The Boston Red Sox brought back a familiar face Friday, acquiring left-handed pitcher James Paxton in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Could more old friends join Paxton in Boston before the MLB trade deadline?
The clock is ticking, with the deadline set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, but there are several former Red Sox players being tossed around in trade rumors. And a few might even make sense for Boston, which is looking to add pieces, per chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
Let’s examine five ex-Red Sox who theoretically could make a triumphant return to Fenway Park to help with Boston’s 2024 playoff push.
Justin Turner, IF/DH, Toronto Blue Jays
Turner is 39 years old. And he hasn’t been great this season. So, maybe he’s washed. But what if he isn’t? Turner was an excellent fit in Boston last season, when he slashed .276/.345/.455 with 23 home runs and 96 RBIs. The Red Sox need a right-handed bat, and Turner checks that box in addition to being a respected clubhouse leader and an amazing postseason performer. This works, on and off the field.
Tommy Pham, OF, Chicago White Sox
The Red Sox don’t necessarily need another corner outfielder. Pham also brings a volatile personality, though he seemingly didn’t ruffle any feathers during his brief stint with Boston in 2022. This all goes back to the Red Sox’s desire to add a right-handed hitter who can help with their struggles against left-handers. Pham entered the weekend with an .848 OPS in 61 plate appearances versus southpaws. His career mark sat at .834.
Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Texas Rangers
There’s no guarantee the Rangers sell. They’re still in the playoff hunt — 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Houston Astros in the AL West — and have reinforcements joining the fray. But if they do, every contender should have eyes for Eovaldi, a bulldog who typically performs best when the lights shine brightest. He’d be a perfect fit for the Red Sox, with whom he spent parts of five seasons (2018-22) and won a World Series title (2018).
Zack Littell, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
OK, now we’re digging a little deeper into the Boston bloodline. Littell only made two appearances for the Red Sox in 2023 before being designated for assignment and landing with the Rays. If you sneezed, you missed his Boston tenure. But the 28-year-old since has evolved into a serviceable starting pitcher, which could appeal to the Red Sox as they look to bolster their rotation depth, especially since the cost of acquisition shouldn’t be too high. Littell is under club control through next season, and the Rays are in sell mode.
Jalen Beeks, LHP, Colorado Rockies
Beeks walked so Littell could run, so to speak, thriving at times in the Tampa Bay pitching factory (in various roles) before landing in the high altitude of Denver. Like with Littell, Beeks’ time in Boston was brief. He made just two appearances with the Red Sox before (coincidentally) being traded to the Rays for Eovaldi in 2018. But the 31-year-old is a low-cost, lower-tier trade option, if nothing else, given that he’s a lefty who doesn’t walk a ton of guys and is capable of generating ground-ball outs.
