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Boston Red Sox rumors: 5 players who should already be on the trade block

By Noah Yingling

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Adam Duvall #18 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2023 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Adam Duvall #18 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2023 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) /
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Corey Kluber, Boston Red Sox
Feb 28, 2023; Jupiter, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) pitches in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports /

3) Red Sox starting pitcher Corey Kluber

Corey Kluber is making his rounds in the AL East as the Red Sox are his third AL East team in as many seasons. The Red Sox needed to shore up their starting rotation and Kluber does that.

With the Rays last season, he struggled a bit when you look at his stats on the surface but there are other areas where the soon-to-be 37-year-old could still help the Red Sox (or another team). In 31 starts, he had a 4.40 ERA (87 ERA+) but his FIP was 3.57, nearly a full run lower.

His walk rate was the lowest in the majors at 1.2 per nine innings and, in fact, that is lower than it has been in any season in his career … and Kluber has won two AL Cy Young Awards and had two more seasons finishing third and another top-10 finish. The hard hit percentage against him and average exit velocity against him are also in the 75th and 80th percentiles among all pitchers.

So, like Paxton, he could be good for the Red Sox if he’s healthy, but if they are out of contention, Kluber (who’s on a one-year deal) and Paxton both could be expendable because of prospects.

Bryan Mata (Red Sox No. 7 prospect), Brandon Walter (Red Sox No. 8 prospect), and Chris Murphy (Red Sox No. 15 prospect) have all been used as starting pitchers and spent part of the 2022 season at the Triple-A level. If Kluber and/or Paxton are traded, then the Red Sox can give their prospects some time in the rotation to see what they have in the majors.

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