Is Craig Breslow prepared to make a big trade?
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Craig Breslow is starting to get more specific when it comes to filling out his roster, as was evidenced Wednesday at the GM Meetings when talking about finding a second baseman.
"(Tuesday) we talked a little bit about the value of right handed hitting middle infielder or at least some positional versatility. I think we feel a lot better about shortstop right now than we did, or maybe than the organization did at some other points during the season last year," he said. "But versatility is really, really valuable. I think we’re probably more keyed in on second base, though, than being able to play both."
There was also the update regarding outfield Alex Verdugo.
"His fit is as an everyday right fielder who is playing Gold Glove caliber defense and can impact the ball on the offensive side, as well. We have had some conversations with him," the new Chief Baseball Officer added. "It feels like he’s committed to performing the best he possibly can. Obviously, he’s a guy other teams have reached on given the situation. I don’t think we’re in a position to commit to anything. We have to look at every opportunity, every interaction with another club or an agent that might make our team better. Where that lands, we’ll see."
So, what does it all mean?
One road the aforementioned proclamations might lead to is a potential trade with one of the Red Sox' chief rivals.
According to major league sources, the Red Sox identified Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres as a trade target last season - with Verdugo being of interest to New York. It appears the teams might very well be looping back on that conversation this offseason.
Torres is viewed by some in the Red Sox' organization as an excellent fit, offering the kind of stability at second base the team didn't possess in 2023.
The 26-year-old has one more year of arbitration eligibility, predicted to make just more than $14 million in 2024.
Torres represented one of the most reliable second basemen in baseball last season, finishing with an .800 OPS to go along with 25 homers, 13 stolen bases and a .273 batting average over 158 games.
Considering the right-handed-hitting Torres' potential presence to play alongside Trevor Story in the middle of the Red Sox' infield - with the contractual timeline matching up with the possible integration of Marcelo Mayer in 2025 - such an acquisition would make sense.
And with the Yankees showing interest in another player heading into his contract year, Verdugo (as also stated by both Chris Henrique and Sean McAdam), it's a scenario that bears watching.