Red Sox linked to .711 OPS third baseman they should've already traded for last offseason

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May 15, 2026 - 17:06

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Red Sox linked to .711 OPS third baseman they should've already traded for last offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox are having a disastrous 2026 season so far, with an 18-25 record that has them 10.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.

It would not be a surprise if the Red Sox wound up as sellers at this year's deadline if things don't improve. They've already shaken things up by firing Alex Cora, so the only changes they could make now involve the roster.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report had the Red Sox as potential buyers at this year's trade deadline despite the bad record. And their one need is to improve the offense, with one player sticking out.

"Rather, at 3.8 runs and 0.7 home runs per game, the Red Sox have had one of the least intimidating offenses in all of baseball," Miller writes. "... Time to revisit those offseason talks about Isaac Paredes?"

The Red Sox were linked to Paredes this offseason, but instead traded for Caleb Durbins. With how Durbin's played, it's clear the Red Sox should've already traded for Paredes this past offseason instead of Durbin.

Red Sox should've traded for Isaac Paredes already

Durbin has struggled mightily so far this season, posting a .172 batting average with one homer, 14 RBIs, 14 runs scored, and a .509 OPS in 134 at-bats across 41 games played.

If the Red Sox had instead acquired Paredes, likely for a value similar to what they spent on Durbin, they would've got a third baseman who is hitting much better than Durbin.

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The Houston Astros slugger is hitting .255 this season with a .711 OPS. He has three homers, 17 RBIs, 16 runs scored, and is an above-average hitter this season.

With how much Durbin has struggled, and how great Kyle Harrison has looked since being traded from the Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Durbin trade, this trade decision for Craig Breslow was clearly a massive mistake.

Miller is linking the Red Sox to Paredes again, this time as a trade deadline target. But, with how the 2026 season has gone, it's clear the Red Sox should've made the trade for Paredes already over the offseason.