After a month of July when they won 17 games and lost only seven, the Boston Red Sox forced their way back into playoff contention and appeared like a sure thing to “buy” at the trade deadline. The Boston roster has some conspicuous holes, and chief of baseball operations Craig Breslow was certainly expected to address them.
One big hole is at first base, where Triston Casas vacated the spot May 2 when he tore a patellar tendon in a fall running out an infield grounder.
First Base Follies For the Red Sox
After former third baseman and, in 2025, designated hitter Rafael Devers flatly refused to take over at first â leading to his trade on June 15 to the San Francisco Giants â the Red Sox turned to journeyman Abraham Toro.
Playing for his fifth team in seven seasons, Toro started off well, posting an .833 OPS in May and a respectable .761 in June. But as the Red Sox went on their July hot streak, Toro went cold. In July he managed just 15 hits and five walks in 78 plate appearances, with a meager OPS of just .574.
According to multiple media reports, the Red Sox then set their sites on the 2023 American League batting champion, who has belted 18 home runs so far this season â 33-year-old Yandy DÃaz of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rays Slugger ‘Made For Fenway’
âThe Red Sox still need a first baseman, and if the Rays make Yandy DÃaz available, heâd be their first choice. DÃaz was made for Fenway,â reported New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman on Tuesday.
DÃaz may have been made for Fenway, but he will likely not be playing at Fenway after he left Thursday’s game against the New York Yankees after being hit by a pitch from New York Yankees starter Marcus Stroman in the first inning.
The Cuban native who brought an .809 OPS into Thursday’s contest stayed in the game but was removed for a pinch hitter in his next at-bat. DÃaz was taken for X-rays, according to a report by Jon Morosi of MLB.com.
DÃaz Out With ‘Forearm Contusion’
Another MLB.com reporter, Bryan Hoch, then reported that the Rays described the injury to DÃaz as a “right forearm contusion” and listed his status as “day to day.”
The injury almost certainly takes DÃaz off table as a Red Sox trade target, especially because â according to Boston Globe reporter Alex Speier â acquiring DÃaz was “extremely unlikely” for the Red Sox.
“The Rays love DÃaz and he’s got multiple years left,” Speier wrote. “Rays would want impact, near big league-ready (or current big league) players back for him. A few weeks ago, [Wilyer] Abreu (maybe [Jarren] Duran) fit that bill. But with the [Marcelo] Mayer injury and Rafaela getting time at second base, the Sox no longer have outfield surplus.”
Red Sox Miss Out on Second 1st-Base Target of the Day
Shortly after the bad news about DÃaz came in, the Red Sox saw another widely rumored first base trade target disappear as well. Ryan O’Hearn, the Baltimore Orioles slugging first-bagger, went to the San Diego Padres.
The eight-year veteran, who is playing on a one-year, $3.5 million contract with a club option at $8 million for next season, had 13 home runs and an .837 OPS at the time of the trade. But the Red Sox could not pull the trigger on O’Hearn before the Padres jumped in.
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