Red Sox-Giants could make another trade that sees All-Star player end up in SF

The Boston Red Sox season is not over, but they are not playing like a team that can make a postseason push. If they fall out of contention, they could start trading some players with value.

The Red Sox are three games out of a wild card spot after their loss on Wednesday, before the rest of the league has finished playing. They have lost five straight and six of their last ten. If things continue this way, they may be sellers at the deadline. They have a few position players who could have value, but most of their starting pitchers would not seem like trade chips.

Outside of Garrett Crochet, none of the Red Sox starting pitchers have been great. Walker Buehler was one of the team's offseason additions, but he has a 6.29 ERA in 13 starts. Despite the high ERA, he may have some trade value because of his postseason track record.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan listed Buehler as a trade candidate earlier this week, and Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer suggested the San Francisco Giants could trade for the two-time All-Star. It would not be the first time this year the Giants have acquired an All-Star from the Red Sox.

"Truth be told, the Giants are mostly set after the Rafael Devers trade. He's the big-time slugger they had needed for years, and he's joined a roster that has already proved itself as one of the best in the National League," wrote Rymer. "There is, however, the question of which starters manager Bob Melvin can trust after Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. To this end, Buehler would at least bring more upside than an aged Justin Verlander and Landen Roupp, and getting to pitch regularly at the offense-killing stadium that is Oracle Park could only help him unlock it."

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Buehler has a $25 million mutual option for next year, and the way he is pitching does not indicate the Red Sox will exercise their side of it. They may be wise to maximize his trade value and leverage his postseason success into a trade. Buehler was a hero for the Dodgers last October, despite a terrible regular season, and has a 3.04 ERA in the postseason in his career.