The Boston Red Sox have made a move to bolster their outfield, announcing the acquisition of outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. In exchange, the Red Sox are sending right-handers Nick Robertson and Victor Santos to the Cardinals.
O’Neill, who will turn 29 in June, had a standout year in 2021, playing 138 games and hitting 34 home runs with a batting line of .286/.352/.560. However, injuries have hampered his performance in the past two seasons, leading to decreased production in 168 games.
The outfielder fell out of favor in St. Louis, and tensions between O’Neill and manager Oli Marmol surfaced in early 2023. With the Cardinals falling out of contention, trade rumors began swirling around O’Neill, ultimately leading to his move to Boston.
For the Red Sox, O’Neill provides a right-handed hitting option and could potentially play center field. The club views him as a low-cost upside play and a potential midseason trade chip if he regains his 2021 form.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, were looking to leverage their surplus of position players to address their rotation needs, which were partially addressed with the recent signings of Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson. In the trade with the Red Sox, they acquire two minor leaguers who could provide depth for their starting staff.
The acquisition of O’Neill adds depth and a potential impact bat to the Red Sox outfield as they prepare for the upcoming season. The Cardinals, meanwhile, continue to reshape their roster in pursuit of their 2024 campaign.