Three Diamondbacks Red Sox Should Pursue With Arizona Expected To Sell

The Arizona Diamondbacks underachieving this season is much to the benefit of contenders around baseball — with the surging Boston Red Sox a potential match for a few players.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported over the weekend that executives expect the D-Backs to sell this season and focus on 2026. Arizona has floundered following its surprise trip to the World Series in 2023, and they sit 47-50 in the loaded National League West at the break.

From a future-focused standpoint, the Diamondbacks are in a great position to sell. They’re awash with pending free agents that have plenty to offer to contenders, and they could offload many while still maintaining a core to ensure they’re competitive as soon as next season.

Here are three players the Red Sox could target.

Zac Gallen, SP
He’s the obvious headliner for the Diamondbacks, although he’s been erratic in 2025. While there have been occasional flashes of his best self, more often he’s gotten knocked around. He sits at a 5.40 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP across 20 starts this season.

However, he’s a clear change of scenery guy — and there’s enough of a track record to dream on him slotting behind Garrett Crochet atop the Red Sox rotation. Of course, there’s risk in giving up hefty assets for a guy who hasn’t shown upper-rotation stuff this season, particularly when he’s a pending free agent.

Starting pitching, of which there is little this deadline, is expected to be expensive. But if the Red Sox think they can make the right tweaks, he’d be a captivating add with postseason experience.

Josh Naylor, 1B
The Red Sox could solve their first base revolving door in a big way with Naylor. With a beautifully refined approach at the plate, the 28-year-old has tremendous discipline with the ability to slug, as well. He has a .294 average with an .817 OPS in 87 games this season.

Adding Naylor would not only stabilize first for the Red Sox but also give them another bat to slot into the middle of the order. He’ll have plenty of bidders, but he fits an obvious need.

Merrill Kelly, SP
While Gallen has struggled this season, Kelly has proven to be one of the steadiest arms in the game.

After a bumpy start, Kelly has settled in nicely and pitched to a 3.34 ERA and 1.052 WHIP. Since June, he’s allowed more than three earned runs in a start just once. He was a key part of the Diamondbacks’ push in 2023, and would undoubtedly raise the floor of Boston’s rotation.

He’s likely to cost less than Gallen, and, with the exception of last season, has historically been a durable player. While the ceiling with Gallen is higher, Kelly has been far more reliable this season.