The Boston Red Sox were certainly busy leading up to the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. They most notably landed star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles in a blockbuster trade. They also brought in multiple other new players, like Curtis Mead, Erik Miller, Jahmai Jones, and Eli White.
Overall, while the Red Sox made multiple moves ahead of the deadline, they were unable to address one of their top trade needs: adding a high-impact shortstop. They were linked to several big-name shortstops leading up to the deadline, and it would not be surprising if they look to add one during the offseason because of it.
Due to this, the Red Sox are now already being viewed as an offseason suitor for a notable shortstop.
In a recent article for CBS Sports, Mike Axisa named the Red Sox as a potential offseason landing spot for Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto.
“They are two prime-aged players at positions where demand always exceeds supply. The Angels did nice work in a seller’s market at the deadline, and they figure to clean up if they move these two over the winter. Super early possible landing spots: Cardinals, Cubs, Nationals for Detmers; Braves, Red Sox, Tigers for Neto,” Axisa wrote.
When noting that the Red Sox need another star at shortstop, it makes a lot of sense that they have been named a potential landing spot for Neto during the offseason. If acquired, he would certainly give the Red Sox’s offense a real boost.
Why Angels’ Zach Neto & the Red Sox Could Be a Great Match
When looking at the Red Sox’s lineup, it is clear that they could use an impactful infielder like Neto. The 25-year-old is in the middle of another strong season with the Angels in 2026, as he has recorded 19 home runs, 21 doubles, and 47 RBI in 111 games. This was after he posted 26 home runs, 62 RBI, and a .257 batting average in 128 games for the Angels last season.
With numbers like these, he would provide the Red Sox with another power hitter in the front half of their lineup for next season. This would benefit the Red Sox tremendously, as they could use another star in their lineup.
Neto would also be more than a rental for the Red Sox, as he is under team control until the end of the 2029 season. With this, he would make a lot of sense for the Red Sox to bring in as they look to be true contenders.
The Red Sox Have Already Tried to Land Neto From the Angels Before
Leading up to the trade deadline, Neto was one of the players who were linked to Boston. Due to this, it would be entirely understandable if they looked to acquire him during the offseason. This is especially so when noting that they still could use another high-impact infielder on their roster.
With Neto being a young star who is under team control for multiple more years, he is exactly the kind of player the Red Sox should have on their radar this upcoming offseason. It will be interesting to see if they can land him.
Red Sox Named Offseason Trade Landing Spot for Star Shortstop