Top 5 trade targets for the Boston Red Sox

1. Eduardo Escobar

Despite winning seven of their last eight games, against less than stellar competition, the Twins are still 7.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central and a clear trade deadline seller. Among a lack of significant assets to part with, Escobar stands out as a tradeable piece for the Twins as well as a top target for the Red Sox.

Coinciding directly with being hit in the elbow by a pitch on June 21, Escobar is hitting just .169 (12-for-71) with a .546 OPS over his last 20 games. So the All-Star break may be coming at the right time for him in that regard, and Escobar’s numbers this year are still good (.272/.328/.517 slash-line, 14 home runs, 54 RBI and a major league-leading 35 doubles).

As previously mentioned, the Red Sox have voids to fill at third base and second base. Defensive prowess aside, Escobar has filled in capably for the disappointing Miguel Sano as the Twins’ primary third baseman this season. He has also made 37 starts at second base during his big league career (one this year).

Next: 5 players the Colorado Rockies could sell at the trade deadline

Escobar is a solid fallback option for the teams that miss out on Machado. So the Red Sox will have some competition on the trade market, but multi-position utility and a more reasonable asking price make Escobar a nice fit for them.