The Red Sox are seeking to strengthen their starting rotation.
The Boston Red Sox are anticipated to be among the most active teams in the trade market this offseason. Reports suggest they have already expressed interest in Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet.
With one of the strongest farm systems in baseball, young proven Major League talent, and an aggressive front office, the Red Sox appear willing to make bold moves. However, while their prospects are highly skilled, their top-ranked talent consists mostly of position players.
The team urgently needs to bolster its starting pitching depth. Although Crochet could be a solid addition, his limited experience as a starter—having completed just one full season—and only two years of team control raise concerns about his durability and ability to pitch deep into games.
One potential trade avenue for the Red Sox to acquire a young, controllable starting pitcher is the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Trade Proposal:
The Red Sox send shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer (MLB’s No. 7 prospect), outfield prospect Braden Montgomery (No. 54), and outfielder Wilyer Abreu to the Pirates in exchange for starting pitcher Jared Jones.
Jared Jones, 23, is one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball. In his rookie season in 2024, he started 22 games for the Pirates, posting a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA and 132 strikeouts over 121 2/3 innings. Jones relies heavily on a fastball averaging 97.3 mph (topping 100 mph) and a devastating slider with a 37.3% whiff rate, complemented by an occasional curveball and changeup.
Jones had a strong start to 2024, going 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA before the All-Star break, though his performance dipped in the latter half of the season. Despite these struggles, his age, talent, and five years of team control make him an attractive target. The Pirates might entertain moving him for the right return, given their organizational pitching depth, including top prospects like Bubba Chandler (No. 15), Braxton Ashcraft (No. 85), and Thomas Harrington (No. 91).
For the Red Sox, Jones would likely slot in as their No. 2 starter behind Tanner Houck, with the potential to develop into a perennial All-Star. While the Pirates envision Jones as part of a dominant duo with reigning NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes, their surplus of pitching prospects could make Jones expendable if Boston delivers an unmatched offer.
Why the Pittsburgh Pirates would accept the Boston Red Sox’s trade
The Pirates’ offense struggled throughout the 2024 season, ranking near the bottom of the league in several key metrics. They posted the fifth-lowest OPS, the sixth-fewest total bases and home runs, and the seventh-fewest runs scored. With a generational talent like Paul Skenes anchoring their rotation, the Pirates must prioritize building an offense capable of providing better run support.
One position that has recently become a priority is shortstop. After Oneil Cruz faced ongoing defensive challenges at the position, the team decided to move him to center field. Although the Pirates have internal candidates like 18-year-old Konnor Griffin (ranked No. 50) and 22-year-old Termarr Johnson (ranked No. 75), Griffin is still years away from the big leagues and is projected as more of an outfielder, while Johnson is likely to shift to second base.
This leaves a clear opening for a player like Marcelo Mayer, a 22-year-old Red Sox prospect ranked No. 7 overall and the second-best shortstop prospect in baseball. Mayer is an elite offensive talent and would immediately be a contender for the Pirates’ Opening Day shortstop role. It’s rare for a prospect of Mayer’s caliber to be available on the trade market, but the Red Sox are in desperate need of pitching and could be willing to part with him for the right return, such as Pirates’ pitcher Quinn Priester.
Outfielder Wilyer Abreu, another key piece in the proposed trade, proved himself as a high-quality Major League player during his rookie campaign in 2024. The 25-year-old slashed .253/.322/.459 with 15 home runs across 132 games for Boston and earned a Gold Glove in right field. Abreu would immediately become the Pirates’ starting right fielder, with the potential to grow into a middle-of-the-order offensive contributor.
While Mayer and Abreu would provide significant value, the Pirates would likely seek an additional piece in exchange for a player of Jones’ caliber. Options could include 21-year-old outfield prospect Braden Montgomery (ranked No. 54), or others such as starting pitcher Kutter Crawford, infielder David Hamilton, or lower-level pitching prospects like David Sandlin or Richard Fitts.
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