Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow faces a high-stakes decision ahead of the MLB trade deadline regarding 20-year-old shortstop Franklin Arias, who ranks as the No. 4 prospect in baseball according to Keith Law of The Athletic. Sources close to the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, report that Arias could help the club land a major leaguer at his position under multiple years of club control.
Trade Market and the CJ Abrams Valuation
The Red Sox have not yet found a deal worth discussing for Arias, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity. However, one rival executive, speaking anonymously to be candid, believes the Red Sox might only trade Arias for Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams. Boston is reportedly not as high on other linked shortstops, such as Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels and Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins, according to the same executive.
Abrams, 25, is under club control for two additional seasons, while Neto and Lopez each have three years remaining. Abrams ranks third in the majors in slugging at .563 and sixth in OPS at .930. The Red Sox previously acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals after believing his offensive transformation was real, potentially signaling they could view Abrams similarly. Despite this offensive output, Abrams carries poor defensive ratings at short with -13 outs above average, which could give Boston pause.
Under-the-hood metrics for Neto and Lopez show more vulnerability. Neto’s expected batting average of .203 sits in the third percentile, while his expected slugging percentage of .403 ranks in the 50th. Lopez is tied for the league lead in doubles but maintains a .353 batting average on balls in play—the fifth highest in the league and nearly 90 points higher than last season—raising fears of regression among potential suitors.
Arias Development and Roster Implications
Arias debuted at Triple-A Worcester and quickly hit two home runs. Across 75 games this season at Double A, where he was among the youngest players at the level, he batted .318 with 19 homers and a .994 OPS. While he started 54 games at shortstop and five at second base in Double A, he has already started two games at second base during his seven-game stint at Triple A, including consecutive starts on Friday and Saturday.
Did you know? Trades involving top-five prospects at the deadline are exceptionally rare. According to Baseball America, which ranks Arias as the No. 3 prospect, only one top-five prospect has been traded at the deadline since 2017: shortstop Leo De Vries, sent by the San Diego Padres to the Athletics last season in a package for closer Mason Miller.
The positional shift comes as the Red Sox navigate injuries across their middle infield. Trevor Story has been out since May with a sports hernia, while Marcelo Mayer and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are sidelined with forearm stress reactions. All three are undergoing rehab but remain a month or more away from returning, leaving Andruw Monasterio to fill in admirably with a .770 OPS across 69 games. Story is under contract through 2027 but has played only one full season of his six-year deal due to injuries.
Breslow and the Resurgent Red Sox
Breslow has shown greater aggressiveness this season compared to the previous two deadlines. In 2023, he added injured pitchers James Paxton, Luis Garcia, and Lucas Sims, who did not contribute. Last year, following the June trade of Rafael Devers, he added pitchers Dustin May and Steven Matz with similar minimal impact. This season, Breslow sent top young pitcher Connelly Early to Washington for Mead, though Mead broke his wrist in his first game with Boston.
The Red Sox carry a 58-51 record into the stretch run after finishing July with a 21-4 record—their best record in a calendar month in franchise history—capped by a 9-4 comeback win Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Breslow previously fired manager Alex Cora and six coaches on April 25 following a 10-17 start, installing Chad Tracy as interim manager. An impact trade before the deadline would further reinforce that leadership pivot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Franklin Arias?
Franklin Arias is a 20-year-old shortstop prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization, ranked No. 4 in baseball by Keith Law of The Athletic and No. 3 by Baseball America.
What teams are linked to trade talks involving top shortstops?
The Red Sox have explored shortstop options including CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals, Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels, and Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins, according to league sources.
Why are the Red Sox considering trading a top prospect?
A deal involving a top prospect like Arias could bring a controllable, major-league-ready player to aid the Red Sox’s current postseason push and address long-term middle infield needs while major leaguers like Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa recover from injuries.
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