Red Sox: 3 trade deadline targets Boston should avoid

3) Red Sox trade candidate to avoid: Marcus Stroman

Marcus Stroman’s time with the Chicago Cubs could come to an abrupt end. The team put together a half-hearted roster that at its best looked like it could win 81 games. They should win far fewer despite the investment in Stroman over the offseason.

The Cubs have plenty of trade candidates for the Red Sox to consider. Just about any of the outfielders not named Jason Heyward is worth a look. Closer David Robertson and several of their other relievers should be on the radar as well. For Stroman, it’s an easy pass.

Through 9 starts, Stroman is 2-5 with a 5.32 ERA. The Cubs will have a difficult time shopping him and the large multi-year deal he just secured for himself over the winter. He’s making $25 million this year and the same in 2023. In 2024, there’s a $21 million player option that can increase to $25 million depending on how many innings he reaches this year and next.

It would be a terrible buy for Boston. Starting pitching isn’t a great need for them at the moment. They are better off waiting for Sale and James Paxton to return then figure out whether or not they need more.

But even if Sale and Paxton miss the remainder of 2022, Stroman is not a good trade candidate for the Red Sox.