![\"Richard](\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2625214\/richard-fitts-boston-red-sox.webp?w=790&f=6484e5f9c7b6d5a3cb196c12593b1560)
<\/picture><\/div>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\u00a0as part of the trade, along with receiver Greg Weissert, that sent controversial outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Bronx.<\/p>\n
But when at least one of the Red Sox’s injured trio return, Fitts \u2014 who has allowed\u00a0six runs in 12 innings\u00a0over two starts this season \u2014 could be on the move again, as Boston looks to acquire more prospect depth, according to a trade proposal by\u00a0MLB writer Jon Conahan of Athlon Sports.<\/p>\n
Conahan identifies the Chicago Cubs, a team that\u00a0in the offseason appeared to be\u00a0going 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.<\/p>\n
“The Cubs’ rotation is among the best in\u00a0MLB, 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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Cubs could offer their\u00a0No. 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.<\/p>\n
But Ballesteros would be a high price to pay.<\/p>\n
For a pitcher of Fitts’ caliber \u2014 a mid-rotation starter at best \u2014 the Cubs would be more likely to serve up catcher\u00a0Pablo Aliendo, a $200,000 signing\u00a0in 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford returning soon, Boston Red Sox starter Richard Fitts is expendable, but trading him to Chicago may net prospects.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":51913,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n