Red Sox Breakout Star Could Be Perfect Fit For Orioles In Rare Inter-Division Trade

Boston could poach from the best farm system in baseball

Scott Neville | Jun 16, 2024

Jun 12, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (16) high-fives outfielder Tyler O'Neill (17) during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Duran scored on a RBI hit by O'Neill. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports / Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

Could the Boston Red Sox poach from the best farm system in Major League Baseball by swinging a trade with an American League East rival?

Boston has yet to pull in either trade deadline direction with a 36-35 record, putting them three games back in the AL Wild Card race.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will determine whether they buy or sell in the coming weeks. While it has been reported that he already has a wish list for Boston to go for it, there's also a strong chance he punts and tries again in 2025 -- which was the original plan entering the offseason.

If the Red Sox do intend to sell, they will have a cluster of intriguing impending free agents to shop around to the highest bidder. As it turns out, an AL East rival could become a suitor for the best position player Boston would be willing to part with.

"The Baltimore Orioles are on the lookout for a center fielder while All-Star Cedric Mullins’ struggles continue," USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Sunday. "He is hitting just .186 with a .234 on-base percentage and .325 slugging percentage."

Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill could be exactly what the Orioles are seeking, an added slugger to their already intimidating lineup.

The 28-year-old is hitting .253 with 19 extra-base hits including 12 home runs, 23 RBIs and an .848 OPS (135 OPS+) in 48 games this season. O'Neill has stayed on the corners for Boston but the two-time Gold Glove outfielder would have no issue moving to center should a trade occur.

Given his status as an impending free agent, the Red Sox will almost certainly move him should they fall out of contention. The Orioles boast the best farm system in the world and could be the perfect landing spot.

While inter-division trades are rare, Breslow has already swung a notable trade with the New York Yankees in his short tenure and both sides will have motives that will not overlap -- making a win-win quite possible.

Boston would be gearing up for 2025 and beyond while the Orioles attempt to win a World Series this fall.

More MLB: Red Sox 'Looking To Acquire' Starting Pitching, Shortstop Ahead Of Trade Deadline

Published Jun 16, 2024

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu