The post Why this low-profile trade candidate is a good fit as Red Sox’s Alex Bregman replacement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
Boston Red Sox country is in some disarray after Alex Bregman left for North Chicago. Now, the Red Sox front office has given fans plenty of reasons to hope they sign a top free agent, only to see that player leave for another organization.
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It’s been a rough ride for Craig Breslow and company, but alas, there’s actually some time left to turn around the ship’s fortunes. Time is of the essence, however, as the rest of the American League East has improved and the Red Sox have essentially depleted the same roster that lost to the New York Yankees in the wild-card round last October.
The good news is that the Red Sox still have enough resources to trade, and one player in particular who could help make up for the players they lost is gaining some momentum as a potential trade candidate in Alex Bregman. Here’s why Isaac Paredes could be the next third baseman for the Boston Red Sox.
Isaac Paredes could be a good fit for Boston’s lineup
First, the Red Sox needed a third baseman, and Isaac Paredes provides just that. He’s also playing better, handling first base well and sliding to second base in a pinch. He can certainly DH as well, and considering the Red Sox are likely to move outfield bats before the end of the offseason (or in a Paredes trade), the path to getting Paredes out as a DH should become easier.
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Marcelo Mayer is currently projected to be the Opening Day third baseman, which may work better for Boston’s defense, but Paredes has a much better and more efficient bat at this point in their respective careers. A versatile defender, the trade to acquire Paredes shouldn’t put Mayer’s playing time at risk, especially when the inevitable injuries hit Boston.
Offensively, Paredes and Fenway Park could be a match made in heaven. The reason Alex Bregman was so successful hitting the ball in Boston was because of his high-contact, pull-hit style. Paredes’ offensive profile is very similar, and while his contact quality metrics are subpar, he does make a living by lofting fly balls and converting them into home runs. The Green Monster presents itself as the shortest left field in baseball, and when the ball doesn’t fly past the Green Monster off Paredes’ bat, many fly balls bounce off the Monster for extra bases.
Paredes has played just 16 games at Fenway Park in his career, all between 2022 and 2024 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. In 65 games, he hit three home runs and had a 130 wRC+. The sample size is small, but the prospects are bright.
Since his first full season in 2022, Paredes has hit 90 homers, slashed .239/.341/.442 and posted a 124 wRC+ while with the Rays, Cubs and Astros. It’s not a number that jumps off the page, but you can trust his production to be above average every year. A big part of his game is his ability to draw a lot of hits and limit strikeouts, which is valuable in any lineup, regardless of power. Over the past four seasons, his walk rate has been above 10% and his strikeout rate has been below 20%.
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Red Sox have resources to complete Isaac Paredes trade
Paredes still has two years of control before free agency and has been traded twice since his breakout with the Rays, so there’s already a market for him to look forward to. He was traded from the Rays to the Cubs in 2024 for Christopher Morrell and pitching prospects Hunter Bigger and Ty Johnson.
When he was traded from the Cubs to the Astros last offseason, he was part of the blockbuster deal that sent Kyle Tucker to the Cubs, along with rookies Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski. With two years of control remaining and coming off a pretty standard season for Isaac Paredes (who had some time in Illinois), the Red Sox’s asking price shouldn’t be too high.
With Carlos Correa transitioning to full-time third base, Paredes could be the guy the Astros are looking for. The Astros also need some upgrades to their outfield, so it almost makes sense to include Paredes in the trade that sent the Red Sox outfielder to Houston.
This trade could get things back in the right direction if Craig Breslow wants to get back into the good graces of Red Sox fans before it’s too late.
