Tyler O’Neill, a Red Sox outfielder, has a pitiful batting average over his last five games.177, with only three hits in 17 at bats. Even if two of those hits were home runs, it’s evident that Boston should consider trading him.
Okay, that is a touch severe. O’Neill has been one of the most pleasant shocks of the season, not only for the Red Sox but for the entire MLB, as he has hit.308 with six home runs and a 1.229 OPS, both of which are league highs. With Jarren Duran excelling in left field and Cedanne Rafaela taking over center field, O’Neill’s success in right has provided the Red Sox with a quality trio for the first time in years.
However, it is also fair to note that O’Neill is on a one-year contract and is off to a career-best start. As the season unfolds, if some of the realities of the Red Sox’s recent performance—a disappointing sweep at the hands of the Orioles—remain, it would be reasonable to consider O’Neill a potential trade target this summer.
Tyler O’Neill receives a ‘Honorable Mention’ as a Trade Piece
That’s the crux of a list of the top potential trade chips in MLB this year, compiled by Zack Rymer of Bleacher Report in a piece titled (obviously) “The 10 Best MLB Trade Chips For 2024 Season.” He did not include O’Neill among the Top 10 trade components, but he did receive an honorable mention.
Dylan Carlson, the Cardinals’ outfielder who has been sidelined with a shoulder ailment, was also named to the list. The trade of O’Neill appeared to provide Carlson greater playing time, although he remains a trade candidate. As Rymer wrote:
“Except for Carlson, whose club control runs through 2026, everyone here is only signed through the end of this season and thus positioned to be a rental on the trade market.”
That includes O’Neill, whose strong start does not necessarily imply he will be a long-term option for the Red Sox. The team is at least giving Duran the opportunity to keep the job in left, and there is a chance that O’Neill may be signed to a long-term contract after this season.
However, the team still wants Wilyer Abreu to be the long-term right fielder, despite his.190 average to open the season. Abreu is 24 and hit.316 in 85 plate appearances last season.
Red Sox Hope for Continued Health
In a December 2023 trade with St. Louis for O’Neill, the Red Sox gave up pitching prospect Victor Santos and veteran Nick Robertson, and it’s clear they won the deal so far—both Santos and Robertson are suffering in Triple-A Memphis.
O’Neill had a breakout year in 2021, hitting 34 home runs and winning the Gold Glove in the outfield. He was also ranked eighth in the National League MVP voting that year. However, he has been sidelined for the previous two seasons in St. Louis due to a series of injuries, the majority of which have affected his back and hamstrings. He played 72 games last year and 96 the previous season.
However, O’Neill has fared well so far.
“It’s going really good so far,” O’Neill told MassLive. “When I initially arrived at spring training and began meeting the players in person, everyone has been wonderful to me, including staff, teammates, communications, and even the media, which is very nice to see. I’ve been grateful for the fresh start. I feel like I fit right in here. Hopefully, this tendency will continue for a long time. “I really like where I am right now.”
