MLB Rumors: Red Sox Trading With AL East Rival For Top Choice Slugger?

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is on the clock. He has until Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline to find a slugger for the stretch run.

“The Red Sox still need a first baseman, and if the Rays make Yandy Díaz available, he’d be their first choice. Díaz was made for Fenway,” the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported Tuesday.

That echoes what The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported earlier this month.

“The Red Sox would love to land first baseman Yandy Díaz from them and the Astros would like to acquire second baseman Brandon Lowe,” Bowden wrote.

“Both have 2026 team options. Tampa could trade one or both in contender-to-contender type swaps that could work in the short- and long-term for their organization,” Bowden concluded.

Diaz, 33, is hitting a healthy .283 this season with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs in 101 games. Two years ago, he earned his first All-Star nod and picked up his first Silver Slugger Award after winning the American League batting title by hitting a career-best .330.

The right-handed bat is making $12 million this season. Tampa Bay already picked up the $12 million club option for 2026 and added a conditional $10 million club option for 2027.

According to Spotrac, Daiz’s 2027 salary vests at $13 million with 500 plate appearances next season.

At this point, it’s hard to say if the Rays will be willing to part with Diaz. Tampa (54-54) is in fourth place in the American League East, 8 1/2 game behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays. But the Rays are just three games back in the American League Wild Card standings.

The Red Sox are in the market for a first baseman after losing Triston Casas to a season-ending knee injury in May.