MLB insider has wishy-washy take on Red Sox at trade deadline

The Boston Red Sox' plans for the 2024 trade deadline remain a mystery, and it seems to only keep getting more murky by the day.

But it's fair to go by reporting from the top insiders in the game to create a picture of expectations for the team's expected trade activity (or lack thereof). The Red Sox have been at or near the top of the list of teams to watch ahead of the deadline, as they've emerged in 2024 as a contender to make the playoffs.

Still, the question of whether the Red Sox are going to be "buyers" or "sellers" at the trade deadline remains just that, a question. But the latest reporting from top baseball insider Jeff Passan at ESPN indicates that they could do a little of both - emphasis on "little."

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“There are dueling thoughts within the organization that run into direct conflict with one another," Passan wrote in a new trade deadline preview at ESPN.com. "On one hand, the Red Sox have overachieved, so pushing some chips into the middle would reward a group that warrants such. On the other, they'll soon transition to a younger core, with Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, Kyle Teel and Kristian Campbell all almost big league-ready… The Red Sox will be busy. They just might be the sort to nibble on the margins both ways.”

With Passan's outlook in mind, it's reasonable to expect that if and when the Red Sox bring in new additions at the trade deadline, it won't be a big name or someone that would otherwise cost them one of the aforementioned top prospects. But what if they also sell?

According to Alex Speier at the Boston Globe, the Red Sox "haven’t ruled out the possibility of dealing away high-end rental players such as Kenley Jansen, Nick Pivetta, or Tyler O’Neill." It might not send the best message to the team, which despite a four-game losing streak is still just two games behind the Kansas City Royals for the third American League Wild Card spot, to trade those guys off.

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But it sure sounds like all options are on the table for the Red Sox and Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. Stay tuned.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.