The 2025 MLB trade deadline, which falls on July 31 this year, is quickly drawing near. As teams across the league figure out whether they will be buying or selling, the Boston Red Sox find themselves stuck in the middle for the time being.
After suffering a 10-8 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in extra innings on Monday night, the Red Sox have a 32-36 record on the season. While they haven’t been great, they still have time to right the ship, though, and if they do, they could ultimately end up being buyers at the deadline.
Several teams across the league have already been forced into the seller category, and it could lead to some former Red Sox players being on the move again. Two guys who fall into that category are Los Angeles Angels closer Kenley Jansen and Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs.
Jansen spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Boston as their closer, posting a 3.44 ERA while racking up 114 strikeouts and 56 saves over 99 1/3 innings of work. An All-Star in 2023, Jansen has been linked to the Philadelphia Phillies by The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, as the National League East contenders desperately need help at the backend of their bullpen.
“The Phillies’ front office is determined to land a dominant back-end-of-the-bullpen reliever, and I’m sure they will do so before the trade deadline,” Bowden wrote.
Story continues below advertisement
In 2025, Jansen is off to a peculiar start. He has a mediocre 4.57 ERA through 24 games, but is a perfect 14-for-14 in save opportunities. It’ll be interesting to see how teams determine his trade value this summer.
Springs pitched for Boston during the shortened 2020 campaign. He struggled during his brief stint with the Red Sox, as he had an ugly 7.08 ERA over 20 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. Now a starter with the A’s, Springs has been linked to the Chicago Cubs — also by Bowden — whose top need is starting pitcher depth.
In his first season with the Athletics, Springs also hasn’t had his best stuff. He’s posted a 4.64 ERA in 14 appearances, 12 of which have been starts. Considering how he only pitched 49 total innings in the majors over the past two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, some rust was to be expected from him.
Whether or not Boston decides to unload some spare parts at the trade deadline remains to be seen. However, with their respective clubs struggling, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jansen and Springs find new homes come July.
Story continues below advertisement
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
