Red Sox Linked to Three Shortstop Targets as Trade Deadline Approaches

The Boston Red Sox are being linked to potential shortstop additions ahead of the MLB trade deadline, with Zach Neto, Jeremy Peña and CJ Abrams named as possible targets in a Yahoo Sports article originally published by Heavy.

The report is based on comments from ESPN’s Jeff Passan during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Passan said shortstop appears to be an area of focus for Boston as the club weighs whether to act aggressively before the Aug. 3 deadline. The report did not state that the Red Sox have completed a deal, made a formal offer or received confirmation from any of the teams involved.

Why Boston is being linked to shortstops

The trade-deadline angle has been sharpened by Boston’s recent surge. According to the report, the Red Sox had won 14 straight games entering Tuesday night, changing the club’s deadline posture from a possible seller to a possible buyer.

That matters because a winning streak can alter how a front office views the short-term value of a roster upgrade. A team sitting closer to the postseason picture may be more willing to trade prospects or controllable players for immediate help, especially at a premium defensive position such as shortstop.

Passan framed the situation as one where Boston could look to add talent if the right player becomes available. The key point for Red Sox readers: this is still a reported market read, not an official transaction update.

Key facts

The names in the report

The most prominent name in the report is Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels. The article describes Neto as a more realistic option if Boston decides to pursue a shortstop, partly because the Angels are listed at 40-61 and last in the AL West.

Neto’s reported 2026 production in the article — a .235 average with 19 home runs and 46 RBIs — gives the Red Sox a reason to evaluate him as more than a defensive stopgap. A 25-year-old shortstop with power would likely require a meaningful return, especially if the Angels do not feel pressure to move him cheaply.

Jeremy Peña is also mentioned as a possibility, though the Astros’ competitive position complicates that idea. The report says Houston is 3.5 games back in the AL West and 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. If that remains the case, the Astros may have little reason to behave like a clear seller.

CJ Abrams is described as the longest shot of the three. The report notes that he is 25, has upside and is under team control through 2028. It also says Washington is only 1.0 game back in the Wild Card race, which would reduce the incentive for the Nationals to move him unless an offer is especially strong.

Why Neto may be viewed differently

Neto stands out in the report because his team context is different. A last-place Angels club has a clearer potential seller profile than Houston or Washington, at least based on the standings snapshot cited in the article.

That does not mean a trade is likely. Young, controllable shortstops are expensive in deadline markets, and the Angels would have to decide that moving Neto now is better than keeping him as part of their next competitive core. For Boston, the question would be whether the cost fits both the current playoff push and the longer-term roster plan.

The report’s mention of Neto being added high on a trade-candidate list also suggests that his name is gaining attention beyond local speculation. Still, trade-candidate placement is not the same as evidence that a club is actively negotiating a specific deal.

What remains unconfirmed

There are several important limits to the current information. The Yahoo Sports/Heavy article does not cite an official Red Sox statement, an Angels statement, an Astros statement or a Nationals statement confirming talks.

It also does not report that any player has been told he may be moved, that Boston has submitted an offer, or that a medical or prospect package has been discussed. The article is best read as deadline context: a national reporter identifying names that could fit Boston’s needs if the market develops.

For readers tracking the Red Sox, that distinction matters. The deadline period often produces a wide gap between “linked to,” “checked in on,” “available,” and “acquired.” Only the last category changes the roster.

What Red Sox readers should watch

The next checkpoint is the standings. If Boston keeps winning, the incentive to buy increases. If the Angels remain out of contention, Neto speculation may continue. If Houston or Washington slide further from the playoff race, Peña or Abrams could become more plausible in theory, though each would still carry a high acquisition cost.

Readers should also watch for official transaction pages, team injury updates and credible reporting from established MLB reporters. A shortstop addition would affect Boston’s defensive alignment, prospect capital and deadline priorities, but the current report stops short of saying that a deal is close.

For now, the Red Sox are being portrayed as a team with reason to explore the market, not a team with a confirmed shortstop trade in place.

Source: Yahoo Sports, “Boston Red Sox Linked to 3 Shortstop Targets Ahead of Trade Deadline” — https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/boston-red-sox-linked-3-003444302.html