Would you consider Chase Meidroth a prime trade candidate this winter?
Red Sox prospect Chase Meidroth is another young infielder knocking on the door to make his big league debut in 2025.
Meidroth, 23, enjoyed a strong first season playing for the Worcester Red Sox this season, slashing .293/.437/.400, including an impressive 105 walks. His on-base percentage was 35 points higher than the next-closest International League hitter. In addition, he hit seven homers with 57 RBI and posted a .848 OPS in 119 games. Meidroth only struck out 71 times for a 12.7% K rate with an 18.8 BB rate.
The Calif. native played all over the infield for the WooSox, seeing time at second base, shortstop, and third base. Injuries nagged the infielder, missing time with lower-body issues and seeing time resting in an attempt to keep him fresh.
With Boston having only so many roster spots available on the 26-man roster, Meidroth quickly becomes a player that could be moved in a potential package to land a front-of-the-line starter.
“While it wasn't universal, Meidroth was generally viewed as a top-10 prospect across the industry based on the high floor as a nice big league role player who can play solid defense at a couple of positions and get on base,” wrote Alex Speier during his recent chat on Baseball America. “Given the Sox' middle infield group, he's certainly a guy who could be dealt—someone with comparable (perhaps slightly greater, given the defense) trade value to Nick Yorke at the deadline.”
This summer, the Red Sox sent Yorke to the Pirates just before the trade deadline for former first-round pick Quinn Priester.
The Red Sox and Pirates accomplished two things in that deal: Boston added another young, controllable starter to develop within their pitching pipeline. For the Pirates, they acquired a relatively Major League-ready hitter that could step right in and contribute; Yorke played 11 games for the Pirates last season.
The Pirates have struggled to develop hitters that can contribute to the big league roster over the last few years, and Boston could look around the league and find a farm system similar that's flush with pitching and pry another young stud away.
It's not an easy task to move Meidroth; the young infielder has the potential to be another infield option for the big league club next season. Meidroth has one of the best hit tools in the minors, never chasing and consistently making contact at pitches in the zone. This bodes well for him to hit for a high average and offers the potential to get on base if he makes it to the majors.
Boston is flush with infielders that will fight for playing time in Boston in the likes of Marcelo Mayer, Vaughn Grissom, and Kristian Campbell. All three players are higher on the overall depth chart than Meidroth, which could make him expendable.
Baseball America ranks Meidroth as the No. 13 prospect in the Sox’ system, dropping one spot from over the summer. If Boston keeps or moves him for a pitching prospect or part of a package for an elite starter, Meidroth at least projects as a player that will make a positive contribution at the big league level.
Whether he begins the season at Triple-A for the Red Sox or another club, his well-rounded game will see him crack the majors in 2025. If he gets consistent playing time, he should see time at the bottom of the order, similar to when David Hamilton was called up and began to see playing time. If Meidroth adds additional bat speed and power, he could be a sneaky solid contributor for the Red Sox or another club.
First they need to trade Duran. https://allwecaneat.net/a-drinker-must-write/