Proposed Red Sox Trade Should've Happened During 2023 Campaign

With the Texas Rangers crowned as 2024 World Series champions, the MLB offseason is officially underway. Boston Red Sox fans are excited to see what their team does over the winter, especially with it being Craig Breslow's first offseason as the club's Chief Baseball Officer.

Just like with every offseason, fans and experts alike love to project potential trades. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter is in that boat, proposing a trade that would see the Red Sox move on from a player who should've been dealt before last August's trade deadline.

Reuter proposes that Boston should acquire infielder Xavier Edwards from the Miami Marlins in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo.

The main reason behind this proposal is that the Red Sox started a dozen different second basemen during the 2023 campaign. Considering how none of those players started more than 62 games, it's clear that Boston needs a long-term solution and that's exactly who Edwards is.

MLB's No. 85-ranked prospect in 2021, Edwards is a versatile player who spent time at the following positions between the majors and minors last season:

Edwards was also productive offensively in 2023. He racked up 7 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases while slashing .351/.429/.457 across 93 games with Triple-A Jacksonville while also slashing .295/.329/.333 with 5 RBIs in 30 games with the Marlins.

Trading Verdugo is worth it if Edwards can reach his full potential. The truth is that veteran outfielder should've been moved following multiple discipline issues and benchings throughout the 2023 MLB campaign. A good portion of Red Sox fans would be shocked if Verdugo remains on the 2024 roster.

Having said that, Verdugo is still an above-average batter and defender who could help a Marlins team that was swept in the Wild Card Series. He also hits free agency at the end of the 2024 campaign, meaning a deal for a one-year rental isn't that risky for Miami.

At the end of the day, Reuter's proposed trade is a rare win-win for both sides. Boston gets a promising infielder who can provide stability at second base while washing its hands of Verdugo, who would help legitimize the Marlins' outfield when healthy.

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