One pitcher spun a gem in his most recent outing, tossing 7 great innings and 10 strikeouts in a hard-luck 2-1 defeat. Elsewhere in the league, a Gold Glove outfielder hit an important three-run homer that helped lift his team to a lopsided 15-1 win. And now, these two players, excelling in different positions, are linked in a bold trade rumor. An article by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has sparked a debate in which he predicts these two stars will be exchanging uniforms very soon.

The proposal creates a fascinating dilemma, putting a breakout Cy Young candidate against a stable hitter. Miller’s article outlines the deal as “outrageous” because of the caliber of players involved. He notes that the 27 YO pitcher, Kris Bubic, “has been good enough for Cy Young consideration,” while the 26 YO outfielder, Wilyer Abreu, “has been one of Boston’s more reliable bats.” The trade is gathering the spotlight more because both teams are in “no-man’s land,” hovering below .500 and in need of a spark.

Now, Miller believes the deal makes perfect sense for Boston’s urgent needs. The Red Sox have a clear ace but a shaky rotation behind him. He argues that “aside from Garrett Crochet, Boston’s pitching has been wildly disappointing.” With expensive veterans likely departing, a multi-year solution is needed. Miller suggests that while Bubic isn’t a household name, he “could be Boston’s savior on the mound.”

Well, the Red Sox can afford to part with Abreu because top prospect Roman Anthony is ready for the big leagues, leaving them with a “stacked five-man outfield.”

For the Royals, the motivation is just as clear. Their pitching has been a strength, but their offense has been abysmal.

As Miller bluntly puts it, “That’s how bad Kansas City’s outfield has been.” He points out the entire unit has been worth “negative-1.5 bWAR this season,” a stunningly poor figure. The team, he writes, “desperately needs some bats other than Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia.”

Adding Abreu’s consistent production would be a “real game changer for this club for years to come,” providing a bridge to top prospect Jac Caglianone.

While this trade presents a fascinating solution, it is not a magic bullet. One player alone rarely fixes every problem for struggling teams.

Weighing the needs: Red Sox vs. Royals

Bubic would be a big asset for the Red Sox, but their problems are larger than one rotation spot. The expensive pitchers they spent their offseason assets on, Walker Buehler (6.29 ERA, 5.74 FIP) and Lucas Giolito (3.99 ERA, 4.23 FIP), have massively disappointed the team in the regular season. Plus, the bullpen has been shaky, topping the league with eight blown saves as of early May. The lack of functional weapons in this group in high-leverage situations has repeatedly doomed the team in closely contested games.

The Boston offense has been a picture of inconsistency, too. They look pretty good on 7th in MLB in runs scored, but their lineup easily can go silent in key spots. Their average of .246 with runners in scoring position ranks in the bottom half of the league. The absence of Devers is reflecting in the field. Shortstop Trevor Story has a mere .234 with a .641 OPS – 26% below the major league average.

So, this reported trade might improve their pitching, but the inconsistent rhythm of the lineup won’t be easy to overcome.

Similarly, the Royals would improve significantly with Abreu. But one man can’t better an entire offense. Their offensive woes are systemic. As a group, they are 29th in home runs, 26th in slugging, and have by far the worst isolated power (.098 ISO) in all of baseball. Their lack of impact hitting has hampered their ability to generate consistent offense and support a solid pitching staff.

Key hitters expected to support superstar Bobby Witt Jr. have regressed significantly this year. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, a player who provided elite on-base ability, has seen his walk rate drop from 11.7% in his rookie season to 5.3% this season. Two-time All-Star catcher Salvador Pérez is batting only. 237 and center fielders MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe have been equally unimpressive, batting OPS marks of .343 and .483, respectively.

While Abreu would immediately be the best outfielder, the Royals will need to overhaul their offensive up-and-down-the-lineup approach and get more out of the other guys.

Let’s hear it from you: Which team would get the better end of this proposed deal?