The Boston Red Sox are enduring a season to forget. With the firing of Alex Cora, a slew of injuries to key stars, and unexpected slumps from several hitters, 2026 has been nothing short of brutal for the team. As the MLB Trade Deadline approaches, it's increasingly likely that the front office will look to offload some pieces and reset for the future.

According to Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller, the most probable trade candidate wearing a Red Sox uniform is Isiah Kiner-Falefa—a versatile fielder signed for $6 million this past offseason. Miller notes, "If and when they call Kristian Campbell back up at some point, the Red Sox would have even less use for IFK. They presumably won't be able to get much for him other than a bit of salary relief, but that's not nothing."

From the moment the Red Sox inked Kiner-Falefa to that $6 million deal, the move raised eyebrows. At 31 years old, he was brought in to provide infield depth, but the team already had young talent waiting in the wings. The signing felt especially odd given Boston's glaring need at third base and the expectation that prospect Kristian Campbell would eventually claim a starting role. In an ideal world, Kiner-Falefa wouldn't be a key part of the Red Sox's plans—and his performance so far has done little to change that narrative.

Through 39 at-bats this season, Kiner-Falefa has posted a meager .205 batting average with a .449 OPS, failing to make a strong case for regular playing time. Trading him now would essentially confirm what many suspected at the start: the $6 million investment was a misstep. For Craig Breslow and the Red Sox front office, moving on from Kiner-Falefa wouldn't just clear a roster spot—it would be a clear signal that this puzzling offseason decision didn't pan out as hoped.