Rumored Red Sox Target Makes Surprising Pre-Deadline Remark

A rumored Red Sox trade target might not be on the block after all.

It was reported last week that Boston was among the teams that had held “talks” with the Chicago Cubs centered around Jameson Taillon. The likelihood of the right-hander leaving the Windy City seemingly increased days later when president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer indicated the Cubs were going to sell before the MLB trade deadline.

Well, those available pieces might not include Taillon. The veteran starter, who has 10 teams on his no-trade list, told reporters Monday, “I haven’t said yes or no to anything,” when asked if Chicago’s front office had approached him about any potential deals, per The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney.

For starters, the Cubs might not be selling as actively as previously anticipated. The storied franchise made a big move for its future Sunday when it traded three prospects to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for third baseman Isaac Paredes. Chicago might view Taillon as a big part of those future plans, as the 32-year-old is under contract through the 2026 season.

The Red Sox might no longer be eager to bolster the rotation, as Boston acquired left-hander James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers last week. But if Craig Breslow and company still are looking to add a starter before the deadline, it doesn’t sound like Taillon will be an option.