The Boston Red Sox are back to their usual pattern after a dominant 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, bringing their record to an even 31-31. If their mediocre season continues, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is expected to make significant moves before the July 30 MLB trade deadline, which could involve trading away most impending free agents and possibly a few other players.
One notable player likely to be traded is outfielder Tyler O’Neill, one of the few impactful outfielders expected to be available this summer. The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly very interested in the outfield market and could be an ideal destination for the 28-year-old.
“Short of moving Edmundo Sosa to the outfield once Trea Turner returns, the Phillies don’t have much in the way of internal help to solve their outfield hitting issues,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote on Tuesday. “They’ll be all over the outfield market.”
O’Neill is currently batting .243 with 17 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs, 18 RBIs, and a .847 OPS in 42 games this season. While his strikeout rate has increased, his power remains consistent.
Passan noted that O’Neill “would draw plenty of interest, provided he’s healthy.” The next day, O’Neill, a two-time Gold Glove winner, was activated off the injured list for knee inflammation and promptly recorded two hits, drove in a run, and scored.
Unless Breslow plans to retain O’Neill long-term and believes he can secure a deal either this winter or sooner, expect the slugger to be traded to the highest bidder following his strong start to the 2024 season.
