MLB trade rumors: 5 third baseman Red Sox should target

4. Trevor Plouffe, Oakland Athletics

On a one-year deal, with signs of an upswing in May (.296 average, .848 OPS entering Monday), Plouffe is just the kind of player a Billy Beane-run front office will try to move. Add in Plouffe confirming over the weekend to Evan Drellich of CSNNE.com the Red Sox had interest in signing him last winter, and it’s easy to tie team and player together in trade speculation now.

Boston could also target Ryon Healy on Oakland’s depth chart at third base, as that team surely becomes a seller heading toward the trade deadline. But he is younger (25) than Plouffe (30; 31 in June) with multiple years of team control left, so he may be harder to pry away from Beane and company.

Plouffe is adequate defensively at third base, with the ability to play some first base if need be. As for his offensive potential with a move to Boston, Plouffe’s career sample size at Fenway Park (49 plate appearances) is not big enough to take much from a .190/.286/.310 slash-line (one home run, six RBI) in his potential new home park. But being in a better lineup would benefit Plouffe, in a hitter-friendly home park within a division full of hitter-friendly venues.

Plouffe is not the biggest name on this list, but he is a very realistic trade target for the Red Sox. If the price is right, especially compared to the asking price for other options, Plouffe may be making the move east.