The Boston Red Sox came into the season anticipating that their offseason additions would make them World Series contenders who would be buyers at the MLB trade deadline. As July arrives, the team is now expected to be selling in a matter of weeks.

MLB executives told Jim Bowden of The Athletic that they view Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman as the reliever most likely to be dealt at the trade deadline. While an “overwhelming” number of executives think Chapman is traded, some also believe that third baseman Alex Bregman could be moved.

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Chapman, age 37, has been one of the best relievers in MLB this season. He enters MLB games today, with the fifth-highest strikeout rate (38.6 percent) among relievers and the fourth-best K-BB rate (31.1 percent). He is also among just two relievers to hold opponents under a .140 batting average this season.

Any team acquiring Chapman would be on the hook for less than half of his $10.75 million salary, making him a financial bargain. Strengthening Boston’s case to move him, he’s on an expiring contract and likely wouldn’t re-sign this winter.

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From June 17 through July 3, the Red Sox have tied for the fewest wins (five) in baseball, pushing Boston to a distant fourth place in the American League East and closing in on the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians for a bottom-five spot in the AL.

For now, it seems unlikely that Bregman will be traded just weeks after the front office shockingly sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. If the club’s skid continues and Bregman indicates he’ll opt out this winter to become a free agent, then Boston’s thinking could change.

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