The Boston Red Sox, riding a 10-game win streak and sitting at 53-45, approach the MLB trade deadline on July 31, 2025, with high stakes. Speculation recently swirled about trading key players like Aroldis Chapman and Alex Bregman due to their contract situations. However, ESPN’s Jeff Passan, appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, firmly dismissed these rumors. “They’re gonna add, and if they get another starting pitcher who can be at the top of that rotation… the Boston Red Sox are legitimate World Series contenders,” Passan said. Consequently, Boston plans to acquire talent to fuel a playoff push.
Passan: Red Sox Will Be Buyers at Trade Deadline
Dismissing Trade Speculation
Rumors suggested trading Chapman, a 37-year-old All-Star closer with a 1.18 ERA, to maximize his trade value. Similarly, Bregman, a third baseman batting .298 with opt-out clauses after 2025 and 2026, was considered a trade candidate to avoid losing him for nothing. Passan rejected these ideas, stating, “Aroldis Chapman’s going nowhere, Alex Bregman’s going nowhere” (The Pat McAfee Show, July 14, 2025). Moreover, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic echoed this on July 11, saying, “Anyone waiting for a Bregman trade should also be waiting for me to posterize Wembanyama. One notion is as preposterous as the other.” Thus, Boston values its veteran stars too much to trade them.
“The Red Sox are gonna add before the trade deadline..
They are legitimate World Series contenders”@JeffPassan #ProgrumSummerRoadTrip https://t.co/4kDWpCk0ze pic.twitter.com/53NufgW2z2
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 14, 2025
Fortifying the Bullpen
Although Chapman has been exceptional, the Red Sox bullpen needs improvement. Passan highlighted this weakness, suggesting a target like Ryan Helsley from St. Louis. Pairing Helsley with Chapman could create “arguably the top setup-closer combination in baseball” (The Pat McAfee Show, July 14, 2025). Furthermore, this move would complement a strong rotation led by Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello. Therefore, Craig Breslow’s front office aims to bolster late-game reliability to enhance playoff prospects.
Playoff Ambitions
Despite a rocky start, Boston’s 10-game win streak has them one game behind the top American League Wild Card spot and three games back in the AL East. Rosenthal expressed optimism, stating, “The Red Sox are in great shape… frankly, might be in the World Series, if they make the right moves here” (Foul Territory, July 14, 2025). Additionally, Bregman’s imminent return from a quad injury and rookie Roman Anthony’s .931 OPS in July fuel confidence. Red Sox president Sam Kennedy reinforced this aggressive approach, saying, “We have the ability to do that in terms of, you know, a blessing from ownership, and fulfilling our goal of becoming a postseason team… we do have the ability to go out and improve the team” (The Greg Hill Show, June 2025). Boston sees itself as a postseason contender.
Strategic Moves Ahead
Rather than trading stars, Boston plans to leverage outfield depth to address pitching needs. Jarren Duran, despite trade rumors, remains valuable with three-plus years of club control. Rosenthal noted, “Duran has three-plus years of club control remaining. It would be perfect if you could trade him for a starting pitcher with three-plus years of control. It’s going to be really interesting to see how they play this” (Foul Territory, July 14, 2025). Nevertheless, Boston focuses on adding talent. By retaining Bregman and Chapman and targeting bullpen help, the Red Sox aim to capitalize on their momentum. Now at a season-best eight games over .500, they seek a postseason berth in a wide-open American League. Accordingly, Boston’s front office will prioritize strategic acquisitions to solidify its World Series aspirations.
Main Photo Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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