Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals have options to sell high ahead of MLB trade deadline

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The unofficial first half of the 2023 MLB season comes to a close on Sunday. All teams will hit the All-Star Break with a four-day break, except for the players selected to play in the Midsummer Classic in Seattle.

While the break is a chance to give the players some rest for the final two and a half months of the season, most front offices will be hard at work trying to decide if they are going to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. For some teams, that question has already been answered and for some, they need the three weeks following the break to decide.

One team that is clearly a contender is the Texas Rangers. Instead of waiting until the deadline to make a move, they struck early. Texas acquired relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Cole Ragans and Ronin Cabrera. Chapman has not been the same pitcher he was with the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees, but he’s another arm out of the bullpen that will allow manager Bruce Bochy to mix and match.

The Texas Rangers have acquired LHP Aroldis Chapman from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for LHP Cole Ragans and OF Roni Cabrera. pic.twitter.com/JIjhk9SCuC
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 30, 2023

Two teams that are barely hanging around a playoff spot in each league are the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams are sitting in last place in their respective divisions and, in reality, both are going to need somewhat of a minor miracle to be buyers at the trade deadline and should be sellers.

If both teams end up selling, they both have key pieces to sell off that would be valuable additions to teams looking to make a playoff run. Here are trade options both clubs have to sell that can get them something in return.

Apr 6, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Adam Duvall (18) receives congratulations from teammates after he hit a three run home run in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Red Sox should sell high on these two players

Sitting in last place in the American League East, it’s easy to say the Red Sox will be sellers. They are still hanging around in the Wild Card race, but in order to get into a playoff spot, they have to pass at least one team in their division and two other teams. Easier said than done.

Last season, Chaim Bloom sold at the trade deadline and he should again this season. Instead of waiting for the August 1 deadline, he has an opportunity to sell before the deadline and he has the chance to sell high on two players, pitcher James Paxton and centerfielder Adam Duvall.

Bloom took a risk signing Paxton, who has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, by signing him to a one-year, $10 million contract ahead of the 2022 season and the left-hander exercised his $4 million player option for 2023. With his injury history, his value will never be higher for Boston.

He was just named AL pitcher of the month for June after going 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 31 innings and 34 strikeouts. His best start was his final one on Friday (June 30) when he went 7.2 innings, scattering three hits and striking out seven in a 5-0 shutout of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Big month for Big Maple. pic.twitter.com/9uDtnKz6tO
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 3, 2023

Adam Duvall was signed to a one-year, $7 million contract last offseason to fill a void in center field. It was a very promising start to the season for Duvall as through the first nine games, he had four home runs and 13 RBI, but a wrist injury on April 9 in Detroit caused him to miss nearly two months. Since returning, he has not been the same hitter, but his defense remains on par.

Paxton and Duvall are veteran players that have been on the big stage of the playoffs before and would be a valuable assets to any contending team. Bloom has an opportunity to sell high on two veterans who really don’t have a future in Boston beyond 2023.

Oct 5, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Tommy Edman (19) fields a ground ball for an out against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

St. Louis Cardinals should sell high on these two players

There are a number of teams that have underachieved this season. Believe it or not, one of those teams is the Cardinals. Usually buyers at the trade deadline, there is a strong possibility that they’ll be sellers and they have two pieces that contending teams should have an interest in.

The first one is first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. It’s clear that St. Louis is going to begin a rebuild and no matter how long it is, the power-hitting Goldschmidt will not be part of it. After taking two out of three from the New York Yankees over the weekend, they have dropped the first two against the Miami Marlins and have not looked good in doing so.

There would be a number of suitors for his services if the Cardinals made him available and they could even look to get a rebuild piece in return. A power-hitting first baseman who can come off of the bench as a pinch hitter to add DH at-bats is what contenders will be lining up for, especially with one year remaining on his contract.

Another option that could help the rebuild in trading is Tommy Edman. He is two years removed from winning a Gold Glove and is not having one of his better offensive seasons in his fifth season but, at 28 years old, like Goldschmidt, he is a young utility player with an offensive upside is another interesting piece for a contender.

There is just under a month until the trade deadline and rumors are going to begin to run wild, but the Red Sox and Cardinals are two teams that can take advantage of an early market. Before things start to heat up, now is there chance to sell high.

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