The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have become a little more acquainted with each other on the trade market of late.
Before each of the last two seasons, the Yankees and Red Sox have made trades in which one team has gained a starter. In 2024, New York got left fielder Alex Verdugo (unfortunately for New York), and in 2025, Boston got catcher Carlos Narváez.
Still, some trades between the two sides are probably beyond the pale.
Some have speculated that the Yankees could be in play for Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, given New York’s need at the hot corner and Bregman’s opt-out after the season. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel even listed the Yankees as a fit for Bregman at the upcoming trade deadline.
However, on Wednesday, insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today took a hard stance against any possibility of the Red Sox gifting the Yankees Bregman in his own trade deadline preview.
“The American League is wide open, and the Yankees are poised to take full advantage of the opportunity,” Nightengale wrote. “They badly need a third baseman or a second baseman, and realize there’s 0% chance that the Red Sox answering their prayers by trading them Alex Bregman.”
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While Nightengale isn’t “reporting” anything here by the strict definition of the word, it sure seems as if he has a strong inclination based on what he’s heard from at least one of the two sides that Bregman is off the table, particularly for New York.
Other third base options could be the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suárez, who is having an All-Star caliber season, and old friend Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Pittsburgh Pirates (who is not).
The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers, so few things would come as a true shock at this point. But gifting their arch-rivals a superstar would still qualify.
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