Trade Packages and Landing Spots For Red Sox Stars Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray and More
In just three months, the Boston Red Sox have gone from a potential player for the AL East title to the worst team in the entire American League.
If anyone in Boston wants to look on the bright side, at least the Red Sox stand to cut their losses at the August 3 trade deadline. Should they choose to sell, they stand to effectively own the summer trading market.
Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Isiah Kiner-Falefa would figure to be up for grabs, and don't rule out Jarren Duran or Garrett Whitlock either. And if there are two guys in baseball who need a change of scenery, they're Brayan Bello and Kristian Campbell.
It'll ultimately be up to chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who has recently been insisting on a desire to keep chasing wins. But those are the words of a guy who seems to know his job is on the line, not of a rational thinker. Even in an otherwise wide-open American League, a 33-46 hole is simply too deep.
So, let's get to speculating on the best landing spots and potential trade packages for all eight of the names listed above.
Kristian Campbell, OF
1 of 8
Age: 23
2026 Stats (AAA): 60 G, 261 PA, 2 HR, .209 AVG, .338 OBP, .280 SLG
Contract: Year 2 of 8-year, $60 million (2033-34 team options)
Best Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Pirates
Kristian Campbell has been stuck in the minors ever since last June, and that is pretty much all on him. He basically stopped hitting after winning AL Rookie of the Month last April, largely because he got exposed against breaking and offspeed pitches.
He did hit a solid .265 against fastballs, however, and that alone makes him an intriguing fit for Pirates offense that has built a resurgence on hitting fastballs. They also just plain need a right-handed hitter, as the ones they employ have only produced a 76 wRC+.
Trade Proposal: Pirates get OF Kristian Campbell, cash; Red Sox get DH Marcell Ozuna, LHP Carmen Mlodzinski, 2B Termarr Johnson
This trade proposal is mostly about balancing the books. Campbell's $60 million contract is already underwater, so even taking on Ozuna's similarly underwater $12 million salary wouldn't be enough for Boston to also demand other players.
Hence the included cash, which would have to be enough to effectively buy Mlodzinski and Johnson. The former's uncertain role is an issue in Pittsburgh, while the latter is like Campbell in that he's a former top prospect in need of a change of scenery. The former No. 4 pick has yet to find a consistent stroke in the pros.
Other Landing Spots: St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds
Brayan Bello, RHP
2 of 8
Age: 27
2026 Stats (MLB): 12 G, 61.0 IP, 78 H (10 HR), 44 K, 24 BB, 6.34 ERA
Contract: Year 3 of 6-year, $55 million (2030 team option)
Best Landing Spot: Milwaukee Brewers
Between Quinn Priester last year and Kyle Harrison this year, Craig Breslow has two good reasons to be wary of sending a pitcher to Milwaukee in a sell-low deal. Of course, the flip-side of this equation is why the Brewers are such a fascinating possibility for Brayan Bello.
They're good at fixing pitchers, and Bello's 5.19 ERA in two starts since he was banished to Triple-A only further confirm that he needs fixing. The Brewers might at least need him as a multi-inning fireman out of the bullpen, a role which could mirror that of the left-handed Aaron Ashby.
Trade Proposal: Brewers get RHP Brayan Bello, cash; Red Sox get LHP Angel Zerpa, 1B Luke Adams
This proposal is similar in shape to the Kristian Campbell-to-Pittsburgh concept, as even taking on Zerpa (who's recovering from Tommy John surgery) wouldn't balance the books where the money is concerned. Boston would have to hand the Brewers a check along with Bello.
It would be worth it to take a chance on Adams. He isn't a prospect of any renown, but he's a right-handed slugger who's following a 1.039 OPS in the AFL with a 1.025 OPS in the minors this year. Guys like that can surprise you.
Other Landing Spots: Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, INF
3 of 8
Age: 31
2026 Stats: 47 G, 132 PA, 2 HR, .277 AVG, .344 OBP, .361 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $6 million
Best Landing Spot: San Diego Padres
It's hard to find an exciting fit for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, mostly on account of the fact that he isn't a particularly exciting player. He's a versatile defender with a good bat-to-ball skill, and that's about the end of the elevator pitch.
If IKF went to San Diego, though, he would help with a downstream improvement of a Padres outfield that has produced only 1.3 rWAR. He could play second base, with Fernando Tatis Jr. moving back to right field and Samad Taylor moving into part-time duty in left and center.
Trade Proposal: Padres get INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa; Red Sox get OF Jase Bowen
Kiner-Falefa is a textbook definition of a complementary piece, and therefore not a trade chip who's going to bring back a haul for the Red Sox. The best they can do is aim for a high-reward type.
That's Bowen in a nutshell. He's a righty hitter who's reeled in what had been a wild approach so far in 2026, and he's thus far benefited with 13 homers in 49 games at Triple-A. He didn't clear double digits in either of the last two minor league seasons.
Other Landing Spots: Athletics, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays
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Garrett Whitlock, RHP
4 of 8
Age: 30
2026 Stats: 25 G, 24.2 IP, 22 H (3 HR), 29 K, 6 BB, 2.92 ERA
Contract: Year 4 of 4-year, $19.25 million (2027-28 team options)
Best Landing Spot: Cincinnati Reds
The Reds' bullpen has a 4.81 ERA, which ranks 25th in MLB. That's bad enough, but what's worse is how much their right-handed relievers, specifically, haven't helped. They've combined for a 5.42 ERA and 1.55 WHIP.
Simply to this extent, Garrett Whitlock is one of dozens of options who should be on the board in Nick Krall's office. And beyond being better than most, what he has on the rest is cheap controllability. Those option years are valued at $8.25 million and $10.5 million, respectively.
Trade Proposal: Reds get RHP Garrett Whitlock; Red Sox get 3B Cam Collier
As good as Whitlock is, he's probably not a valuable enough chip for Boston to demand, say, the Reds' second-ranked prospect, catcher Alfredo Duno. And if so, this is another situation where the best they can do is target upside.
Even after so many years of disappointment following his selection at No. 18 in the 2022 draft, Collier still has legit upside as a major league slugger. And since his left-handed power goes to all fields, he could be especially dangerous at Fenway Park.
Other Landing Spots: Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers
Jarren Duran, LF
5 of 8
Age: 29
2026 Stats: 72 G, 318 PA, 12 HR, .199 AVG, .258 OBP, .366 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $7.7 million (free agent after 2028)
Best Landing Spot: Arizona Diamondbacks
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the D-backs are telling teams they want to add left-handed power. If one is so inclined, one can connect that dot to another from Sean McAdam of MassLive about Arizona's fondness for Jarren Duran.
It isn't a reach, given that even this diminished version of Duran could upgrade a left field spot that has produced only 0.3 rWAR. The Snakes also have right-handed bats to offer Boston, including former top prospect Jordan Lawlar.
Trade Proposal: Diamondbacks get LF Jarren Duran; Red Sox get SS Jordan Lawlar
This is where things start getting good. Duran is in his prime and under club control for two more seasons after 2026. There wouldn't be much point in not swapping him out for a potential impact player in the majors.
A Duran-for-Lawlar swap would have that kind of promise for the Red Sox. Injuries have taken some of the shine off Lawlar since he was a borderline top-10 prospect in the first half of the 2020s. Yet he's still only 23, and the 12 games he played with the D-backs this year showed some signs of him figuring it out.
Other Landing Spots: San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians
Sonny Gray, RHP
6 of 8
Age: 36
2026 Stats: 14 GS, 76.1 IP, 71 H (9 HR), 66 K, 20 BB, 2.95 ERA
Contract: Year 3 of 3-year, $75 million (2027 mutual option)
Best Landing Spot: Atlanta Braves
Sonny Gray is only going to go anywhere if he approves of the destination. He has a no-trade clause, and he's merely said he's "open for a conversation" about waiving it this summer.
Would he be able to say no to the Braves if they wanted him? One doubts it. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Gray has told friends in the past that he'd love to pitch for them. And if Atlanta could team him with Chris Sale, the road to the World Series would get that much straighter.
Trade Proposal: Braves get RHP Sonny Gray; Red Sox get RHP AJ Smith-Shawver, OF Pat Clohisy
Though Gray has a $31 million salary this year and a $10 million buyout for next year, $20 million of the total sum is on the St. Louis Cardinals. That gives Boston a little bit of leeway to press for a maximized package in trade talks.
To this end, a Smith-Shawver and Clohisy pairing would at least be interesting. Smith-Shawver is a former top prospect who teased a breakout last year before he needed Tommy John surgery. Clohisy is a plus-plus speed guy with a solid bat-to-ball talent.
Other Landing Spots: Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres
Willson Contreras, 1B
7 of 8
Age: 34
2026 Stats: 76 G, 317 PA, 16 HR, .280 AVG, .375 OBP, .520 SLG
Contract: Year 4 of 5-year, $87.5 million (2028 team option)
Best Landing Spot: Cleveland Guardians
If it's true that Byron Buxton isn't going anywhere, then Willson Contreras might be the best right-handed hitter to be had this summer. Only four qualified hitters are doing better than his 144 wRC+.
As they rank 25th in the league in home runs and 22nd in wRC+ from righty hitters, the Guardians badly need Contreras' bat in their lineup. And since their payroll is down from last season, one would hope that his $18 million salary for 2026 and $18.5 million salary for 2027 aren't deal-breakers.
Trade Proposal: Guardians get 1B Willson Contreras; Red Sox get OF Jaison Chourio (Guardians No. 8)
In a vacuum, this is probably more than Contreras is worth. But scarcity matters, as the Red Sox can and should take advantage of the fact that he's an elite right-handed bat amid a season when such bats are hard to find.
Yes, Jaison Chourio is Jackson's younger brother. He lost some stock after entering last season as a top-100 prospect, but is gaining it back by batting .306/.416/.482 in the minors this season.
Other Landing Spots: Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners
Aroldis Chapman, LHP
8 of 8
Age: 38
2026 Stats: 23 G, 21.2 IP, 16 H (0 HR), 29 K, 9 BB, 2.08 ERA
Contract: 1 year, $13.3 million (2027 mutual option)
Best Landing Spot: Seattle Mariners
Even after some recent hiccups, Aroldis Chapman still has a 1.41 ERA in his two seasons with the Red Sox. It's some of the best pitching he's done in a 17-year career, and that's saying something.
Because he's A) a rental and B) the best reliever on the market, Chapman only makes sense for teams who need to see pursuing him as being the key to unlocking a World Series run. The Mariners fit the bill, as adding another late-inning arm to an undermanned bullpen would make their pitching staff the best in the AL—if it isn't already.
Trade Proposal: Mariners get LHP Aroldis Chapman; Red Sox get C Luke Stevenson (Mariners No. 7)
The catcher position has emerged as both a short- and long-term problem for the Red Sox this year, which makes it kind of an issue that they don't have catching talent in their minor league system.
Getting Stevenson would solve that. He projects as a terrific defender behind the plate, and he's been better than advertised offensively. In 77 minor league games since last year's draft, he's gotten on base at a .418 clip.
Other Landing Spots: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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