Top 5 trade targets for the Boston Red Sox

As the Boston Red Sox look to fill some trade deadline needs, these five players should be their top targets.

The Boston Red Sox won their 10th straight game Thursday night, and they have the best record in the majors at 66-29. So they don’t seem to have many (if any) needs, but they are still only 3.5 games clear of the rival Yankees in the AL East entering Friday.

The Red Sox are trade deadline buyers, with bullpen help a rumored priority leading into closer Craig Kimbrel and infield now looking like a need with a couple injuries to thin the ranks there.

The Red Sox are not flush with top prospects in their minor league system, which may lead teams looking to sell away from trade talks with them. But they will be in the mix to make deals, if only to drive the price up as the Yankees try to upgrade in some areas too.

Heading toward the All-Star break, and into the stretch drive before the trade deadline after that, these five players should be the top trade targets for the Red Sox.

5. Manny Machado

The Red Sox are a late entry into the mix for Machado, as the Yankees are reportedly making offers to the Orioles. Machado has been adamant he wants to play shortstop, which he switched back to this year, and the Red Sox are pretty set there with Xander Bogaerts.

But third base is a different case. Rafael Devers has a bright future, but he has struggled this year (.241/.292/.424 slash-line) and he’s now on the DL with a shoulder injury. So the hot corner is where Machado would fit in Boston, however against his will, barring a shift of Bogaerts to third base to accommodate the move.

Boston’s entrance into the mix for Machado feels like an effort to make it tougher for the Yankees to swing a deal. But actually getting him can’t be ruled out, even if Devers should be ready to go after the All-Star break.