Red Sox, Pirates Predicted to Swap Young Talents in Latest Trade Proposal
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Drew VonScio is a Newsweek contributor based in Pittsburgh, PA. His focus is on MLB content. Drew has been with Newsweek since December 2024 and also works full-time at WTOV, a TV station in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a 2023 graduate of Bethany College (WV) and a 2024 graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. You can get in touch with Drew by emailing d.vonScio@newsweek.com.
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The Boston Red Sox have a much better rotation than they did this time last year.
Adding ace Garrett Crochet along with Walker Buehler and getting to see Lucas Giolito for the first time makes their starting pitching look much better than it did in 2024. However, one baseball writer believes they may add more to it.
Triston Casas was a hot name in the trade rumor department, and TJ French from Athlon Sports believes the Pittsburgh Pirates could acquire him in exchange for Jared Jones.
"The Red Sox's pitching staff is shaky once you get past the first two slots in the rotation, and with Brayan Bello struggling during his rehab, Jones would be an ideal option for the Red Sox to improve right now," wrote French. "In his first season in MLB, Jones struck out 132 batters over 121.2 innings and recorded a 4.14 ERA. He features a strong fastball that can reach the upper 90s and a wipeout slider he throws frequently."
Jones' ERA ballooned in the later half of the season as his pitching fell apart -- sort of like the Pirates do every year. However, this trade would have to wait until later in the season, maybe even the trade deadline, as Jones is sidelined with a UCL sprain. He is avoiding Tommy John surgery, but there is currently no timetable for when he starts to throw.
This move would also present the Pirates with a platoon at first base. Spencer Horwitz will be returning from injury here in the relatively near future.
There's a lot of "what ifs" that would need to happen for this trade to go through. However, the Red Sox would be much more willing to make this deal than the Pirates as Ben Cherington is building his roster around a young rotation.
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