Red Sox Linked to Royals' Cy Young Finalist as Trade Deadline Rotation Target

Red Sox Linked to Royals' Cy Young Finalist as Trade Deadline Rotation Target originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Outside of Garrett Crochet, the Boston Red Sox are severely lacking in their starting rotation. While Bryan Bello and Lucas Giolito have performed admirably to help push Boston into a Wild Card spot, the team needs to stabilize its rotation at the trade deadline.

While adding an ace like Sandy Alcantara or reacquiring Chris Sale are tantalizing moves to think about, the odds Boston makes another blockbuster deal are slim. It is much more likely that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow targets a proven innings eater with playoff experience to anchor Boston’s staff.

Among potential trade targets is Kansas City Royals veteran Seth Lugo, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.

Lugo, 35, is in the midst of another stellar season. A year removed from leading the league with 33 starts and tossing over 200 innings, Lugo has a 2.67 ERA and a current career-high 153 ERA+ across 101 innings. Placing him in Boston’s rotation would not only provide an excellent number two option behind Garrett Crochet but also set them up for a second-half playoff push.

One key reason Cotillo believes Lugo is a strong candidate to end up in Boston is his contract status. Lugo is currently in the middle of a three-year, $45 million deal, but with a player option for 2026, he is closer to rental status than other available pitchers. Even if Lugo were to pick up his option, Boston would only be on the hook for $15 million, making him a bargain if he continues to pitch near his current rate.

Lugo may not be the high-profile acquisition fans are clamoring for, but since becoming a full-time starter in 2023, he has been one of the best pitchers in the league and could be a top deadline addition.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.