The Boston Purple Sox, after one other early exit from the playoffs on the Wild Card stage, need to retool for a deeper run in 2027. However how lively chief baseball officer Craig Breslow can be on the commerce market hangs as an unresolved query for Purple Sox Nation to obsess over for the subsequent a number of months.
However the hosts of “Play Tessie” bought a soar on Breslow Wednesday when, within the newest version of their in style WEEI-affiliated podcast, they introduced the Purple Sox with a commerce pitch that will assist ease the workforce’s outfield logjam whereas bringing in a former second-round choose righthander and a three-time member of the 20-20 membership.
What’s the commerce pitch? As outlined by “Play Tessie” host Nat “Gordo” Gordon, Boston would land Oneil Cruz and Mitch Keller from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jarren Duran and three different present members of the key league membership. A prospect swap doesn’t determine into their proposed deal.
Cruz brings uncommon pace and energy to a lineup that wants each, however the value consists of left-handed starter Jake Bennett in addition to Jarren Duran, and the hosts break up on whether or not both membership says sure.
Gordon constructed the deal for the present’s first “Who Says No” phase of the offseason. Boston would ship Bennett, Duran, Mickey Gasper and Masataka Yoshida’s one-year, $18 million contract to the Pirates. His pitch rests on Cruz’s 2026 season.
“He hit 20 homers and stole 30 luggage in 97 video games,” Gordon mentioned on WEEI’s Play Tessie podcast Wednesday.
Cruz, a 6-foot-7 left-handed hitter born Oct. 4, 1998, in Nizao, Dominican Republic, owns a profession .243/.322/.438 line with 80 homers and 103 steals in 476 video games since his 2021 debut. He hit .280/.368/.486 in 97 video games in 2026, good for two.8 WAR, and missed time with non-displaced fractures within the metacarpals of his left hand.
Keller, a 6-foot-3 right-hander born April 4, 1996, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was a second-round Pirates choose in 2014. He went 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP over 115 2/3 innings in 22 begins this 12 months amid shoulder points. His profession report stands at 48-73 with a 4.60 ERA. He signed a five-year, $77 million extension in 2024, leaving roughly $18 million for 2027 and $20 million for 2028.
Bennett, a 6-foot-6 lefty born Dec. 2, 2000, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, arrived from Washington for Luis Perales in December 2025 and debuted Might 1. He went 9-7 with a 3.65 ERA and struck out 91 in 113 1/3 innings over 19 begins.
Duran, a speedy, 6-foot outfielder born Sept. 5, 1996, in Corona, California, and a 2018 Purple Sox draft choose, made the 2024 All-Star workforce, and received the All-Star Sport MVP award, whereas batting .285/.342/.492 with 21 homers and 34 steals. He slumped to .207/.266/.361 in 2026, with 20 homers and 21 steals in 151 video games, and tasks to earn about $11 million in arbitration.
Gasper, a 5-foot-9 switch-hitter born Oct. 11, 1995, in New Hampshire and drafted by the Yankees in 2018, hit .251/.357/.466 with 10 homers in 67 video games.
Yoshida, born July 15, 1993, in Japan, signed a five-year, $90 million deal that expires after 2027. He batted .274/.347/.399 in 87 video games this 12 months.
Oneil Cruz’s Match within the Boston Purple Sox Lineup
Cruz noticed fastballs on 49.5 p.c of pitches throughout the perfect offensive season of his profession, in line with Gordon.
“Oneil Cruz is sweet at dealing with that velocity,” the podcaster mentioned. Gordon recognized high-velocity pitches as a Boston weak point, however cautioned that the pattern covers roughly one season.
Co-host Pat Brown flagged the opposite facet.
“He was first percentile in strikeout charge, second percentile in whiff charge. That’s including plenty of draw back with threat,” Brown mentioned. Cruz posted a .676 OPS in 2025, and his .854 mark in 2026 sits effectively above his profession .760.
Place is the bigger query. Gordon dominated out shortstop and left the remainder open. “Most likely largely an outfielder and a DH, however you’re getting him for the bat and what he can do for you offensively,” Gordon mentioned.
Boston’s outfield already options Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, and Rafaela, Abreu and third baseman Caleb Durbin all received 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove awards. Cruz’s defensive metrics in middle subject have been blended to adverse. “He was horrific at shortstop,” Pat mentioned. Sammy noticed third base as the perfect match, however Durbin holds that job. The designated hitter spot is the opening, and Yoshida and Gasper, the gamers who fill it now, are the gamers leaving beneath the “Play Tessie” commerce pitch.
The rotation takes a success as effectively.
“If he’s within the deal, he takes the Jake Bennett slot,” Gordon mentioned of Keller.
“Your rotation in all probability can be downgraded a bit,” co-host Sammy James added. Keller doesn’t substitute Sonny Grey both. Grey turned a free agent in October after going 18-5 with a 2.72 ERA and 169 innings, in opposition to Keller’s 5.29 ERA.
Oneil Cruz Commerce Verdict for Boston Purple Sox and Pirates
The Pirates shed about $38 million in Keller cash and soak up Yoshida’s $18 million, a financial savings of roughly $20 million, Gordon and James calculated. Duran’s $11 million arbitration determine and Cruz’s projected $7 million shrink that hole.
“For a Main League Baseball workforce, that’s not that a lot. However the Pirates are solely technically a Main League Baseball workforce,” James quipped.
Brown sees Pittsburgh pulling the set off.
“They’re so strapped for money that they might take the hit on a possible Oneil Cruz return simply to release a bit bit of cash,” he mentioned. Brown sees Boston declining.
“You commerce Yoshida, however you principally added a 12 months of Yoshida,” Brown mentioned.
James had each groups saying no, although barely for Pittsburgh.
“It’s very near the Pirates taking it,” Sammy mentioned. Gordon agreed and pointed to Boston’s preferences.
“If you happen to introduced this straight to their entrance workplaces, they might each say, ‘Thanks, however no thanks,’” Gordo mentioned. He added that the Purple Sox want “extra certainty in the case of the bat we’re including.”
The monetary end result favors Pittsburgh. The Pirates transfer Keller’s 2028 wage, and Boston extends its dedication via that season whereas giving up Bennett’s 3.65 ERA and years of management. Boston retains prospects corresponding to Franklin Arias and Payton Tolle, the hosts famous, and nonetheless will get a single high-variance bat. The offense improves provided that Cruz repeats 2026. The protection positive aspects little.
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