Jason Burgos
Heading into the Memorial Day weekend, the Boston Red Sox are a half-game out of rock bottom in the American League East after starting the 2026 season with a dismal 22-28 record. Their underwhelming first three months led to manager Alex Cora being fired last month, and have put a ton of pressure on chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
The Red Sox pitching has been solid, and they own the ninth-best ERA in MLB. However, their offense, which has the fewest runs in the league has been holding them back. Making matters worse is that Roman Anthony has missed the last three weeks, and the Red Sox could be without Trevor Story until the All-Star break.
That is why The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey reports that Breslow and the Red Sox have been working the phones hard of late to give a boost to the offense, and because of their struggles all over the batting order, “the team isn’t seeking to bolster the offense at one specific position.”
With that in mind, let’s look at six players the Red Sox could target from teams at the bottom of the current MLB standings.
Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
Seven-year Los Angeles Angels veteran Jo Adell continues to emerge as one of the best slugging outfielders in the American League. In 2025, he had a breakout power season as he smashed 37 homers and knocked in 98 runs. He has seven home runs and 28 RBIs so far this season, and his average is above his previous norms.
Another reason Adell should intrigue the Red Sox is that he is under arbitration control for one more season. It’s also why he won’t come cheap. But the 27-year-old could make a difference and wouldn’t be a rental for the rest of the year.
Christian Walker, Houston Astros
After a bit of a down season in 2025, 35-year-old Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker has had a very strong start to this year. He has a .254/.327/.481/.808 slashline with 11 homers and 31 RBIs after the first 52 games of the season. He and Yordan Alvarez have been among the few good things for the Astros in 2026.
If the Red Sox are looking for proven thump in the orders (He has hit 20 or more HRs five times during his career) and good defense at first (He is a three-time Gold Glove winner) Walker should be on their wishlist.
Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins
While he does not have much power in his bat, Miami Marlins infielder Xavier Edwards could be an option for the Red Sox. He only has 10 homers in 259 career games. However, he is a legit on-base threat who is currently top 20 in the league with a .388 OBP. He is batting .309, does not strike out as often as most MLB players, and brings speed after stealing 58 bases over the last two years.
Edwards is also a rock-solid defender who can play both shortstop and second base. Plus, he is under arbitration control for two more seasons.
Luis Arraez, San Francisco Giants
If the Red Sox just wanted someone who could get on base with consistency, and for cheap (he is making $12 million this season), they should call the San Francisco Giants about Luis Arraez, because (surprise, surprise) the three-time batting champ is hitting .321 to begin the season. Arraez would be an option at DH, but he brings versatility to play multiple spots on the infield when needed.
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
These are becoming desperate times for Boston. They may try to make a big splash soon. That is why Mike Trout could be considered. Is it likely? Not really. But for the first time in three years, the future Hall-of-Famer looks like his old self (12 homers, 25 RBIs, and 38 runs so far this year).
This is as tradable as he has been in a long time because of the $148 million he is still owed after this year. To get out from under that deal, would the Angels be open to a trade package for expiring contracts and a couple of top 50 prospects? Probably.
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
One player that Breslow should definitely take a hard look at is Yordan Alvarez. The three-time Astros All-Star has had a very strong start to the 2026 season and boasts a .303/.416/.601/1.017 slashline, with 15 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 30 runs after 52 games.
Getting him would mean the Astros giving up on the season early and breaking down the roster. Plus, he would also come at a high cost since the 28-year-old is still under contract for two more seasons. If the Red Sox really want hitting and are willing to pay the cost, the DH and corner outfielder would make an immediate impact.
