The Boston Red Sox are the hottest team in the MLB, and MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal thinks they can find themselves in the World Series if they make the right trade deadline moves.
MLB Insider Names Red Sox As World Series Contenders originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Boston Red Sox looked like potential sellers at the 2025 MLB trade deadline just a couple of weeks ago. However, the Red Sox have become the hottest team in baseball, winning 10 straight games and 13 of their last 15 going into the All-Star break.
Now, sitting just a game behind the New York Yankees and three games back from the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East, the Red Sox are sure to be buyers at the deadline.
But, with their recent success, young talent and money freed up for the future to make moves at the deadline, one MLB insider made a bold prediction for Boston Monday morning.
The Red Sox are in GREAT SHAPE heading into the trade deadline, says @Ken_Rosenthal.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 14, 2025
"They are a team that, frankly, might be in the World Series if they make the right moves here." pic.twitter.com/mf6P9fLStH
During an appearance on Foul Territory, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said the Red Sox could play in the World Series in 2025 if they make the right moves at the deadline.
"It's going to be really interesting to see how they play this because they are a team that, frankly, might be in the World Series," Rosenthal said. "If they make the right moves here, they have a ton of talent. They've got a really intriguing, exciting club, and they've come on a good deal in recent weeks."
That seems like a bold prediction at this point in the season, but the Red Sox did just demonstrate the ability to play the best baseball in the league.
The Red Sox currently have the 10th shortest odds at +2700 to win the 2025 World Series, according to FanDuel, and the 12th shortest odds at +3500 on DraftKings. The Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners are the five AL teams with shorter odds than the Red Sox.
Rosenthal continued by going through what Boston needs to do at the deadline to put itself in position to make a run in the postseason.
Pitcher Garrett Crochet has been lights out to the tune of a 2.23 ERA across 20 starts, 129.1 innings pitched, and 160 strikeouts. Behind Crochet, the emergence of Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello could alter the Red Sox's needs at the deadline.
GARRETT CROCHET SHUTOUT
— MLB (@MLB) July 12, 2025
NINE STRAIGHT WINS
THE @REDSOX ARE ROLLING! pic.twitter.com/xyVTbTjiMv
Bello has a quality start in seven of his last eight games, dating back to the beginning of June, after having just two in his first eight starts of the season. Giolito has thrown six straight quality starts after his seven-run outing to begin June. Giolito has allowed just three earned runs over his last 38.2 innings pitched, lowering his ERA from 6.42 to 3.36 on the season.
"As we get to the deadline, the question becomes, okay, what are they going to do? They need a starting pitcher. A couple of weeks ago, I might have said they needed a number two, right behind Crochet. Now I don't know that that's the case," Rosenthal said. "Right now, I don't know that they need the number two, that's going to be so hard to get.
"Anyway, they could just use a starting pitcher who would help them, as well as a first baseman. And of course, the requisite bullpen help. Red Sox are in great shape."
The one question remaining is outfielder Jarren Duran. He's been in the middle of trade talks all season and will be a tough decision for the Red Sox at the deadline.
He's a talented player with team control, but they also have plenty of outfield talent and could use him to help in other areas.
"The big question ... is Jarren Duran, and will they trade him? Right now, the Red Sox have an outstanding group of position players. You could argue certainly that they have a surplus in the outfield, DH spots, and Duran could be the odd man out in that equation," Rosenthal said. "At the same time, Jarren Duran has three plus years of service remaining, or club control remaining, you don't want to trade him for a rental.
"Obviously, it would be perfect if you could trade him for a starting pitcher with three plus years of control, but I don't know that that animal will be available."
The Red Sox have a lot of options as we approach the deadline, and it'll be up to chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to press the right buttons. If Boston makes the right moves, Rosenthal believes World Series games could be played at Fenway Park in 2025.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
