Craig Breslow is just getting started. That’s what many MLB insiders think about the Red Sox chief baseball officer, following Boston’s stunning trade of All-Star designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.
Among the holes in the Red Sox roster is first base, with Tristan Casas sidelined for the rest of the season by a knee injury. Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro have been holding things down at first, but if Breslow wants a more permanent solution, there’s an obvious target ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
“What the general public never factors into their knee-jerk trade reactions is what the teams trading away the large contract can now go do with those dollars,” an NL executive said to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand following the Devers trade. “Boston should go trade for someone like [Brewers first baseman] Rhys Hoskins right now. Then the deal takes on a whole new dimension.”
Feinsand noted Hoskins is on the books this season for $18 million this season and has an $18 million mutual option with a $4 million buyout, making him most likely destined for free agency this winter.
The 32-year-old slugger hit his 12th home run of the season on Sunday in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 9-8 win over the Minnesota Twins.
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Hoskins, who made his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 and finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting, has hit at least 26 home runs five times.
Even if the Red Sox don’t land Hoskins, Feinsand wrote the Red Sox will be active ahead of the trade deadline, due in part to the Giants assuming all of the remaining money on Devers’ $313.5 million contract.
“Boston should be in position to hunt short-term upgrades to support their current 2025 team; players on expiring contracts with some dollars remaining tend to be accessible for a reasonable return if the acquiring team is willing to take on the dollars,” an NL executive said to Feinsand. “Boston can now leverage their newfound savings to pursue these types of opportunities across their roster.”
