The Boston Red Sox carry arguably the strongest rotation situation in Major League Baseball entering 2026. After acquiring Sonny Gray to serve as the No. 2 to ace Garrett Crochet, Boston carries enviable depth. They have plenty of options to go with their rotation between Brayan Bello, Johan Oviedo, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Patrick Sandoval, and Kutter Crawford.
With this much depth for five rotation spots, other teams see that as a possibility to make a deal to shore up their rotation. Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report that the Red Sox “quietly shopped” Bello this offseason.
Their source was a rival executive, so the information has to be taken with a grain of salt. In that same report, it’s noted that someone briefed on the discussions disputed whether Boston is shopping Bello or not.
So far this offseason, the Red Sox have been active on the trade market. In addition to Gray, they picked up first baseman Willson Contreras and right-hander Johan Oviedo. Boston also explored deals for Ketel Marte and Brendan Donovan, ending discussions on the former after landing Contreras. It’s unclear if the Red Sox are still pursuing Donovan, as the report came out before the Contreras trade.
Why Brayan Bello is Appealing to Other Teams
Bello agreed to a six-year, $55 million extension in 2024. The right-hander is under contract for the next four seasons for a very affordable $50.5 million. It’s a contract that appeals to any club seeking to improve its rotation.
Teams will often discuss players, if only just to gauge their value from other clubs and nothing else. Eventually, the Red Sox need to clear room for top prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle long-term. If they get the exact deal they want for Bello, they could pull the trigger on a trade. However, the likelihood of such a deal occurring is extremely low.
While Bello might not develop into a frontline starter, he’s a reliable innings-eater in the middle of the Red Sox’s rotation. He’s coming off three straight seasons of at least 28 starts and 157 innings. In 2025, he pitched to a 3.35 ERA over 166.2 innings, helping Boston reach the postseason for the first time since 2021. Bello currently projects as Boston’s No. 3 starter by Roster Resource.
Why the Red Sox Shouldn’t Trade Bello
Crochet saw a major workload spike in 2025, and Gray is 36. Having a young, reliable innings-eater in the middle of the rotation is paramount if they want to contend. The issue of finding spots for Tolle and Early is important when considering the club’s long-term outlook; the primary focus is on contending.
It’s going to be a tough 2026 season in the American League East. The Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Orioles have been very active this offseason, with each landing multiple high-profile additions. Toronto has picked up Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, while the Orioles landed Pete Alonso and Shane Baz. Throw in the Yankees, another big-spending club in the division, and the entire division could be up for grabs between those four teams.
For the Red Sox to win the AL East in 2026, they’ll likely need Bello healthy and repeating his 2025 form. When the club hired Craig Breslow to oversee their baseball operations, the idea was for him to build a roster strong enough to win in that meatgrinder division. Trading Bello, without the appropriate return, could hinder that goal. The old saying from Jurassic Park goes, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”
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