A Francisco Lindor Trade Is Bold Move Red Sox Need This Winter

The Boston Red Sox should call the New York Mets this winter about superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor.

Aug 6, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) advances to third on a double hit by third baseman Bo Bichette (not pictured) during the fourth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Boston Red Sox did an excellent job ahead of the 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline filling holes throughout the roster.

Catcher has been a major hole for the Red Sox for a long time. Boston solved the issue by going out and acquiring Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox bolstered the bullpen by going out and landing lefty Erik Miller from the San Francisco Giants. Plus, of course, the Red Sox acquired Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals as well. Rutschman, Mead and Miller were the big additions for Boston, but not all. The Red Sox improved their bench depth by going out and adding right-handed outfielder Eli White.

Overall, it was an eventful deadline for Boston, to say the least. The only hole the Red Sox didn't address was shortstop. Ahead of the deadline, it was the position that popped up the most in rumors with various names linked to Boston, including Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels, CJ Abrams of the Nationals and Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins.

Marcelo Mayer is out of the picture now and the long-term future of the position is up in the air. Maybe the answer is Franklin Arias. Maybe it's not. Right now, the deadline is behind us. But this is a conversation that will pop up again in the offseason. Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reported a handful of options Boston discussed and one that stood out and should be back in the mix in the offseason is New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.

The Mets Star Would Look Good In Boston

Aug 10, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) throws the ball to first base for an out against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

"Several compelling names were discussed: Shortstops Zach Neto (Angels), Otto Lopez (Marlins), C.J. Abrams (Nationals), and Francisco Lindor (Mets); catchers Hunter Goodman (Rockies), Liam Hicks (Marlins), and Francisco Alvarez (Mets)," Speier wrote.

It's early to be thinking about the offseason, but if Lindor actually becomes available, he's arguably the guy Boston should be all over. Neto is good, but the Angels' asking price this summer was absurd. Lopez has been great this season but the campaign has been significantly better than every other one of his career so far. Can he maintain it?

Abrams would be a phenomenal get and he has two more seasons of control left. Speier reported that Boston had some interest in both Elly De La Cruz and Bobby Witt Jr., but both are pipe dreams.

Lindor is much more realistic and can still have a big impact on a lineup. He's 32 years old and is slashing .243/.330/.437 with a .767 OPS, 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 64 games played. He hasn't finished a season with less than 5.4 wins above replacement since 2021. This year he likely will, but that will be in large part due to injury, not his performance on the field. He's under contract for five more seasons beyond the 2026 campaign.

If Arias ends up being the shortstop of the future, great. If he's moved to another position and the Red Sox want a shortstop, Lindor is the guy to target this summer.