Simply put, it’s time for Craig Breslow to put it out there. Boston Red Sox in a position to fight. While the failed promises made until the end of last season have left many fans with a healthy dose of doubt, all reports are that John Henry and Sam Kennedy are willing to collect the dough The Red Sox are looking to fill holes on their roster this offseason and develop a strong young core into a contender.

This can (and should) certainly include spending on potentially top-dollar free agents. Teoscar HernandezBlake Snell, Corbin BurnesWith Max Fried and a few others out there, the possibility of a blockbuster trade in Boston looms large.

The organization is currently reaping the rewards of Chaim Bloom’s rebuilding of its farm system, which is, of course, headlined by Big 4 prospects: Roman Anthony (No. 1 in MLB Pipeline Top 100), Marcelo Mayer (No. 7), new recruit “Big ” to the mix of Kristian Campbell (No. 10) and Kyle Teel (No. 25). But these guys are viewed, at least by a large portion of the fan base, as the future of Boston. So trading any of these four feels like a punch in the gut.

The Red Sox might not need it, though.

Boston is already said to be one of them most likely destinations For the biggest trade chip expected to be available this offseason, White Sox ace Garrett Crochet emerges and then signs him to a lucrative extension. But Alex Speier Boston Globe also reported from MLB GM Meetings that White Sox general manager Chris Getz said: Use Dylan Cease trade As the framework for a Crochet agreement.

So what could this potentially look like for the Red Sox, based on the package the San Diego Padres sent to the White Sox for Cease? That could mean Boston doesn’t need to send a single member of the Big 4 currently residing in Worcester to get a deal done. Actually it might look something like this.

To remove the stoppage from the South Side, the Padres sent MLB Pipeline’s then-No. No. 85 prospect Drew Thorpe, along with the team’s No. 7 prospect Samuel Zavala, No. 8 prospect Jairo Iriarte and 29-year-old right-handed reliever Steven Wilson. The Sox could basically match that, or perhaps put together an even better package, without considering moving Anthony, Mayer, Campbell or Teel.

Arias will be the potential move upside in the deal, breaking the Top 100 prospect rankings in Single-A this year as an 18-year-old. But Arias was ultimately blocked at shortstop by Mayer and potentially Campbell in the Red Sox organization, so Boston is operating from a position of luxury in moving a young player with such high potential. Sandlin, meanwhile, has an electric arm, and while he’s been a bit hot and cold in the minors this season, the peak of his talent should be enticing for any team.

Where things get interesting for the Red Sox and still intriguing for the White Sox would be Wilyer Abreu and Kutter Crawford. The latter is 28 years old but has made 33 starts for the Sox with a 4.36 ERA and 1.122 WHIP, so he could immediately slot into Chicago’s rotation as the proverbial backup for Wilson in the Cease trade. Abreu, meanwhile, could be the piece that carries this deal across the finish line.

The 25-year-old outfielder is coming off a Gold Glove season in right field with the Red Sox, where he slashed .253/.322/.459 with a 114 OPS+ in 132 plate appearances. He’s a proven elite defensive outfielder who also shows real promise with the bat, under club control until 2030 and not even arbitration-eligible until 2027. Basically, he is a top prospect in terms of value, but someone who has already proven his mastery of football. majors.

And what the Red Sox would get in return by bringing in ace Crochet, who had been missing from the team’s starting rotation for some time due to injuries to Chris Sale and other mitigating factors. Pair that with more spending, potentially more trades, and the core already in place with the Big 4 reaching the majors soon; This would be as ideal as possible for Boston while also helping the White Sox further establish their rebuild. correct pieces.