Red Sox and Rangers Should Ignite MLB With This Surprise Trade

MLB games are currently on hold due to the spread of the coronavirus, which has put an effective stop to any sort of player movement, too.

If the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers wanted to restart the rumor mill and improve their teams for whenever the season starts, they could swap second baseman Rougned Odor and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., immediately filling a position of need for each near-playoff contender.

Odor, who has three more years left on his contract (plus a team option), is the definition of an all-or-nothing player. He barely hits over .200 (.205 last year) and hasn't has an OPS+ over 100 since 2015, but he has also mashed 30 or more home runs in three of the last four years while playing capable defense.

Bradley has been a mainstay in Boston, but he could also end up skipping town after this year, as he is destined to be a free agent. If he is going to leave anyway, why not get a tremendous offensive second baseman in return? With Kevin Pillar able to fill in next to Alex Verdugo and Andrew Benintendi, outfield depth will not be an issue in Boston.

Texas, meanwhile, would solve their center field issue, creating a lineup in which utility man Danny Santana is pushed to second base, while allowing Willie Calhoun and Joey Gallo to man the corner outfield spots.

At a time where MLB transactions are few and far between, this move could help both Boston and Texas retool for both the 2020 season and beyond. Add in a prospect from Boston (a hybrid infielder like CJ Chatham) and talk JBJ extension as soon as you need to, Rangers. This would be sweet.