The Boston Red Sox have underachieved thus far in the 2022 season, as they are currently 23-27, good for fourth place in the American League East. While Boston just so happens to play in one of the more competitive divisions in the MLB, it shouldn't distract from just how disappointing of a start it's been for a team with the sixth-highest payroll in the league.
The Red Sox have started to play better baseball as of late- and they are still just four games back of a wild card spot, thanks to the expanded playoff format in 2022. Boston possesses one of the best lineups in the league, but their pitching is legitimately weighing them down.
This leaves the club in a bit of a strange spot. They won the World Series just four years ago and nearly made it back to the game's biggest stage last season, losing to the Houston Astros in the American League Championship.
While the Red Sox have some young stars to build around- and a farm system that ranked inside the top-15 of MLB.com's preseason rankings, they do also have some older stars who could fetch some serious trade value.
While the Red Sox very well could turn things around and make a run in the AL East, it might better serve their future interests to use this year to retool. The Red Sox could trade some of their veteran pieces for prospects, beefing up their farm system while retaining some of their young stars in the process.
Should they opt to go that route at the MLB trade deadline, here are four players whose value has increased the most thus far.
3 Red Sox Players With Increased MLB Trade Deadline Stock
3. Nathan Eovaldi
Nathan Eovaldi is enjoying a solid season for the Red Sox, having pitched to a 3.77 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings pitched across 10 starts. Eovaldi is also just a year removed from the best season of his career, an All-Star campaign that saw him emerge as the ace of the Red Sox staff sans Chris Sale.
However, the right-hander is 32 and has a checkered injury history, as he has made 30-plus starts just twice in 11 seasons. Eovaldi is well on his way to 30-plus starts this year, though the Red Sox need to consider if they want those outings to come in Boston or not.
The righty has one year remaining on his contract. It's unlikely that the Red Sox will want Eovaldi back on a long-term deal- and unclear if they would even desire him to return once his contract is up.
If Boston remains mediocre once the MLB trade deadline rolls around, they need to consider trading Eovaldi, whose strikeout stuff and experience could prove valuable as a rental arm for contending teams down the stretch.
2. Christian Vazquez
Christian Vazquez drew some trade interest from the Los Angeles Angels his offseason, though the club, who was said to have a high asking price for the 31-year-old, opted to retain him for 2022. Vazquez is making Boston look good for that decision, as he is sporting a .303 batting average and .766 OPS. numbers that make him one of the better hitting catchers around.
The Red Sox have two catching prospects, Connor Wong and Ronaldo Hernandez, waiting in the wings. While the Red Sox value Vazquez' leadership and ability both at and behind the plate, it might be time for the team to explore trades for the veteran backstop, especially the way he's swinging the bat.
Vazquez could net a decent return of prospects if the Red Sox opted to deal him.
On the surface, it might make more sense for the Red Sox to try to patch things up contract-wise with Xander Bogaerts and deal J.D. Martinez instead. Martinez is, after all, 34 years old and in a walk year in 2022.
However, Bogaerts might just be incensed enough with his lack of a contract extension to not want to be in Boston long-term anymore. More importantly, the Red Sox might not be willing to devote any more of their pay roll to the middle infield after just signing Trevor Story this offseason.
That makes Bogaerts the odd man out. Fortunately for the Red Sox, no player has increased their trade stock more than he has. The star shortstop has been an offensive dynamo, batting .321 with five homers, 22 RBI, 30 runs scored and a .859 OPS.
Those are roughly the numbers the three-time All-Star has put up throughout his career. If the Red Sox were to trade Bogaerts, the return of prospects would be massive.
It's something the organization must consider.
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