Why the Red Sox should target the Angels’ versatile infielder at the trade deadline

Why the Red Sox should target the Angels’ versatile infielder at the trade deadline originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

If the Boston Red Sox are buyers at the MLB trade deadline later this month, they should listen to Kenley Jansen and make starting pitcher and right-handed batting his top two priorities.

But who should the Red Sox pursue at those two positions?

Our Red Sox insider, John Tomase recently shared a list of five starting pitchers that could interest Boston on the trade market, and on Thursday he provided a potential target for the hitting side: Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo.

Rengifo is currently on the injured list due to a wrist ailment, but appears to have avoided serious injuries and could be back in action soon. If the 38-55 Angels go into sell mode, the 27-year-old slugger would fit the bill for what Boston needs.

“He was a borderline All-Star until he got injured,” Tomase said of Rengifo in Arbella Early Edition, as seen in the video player above. “He helps you defensively in the middle of the field, and he’s that right-handed bat, maybe not strong, but average, for sure. You just need another guy who can help you against lefties.”

The Red Sox have a predominantly left-handed lineup, which explains why they are just 12-14 with a .247 batting average against lefties this season. Rengifo would help solve that problem: He’s hitting .380 with a .955 OPS as a right-handed hitter facing lefties in 2024.

Rengifo is also a plus defender and would be an overall upgrade over Enmanuel Valdez, David Hamilton and Romy Gonzalez at second base. The Venezuelan can also run — his 22 steals in 69 games are already a career high — which would make him a great option on a team that ranks second in the American League with 88 steals.

Rengifo would likely cost Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow a few prospects, but you could argue he’s worth the cost for a Boston club that is 10 games over .500 heading into Friday and could make a big push into the playoffs with the right additions before July 30th.