The Boston Red Sox opened the season with three of their projected five starting pitchers on the injured list. Right-hander Brayan Bello is set to make his third rehab start on Friday as he works his way back from a shoulder injury and is projected to return later in April.

Veteran Lucas Gioloto was solid in a second rehab assignment on Wednesday but is expected to need at least two more. A third righty, Kutter Crawford, is still battling tendon pain in his right knee and is described as “a ways away” from his return.

In the meantime, one of those rotation spots has been held down by 25-year-old Richard Fitts, a 2021 New York Yankees sixth-round pick who came to the Red Sox in the 2023-2024 offseason as part of the trade, along with receiver Greg Weissert, that sent controversial outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Bronx.

But when at least one of the Red Sox’s injured trio return, Fitts — who has allowed six runs in 12 innings over two starts this season — could be on the move again, as Boston looks to acquire more prospect depth, according to a trade proposal by MLB writer Jon Conahan of Athlon Sports.

Conahan identifies the Chicago Cubs, a team that in the offseason appeared to be going all-in to win the National League Central, as a likely destination for Fitts, should the Red Sox choose to trade him rather than option the Auburn product to Triple-A Worcester.

“The Cubs’ rotation is among the best in MLB, but it’s top-heavy and needs a right-handed arm, Conahan wrote. “Fitts isn’t exactly the perfect arm to fix their needs, but there aren’t many better options at this stage of the season than the Red Sox’ fourth starter.”

In exchange for Fitts, the Red Sox could look to add a prospect at the position that now most badly lacks depth in the Red Sox organization: catcher.

The Cubs could offer their No. 4 overall prospect Moises Ballesteros, a 21-year-old from Venezuela who was signed by the North Siders for a $1.2 million bonus in 2021, the second-highest amount out of all Cubs acquisitions in that year’s International class.

But Ballesteros would be a high price to pay.

For a pitcher of Fitts’ caliber — a mid-rotation starter at best — the Cubs would be more likely to serve up catcher Pablo Aliendo, a $200,000 signing in 2018 also out of Venezuela, who is currently at Double-A seven years later. Aliendo, 23, would be a development project for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox would likely require at least one more prospect, or significant cash considerations for Fitts if Aliendo was the best the Cubs could do at the backstop position.