The Red Sox may have found their biggest late-summer swing: a run at Angels shortstop Zach Neto before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline. Boston has surged into the playoff picture, but Trevor Story’s sports-hernia injury leaves a real hole up the middle while the club tries to turn momentum into October baseball.
Neto is the kind of target who could change Boston’s lineup immediately. He brings right-handed power, athletic defense and enough versatility to slide around the infield when Story returns. More importantly, he is under team control through 2030, making him far more than a two-month rental.
What’s known: Los Angeles is reportedly open to trade proposals involving Neto, and Boston has been linked to the 24-year-old shortstop. What’s reported: the Angels are believed to want a significant prospect package, potentially headlined by one of the Red Sox’s best young players. What’s speculation: Boston could be weighing whether Neto is worth paying a premium for now rather than waiting for a thinner shortstop market in the offseason.
- 🔥 Boston’s winning streak created pressure to buy.
- ⚾ Neto would stabilize shortstop and add right-handed pop.
- 💰 His long-term control explains the Angels’ asking price.
This is still early-stage buzz, not a deal on the doorstep. But with the deadline clock flashing red, Neto is one of the few available players who could reshape Boston’s entire infield picture.