The struggling Red Sox were told Friday to pursue Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez in a blockbuster trade proposal. Almost two weeks since manager Alex Cora was fired, the ed Sox, while showing a few scattered signs of life, are still stuck in last place at 16-22. Now, a popular Red Sox podcast commentator has directed a message at the organization, telling boss Craig Breslow to make one trade that could unlock everything and turn the Red Sox from American League East afterthoughts into genuine contenders.
But acquiring one of baseballâs most feared hitters could force Boston to surrender multiple cornerstone young players. The trade would cost the Red Sox dearly.
In the trade proposed by host Gabby Maljanian on the Friday Locked On Red Sox podcast, the Red Sox would part with outfielder Jarren Duran. That part may not be all that painful. With the Red Sox’s five-man outfield congestion, Duran has been seen as the odd man out and the Red Sox player most frequently mentioned in trade rumors throughout the offseason.
But the pain would come in what, according to Maljanian, the Red Sox would need to include along with Duran to obtain one of the most prolific hitters in baseball and a genuine AL MVP candidate â Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.
The eight-year veteran from Las Tunas, Cuba, currently ranks fourth in MLB in OPS at 1.061, and also places in the top 10 in home runs (12), offensive WAR (1.8), on-base percentage (.423), adjusted batting wins (1.8) and other categories as well.
So, what would it take for the Red Sox to pry the 28-year-old away from the Astros?
Alvarez a Proven Fenway Park Hitter
Alvarez appears to be a natural target for the Red Sox, if for no other reason than that he is already a proven Fenway Park hitter. In the American League, only the Athletics’ home of Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., has been kinder to Alvarez than Fenway.
The Astros slugger has posted a 1.342 OPS in Fenway across his career in 15 games there. His seven Fenway home runs are more than in all but four road ballparks.
“The biggest thing right now with the Red Sox offense is that they donât really have a guy that you can pinpoint and say genuinely, yeah, I would want this guy up 100 percent with people on base. No doubt about it,” Maljanian said on the Locked On Red Sox podcast. “Yordan Alvarez is that player who would instantly be identified as the player that would be that threat in the middle of the Red Sox order if they were to add Yordan into their lineup.”
The Price: Duran Plus Two Top Prospects
Maljanian proposes offering Duran to the Astros in exchange for Alvarez, but the Locked On host is clearly aware that the price would be much higher than one 29-year-old outfielder.
“Right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon, whoâs the Red Soxâs No. 3 prospect right now, would probably have to be in there,” Maljanian asserted. The 21-year-old right-hander is a pitching prospect for whom the Red Sox obviously have high expectations, drafting him out of Oklahoma with the No. 15 overall pick last year.
But not only would the Red Sox send their No. 3 overall prospect to Houston for Alvarez, they would need to trade away their No. 2 prospect as well.
“Franklin Arias, who is just lighting up the scene right now in Double-A,” Maljanian said on the Friday program. “Heâs played 23 games this season for the Sea Dogs. And in those 23 games, heâs posted a near league-best .346 batting average. He has 28 hits in 81 at-bats, including five doubles and eight home runs. He also has an OPS of 1.129 and 20 RBIs. He also has a knack for clutch hitting, as his multiple walk-offs have made their way onto highlight pages everywhere.”
The Locked On Red Sox host admits that the Red Sox would be, at least to some extent, mortgaging their future by giving up their No. 2 and No. 3 prospects.
“This probably would be a bit of an overpay for Boston, but it would definitely fix the offense without destroying the future altogether,” Maljanian said. “So, should they trade for Yordan Alvarez if the opportunity presents itself and heâs on the move? Absolutely. Game-changing player who would no doubt kill it at Fenway Park. So, maybe the Red Sox will entertain it.”
Whether Red Sox fans, who often tend to grow attached to the team’s homegrown players, would be quite as enthusiastic as the podcast host is another question, but one the Red Sox will likely not need to confront until the trade deadline rolls around.
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