The Boston Red Sox entered the All-Star break on a 10-game winning streak, which put them right back into a playoff spot.
With the Red Sox back in a playoff spot, Boston should be buyers ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Ahead of the deadline, MLB insider Robert Murray of FanSided links the Red Sox to trading for Ryan O’Hearn from the Baltimore Orioles.
“The Orioles have already made one intra-division trade. Why not another? The Red Sox are in a position to buy at the deadline. And, with the right series of moves, could be a World Series contender even after trading Rafael Devers,” Murray wrote. “O’Hearn would give them certainty throughout the season at first base and bolster the lineup. It’s a move that makes plenty of sense, with Josh Naylor of the Arizona Diamondbacks looming as another potential fit.”
The Red Sox have a need at first base with Triston Casas injured, and O’Hearn would add another slugger to the middle of the lineup.
O’Hearn is a pending UFA, so it would be a rental for Boston, which is perfect as it allows Casas to be the starting first baseman in 2026.
O’Hearn is hitting .286 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs with the Orioles this season. The left-handed hitter was named an All-Star in 2025 for the first time in his career.
Red Sox Want to Bolster Roster at Trade Deadline
Boston is holding onto a Wild Card spot and looking to chase down the Toronto Blue Jays for the division lead.
With the Red Sox trying to make the playoffs, Boston will be aggressive at the deadline, according to Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
“We still have to understand what happens over the next three weeks, but that is how we’re approaching this deadline, we want to improve the team,” Breslow said. “We want to find ways to bolster the group. The play on the field exemplifies that. We’ve obviously put ourselves in a pretty good spot here with the way that we’ve been playing over the last few weeks. (We) have reason to believe that we can continue that.”
With Casas out for the year, first base could be a need, but Breslow isn’t sure it is a must-add.
“At one point, we would have said, ‘Our first baseman is out for the year.’ But then you look at what (Abraham) Toro and Romy (Gonzalez) have been able to do platooning over there and that’s the equivalent of a really good first baseman,” Breslow added. “We’ll be open-minded but based on the performance we’re getting right now, I don’t think it’s a massive, glaring hole.”
O’Hearn Opens up on Trade Rumors
Ahead of the trade deadline, the Orioles are expected to be sellers.
One name that has come up in trade talks is O’Hearn, but he says he’s trying not to focus on all the rumors.
“I’m trying to be where my feet are. Focus on one day at a time with the guys in the locker room in Baltimore,” O’Hearn said. “I love them and I want to be with them. But at the same time, I understand it’s a business. This happens every year. Guys get traded around this time, so this is just part of it.”
O’Hearn has spent the past three years with the Orioles.
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