The trade rumors aren't just focusing on those players whose contracts expire after the 2020 season.
The reminder that almost everyone on the Red Sox roster is up for discussions heading into Monday's trade deadline came with The Athletic's report that the Sox and Rays have engaged in talks involving Christian Vazquez.
The fit would seem to be a logical one considering the Rays need for catching help, currently owning the fourth-worst batting average at the position in Major League Baseball. Tampa Bay is also flush with nearly-ready pitching prospects, the likes of which the Red Sox would clearly be looking to get back in any deal.
For the Red Sox such a deal is more of a high risk, high reward scenario than some of the other talked about trade possibilities.
Vazquez -- who is having an up-and-down season (.260 batting average, 4 homers, .717 OPS) -- would get back a higher-end pitcher than most of the other Red Sox' free-agent-to-be trade chips. He is under team control through the 2022 season, never making more than $7 million a season. (Vazquez is owed around $680,000 for the remainder of this season.)
But the 30-year-old does represent some certainty an uncertain roster.
Without Vazquez, the Red Sox would be relying on Kevin Plawecki in the short-term with the hope that someone like Connor Wong could develop into a major-leaguer at some point in 2021. It would also open the conversation regarding the Sox making a run at one of the premier free agents, catcher J.T. Realmuto.