Red Sox: 1 trade to make and 1 prospect to promote to boost playoff odds

Promoting middle infielder Jeter Downs could add a spark to the Red Sox lineup

The Red Sox have a handful of top prospects who could be called up from as far back as Double-A Portland. All four of their top prospects either play in Portland or at Triple-A Worchester. However, the one player who is most likely to get the call up is infield prospect Jeter Downs. This is Downs’ first year playing in the Red Sox organization after being drafted out of high school back in 2017.

Downs is a former first-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2019 and has played for the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate in his first full season with the team. Though he is not elite at any particular trait, he is MLB quality at all of them. Downs could be a contributor as a reserve middle infielder during the latter part of this season.

For a guy who was sent to the Dodgers in the Yasiel Puig trade with the Reds, as well as being the top prospect going the Red Sox’s way in the Mookie Betts/David Price deal, you better believe a lot is riding on Downs being a success at the big-league level in Boston. While he has not hit well at Triple-A with a .213 batting average, Downs gets on base just enough to possibly make an impact.

The call-up of Downs is also complicated by the fact he’s playing for the Olympic team, so any roster move would have to happen after he’s done with Team USA, or he’d have to forfeit the chance at a gold medal in Tokyo.

Ultimately, the Red Sox front office should make a few calculated moves in the coming weeks and months in an attempt to temporarily raise their ceiling. If they can hit on a trade or two, as well as get production out of a top prospect, the Red Sox might have what it takes to not only win the AL East over the likes of Tampa Bay, but possibly win the AL pennant for the first time since 2018.

What other big moves should the Red Sox look to make heading into the dog days of summer?