The start of spring training is just two weeks away, and the Boston Red Sox’s infield remains unsettled.
While the Red Sox have done much to improve their starting rotation this offseason, they’re still short an infielder after losing Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency.
Most of the top free agents are already off the board, but fortunately for Boston, there’s still time to swing a trade.
The Red Sox have already been linked to Ketel Marte and others in trade rumors throughout the offseason, but it’s unclear if Marte is actually available. According to former MLB GM Jim Bowden, another All-Star shortstop might be.
On Tuesday, Bowden reported for The Athletic that the Washington Nationals may be open to dealing C.J. Abrams, naming Boston as a potential trade partner.
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“The Nationals are not shopping Abrams, but they are listening and they will have to consider a trade if they can move him for a huge package like they received for trading MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers,” Bowden writes. “However, unlike in the Gore trade, if they deal Abrams, they will need either major-league ready players back or prospects in the upper-levels who are close to the show.”
The Red Sox can offer the Nationals both. While they’ve already traded numerous prospects this winter, they could still offer a compelling trade package with assets from their farm system and/or crowded rotation and outfield.
Abrams, 25, is coming off three good seasons and is still under team control through 2028. He’d allow Trevor Story to move to second base, with Marcelo Mayer replacing Bregman at third and Willson Contreras sharing first base duties with Triston Casas.
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The San Francisco Giants already made a run at Abrams, however, and may still be interested. Bowden listed the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners as other possible fits.
