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Proposed Red Sox trade with Oakland A’s could actually work

By David Hill

Sep 24, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47) prepares before the start of the game against the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47) prepares before the start of the game against the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former general manager Jim Bowden is not quite done reviewing trade offers for a living. These days, he is working for The Athletic, penning articles where he receives hypothetical trade offers from fans. Naturally, the Oakland A’s have been a major part of that series.

Bowden recently received a hypothetical trade that could actually work. In this scenario, the A’s would send Matt Olson and Frankie Montas to the Red Sox for Bobby Dalbec, Jarren Duran, Jeter Downs, and Thaddeus Ward. The A’s would receive two of the Red Sox top five prospects in Downs and Duran, a major league ready first baseman in Dalbec, and an intriguing arm in Ward.

A proposed Oakland A’s trade that could work

That offer was a good start. Bowden tweaked the offer slightly, however. Dalbec and Ward are out, with Tristan Casas and Brayan Bello in place of Dalbec and Ward. Such a switch would give the A’s four of the Red Sox top six prospects. Meanwhile, Casas is also a first baseman, providing a potential replacement for Olson, and Bello is another intriguing minor league arm with plenty of upside.

This deal could actually pay dividends during the 2022 season. The A’s will need a second baseman, and Downs is close to major league ready. Duran saw time in the Red Sox outfield last year and would help in their quest to restock an outfield that needs at least two starters. Bello has the potential makings of a high strikeout starting pitcher with an excellent three pitch mix and could be a future ace in Oakland.

While Casas is not projected to debut this season, it is difficult to see why. He has little left to prove in the minors, and his powerful bat could make an impact in the middle of the A’s order. The only question would be whether or not teams are still able to manipulate service time, which could determine when he would arrive in Oakland.

Of course, this is just a hypothetical offer. There is no guarantee that either team would make such a deal. Yet, with the Red Sox looking to win now, and the A’s searching for impact players for their future, this could be a deal that would make sense for both sides.

Next. A's have top five most likely to be traded players. dark

Former general manager Jim Bowden has found a deal that could make sense for the Oakland A’s. Now it would just need to happen.