Red Sox, Braves, Rangers Reportedly Expected to Eye Trades to Improve Rosters

The Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers are reportedly expected to make trades this season as they look to bounce back from poor starts, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic.

"After subpar starts, the Braves, Red Sox and Rangers don’t appear to be postseason teams this year, but most in the industry believe they will make trades to try to improve their respective rosters for the rest of this season and next rather than being typical sellers," Bowden wrote.

"The Braves will focus on acquiring more pitching (starting and relieving). The Red Sox will try to deal one of their outfielders for starting pitching help and an upgrade at first base. The Rangers will generally look for bats if they can’t get their own guys going."

Boston has won five of its last seven games and recently received a jolt of energy after calling him MLB's No. 1 prospect in Roman Anthony. However, the Red Sox are just 34-36, nine games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. Boston is only three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the final AL Wild Card spot, though.

The Braves are indisputably MLB's most disappointing team at 29-38. They were expected to compete for an NL pennant but sit much closer to last place in the NL East (3.5 games ahead of the Miami Marlins) than a wild card spot (nine games behind the San Diego Padres). Atlanta has the talent to turn its season around but needs to get moving.

Texas was also thought to be a World Series contender in the AL West, just two years after winning the 2023 Fall Classic. However, the Rangers sit fourth in the division at 33-36 despite a phenomenal starting rotation. They have won four of their last five games, though, including a pair of 16-run outings against the Minnesota Twins.

So it makes sense that all three teams could be in the mix to make moves before the trade deadline, which is July 31 at 6 p.m. ET.