handed starters could make Bello expendable, opening the door for a potential move to the San Diego Padres. While Bello has been viewed as a key piece of the Red Sox rotation in recent seasons, the organization’s evolving roster construction may make it easier for Breslow to consider parting with him if the right return presents itself.
What makes the situation even more intriguing is that the discussion doesn’t stop with the pitchers already accounted for. Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval are also part of the equation, though both are coming off injury-plagued 2025 campaigns. Despite their recent health setbacks, each pitcher carries considerable upside when healthy. Crawford has shown flashes of being a dependable starter capable of working deep into games, while Sandoval’s raw stuff and ability to miss bats make him an intriguing rebound candidate.
With Gray, Oviedo, Tolle, Early, Crawford, and Sandoval all factoring into Boston’s pitching plans, the rotation picture becomes crowded rather quickly. That congestion naturally leads to difficult decisions, and Bello appears to be one of the pitchers most likely to draw trade interest from other teams around the league. His age, track record, and remaining club control make him an attractive asset, particularly for a Padres team that has been actively exploring ways to bolster its starting pitching.
Those rumors gained further credibility earlier this year when Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reported that Bello had quietly been made available in trade discussions. While the Red Sox have not publicly indicated a desire to move him, McCaffrey’s reporting suggested that Breslow has at least been willing to listen to offers as he gauges the market and assesses how Bello fits into the team’s long-term plans.
“Bello and Sandoval are among the starters who’ve surfaced in trade talks, according to a league source,” McCaffrey wrote in January. Her report painted a picture of a front office actively exploring its options rather than committing firmly to any one path. That willingness to engage in conversations underscores Breslow’s broader approach since taking over baseball operations: remain flexible, gather information, and be prepared to act if an opportunity aligns with the team’s vision.
MORE: Orioles found their perfect utility infielder with Diamondbacks in 4-Player blockbuster Package
McCaffrey also noted that Bello was not the only pitcher whose name had come up in discussions. Jordan Hicks, for example, had been included in potential trade talks before ultimately being dealt to the Chicago White Sox. That sequence of events suggests that Boston’s front office has been casting a wide net, evaluating multiple avenues to optimize the roster rather than focusing on a single move.
Taken together, the Red Sox appear to be operating from a position of pitching depth, a luxury they have not always enjoyed in recent years. While injuries and performance will inevitably influence how the situation unfolds, the current landscape gives Breslow options—and options often lead to trade chatter. Whether Bello ultimately remains in Boston or becomes the centerpiece of a deal with San Diego or another club, his name is likely to stay in the rumor mill as long as the Red Sox continue to reshape their pitching staff.
Padres Trading for Brayan Bello Would Fill Hole for No. 3 Starter
San Diego is set to open the season with Michael King and Nick Pivetta anchoring the top of its starting rotation, two pitchers who are well known to Red Sox fans. Pivetta spent five seasons in Boston from 2020 through 2024, serving in a variety of roles but often providing stability in the middle of the rotation.
King, meanwhile, was a pitcher Craig Breslow previously targeted in free agency before he ultimately re-signed with the Padres. With King and Pivetta penciled in at the top, San Diego still has a clear need for a reliable third starter, a role that Brayan Bello could fill seamlessly.
From San Diego’s perspective, Bello checks several important boxes. As Kelly noted, the Padres are exactly the type of team that would benefit from adding a pitcher like Bello, particularly with an eye toward the 2026 season. Behind King and Pivetta, the rotation lacks a clear-cut No. 3 option, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Joe Musgrove.
Musgrove missed all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and even once he returns, the Padres are unlikely to want to put excessive pressure on him immediately. Bringing in Bello would help ease that burden by providing a dependable arm who can take regular turns in the rotation without the workload concerns that often accompany pitchers coming off major surgery.
MORE: Everything to know about SF Giants closer role as spring training nears
Beyond the short-term fit, Bello also offers long-term appeal for San Diego. He is under team control for several more seasons, giving the Padres rotation stability at a time when their current top starters come with contractual uncertainty. Both King and Pivetta have opt-out clauses following the 2026 season, meaning either could test free agency relatively soon.
For president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, that reality matters. Preller has consistently valued flexibility and sustainability, and adding a young, controllable starter like Bello would hedge against the possibility of losing one—or both—of those pitchers in the near future.
On the Boston side, Bello’s situation has changed significantly over the past year. The right-hander is entering the third season of the six-year, $55 million extension he signed with the Red Sox, a deal that once symbolized the organization’s commitment to him as a cornerstone of the rotation. Prior to the additions of Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suárez, Bello was widely viewed as Boston’s top starter and a key building block for the pitching staff. His role was clear: lead the rotation and continue to develop into a front-line presence.
However, the Red Sox’s recent pitching acquisitions have altered that landscape. With Crochet and Suárez now in the fold, Boston suddenly finds itself with a surplus of starting pitching depth, something the organization has rarely been able to claim in recent seasons. That depth gives Breslow options, including the possibility of using Bello as a trade asset to address other needs or rebalance the roster. While Bello remains a valuable pitcher, his relative importance to the rotation has diminished compared to where it stood before Boston’s latest moves.
MORE: Padres officially grab another intriguing attention in latest move
That said, trading Bello would not be a simple decision. As Kelly pointed out, the most significant obstacle in any potential deal with San Diego would be whether the Padres possess enough prospect capital to make the trade worthwhile. Bello is young, cost-controlled, and already established at the major league level, qualities that significantly raise his trade value. If Breslow were to move a starter, Bello would likely be the most attractive and impactful piece he could offer, which in turn would require a substantial return.
For San Diego, that means parting with high-end prospects or young major leaguers, something the organization has been more cautious about after years of aggressive win-now trades. For Boston, the question becomes whether the return would adequately compensate for losing a pitcher who still has upside and is under contract for multiple seasons at a reasonable rate.
Ultimately, Bello sits at the center of an intriguing crossroads. He fits San Diego’s needs almost perfectly, both in the short term and long term, while also representing Boston’s most valuable potential trade chip if Breslow decides to deal from his newfound pitching depth. Whether the Padres have the assets to meet that asking price—and whether the Red Sox are willing to pull the trigger—remains the biggest question looming over any serious trade discussion involving Bello.
Be the first to comment