How Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu Felt About Offseason Trade Rumors

Wilyer Abreu found himself in a tricky spot coming off his first full season with the Red Sox.

By all accounts, it was a very solid Year 1 in Boston for Abreu, who won an American League Gold Glove Award and received some Rookie of the Year votes. But despite showing so much promise, the 25-year-old was at the center of trade rumors for a good chunk of the offseason. Abreu was viewed as expendable by many since Roman Anthony, one of the top prospects in all of baseball, is knocking on the door of the big leagues.

How did Abreu respond? By storming out of the gate in the 2025 season, even after having virtually no spring training due to a gastrointestinal issue. Entering Monday, the Venezuela product led the Red Sox in batting average (.340), OBP (.468), OPS (1.068), slugging percentage (.600), runs scored (12) and WAR (1.2). Abreu continues to cement himself in Boston’s core for the future, and those trade rumors are miles in the rearview mirror.

“I didn’t really pay attention to it. I feel like that’s out of my control,” Abreu told reporters via translator, per The Boston Globe. “I just focus on the things that I can control, and (rumors) don’t really bother me at all.

“I know what I needed to do. I just needed to focus on what I can control. That’s what I did.”

Abreu almost certainly will hear his name pop up in trade rumblings at some point in the future. Such is life in baseball, as well as virtually every other sport. But Abreu appears to have his priorities in order and his focus narrowed, which is no small feat for such an inexperienced player.

Thus, Abreu will continue trying to perform at a high level and help Boston win games. The Red Sox will try to make it two in a row Monday when they open a three-game road series against the rival Tampa Bay Rays.

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