The Red Sox reportedly have spoken to the Cubs about Jameson Taillon, but when the report about Boston’s interest dropped Sunday, Chicago still was “undecided” about its plan for the MLB trade deadline.
Well, we now know which way the North Siders will lean before July 30.
Jed Hoyer met with the media Monday, and while the Cubs president of baseball operations didn’t flat-out say the club will sell this week, he effectively revealed Chicago will be open for business.
“Where we are right now, I would have to say that moves only for 2024 — unless things change over the next week — we probably won’t do a lot of moves that only help us for this year,” Hoyer told reporters, per ESPN. “If moves help us for 2025 and beyond I think we’re exceptionally well positioned.”
Those remarks bode well for the Red Sox, even though Taillon is under contract with the Cubs through the 2026 season. The right-hander has pitched well this season (2.96 ERA entering Wednesday), but Chicago might not see much sense in paying him $18 million in each of the next two seasons if it’s rebuilding. Boston, meanwhile, needs starting pitching help this season and probably would prefer an arm with contract term rather than a rental.
That said, the Red Sox might prioritize a more convenient route to boosting their staff. Boston reportedly has reached out to the Los Angeles Dodgers about James Paxton, who was designated for assignment Monday.
