Red Sox Still Eyeing Zach Neto. Here’s Why It Makes Sense.

The Red Sox haven’t forgotten about Zach Neto. According to reporting, Boston expressed interest in the Angels shortstop last offseason and continues to view him as a target — which means the trade deadline conversations are starting to percolate in earnest. For a team that’s been searching for stability at shortstop, this is worth taking seriously.

Right now, the Red Sox are rolling with Tsung-Che Cheng and Andruw Monasterio at short. Both are fine players, but neither screams “franchise cornerstone.” Neto, at 26 years old and still ascending, represents the kind of young, controllable talent that could anchor the position for years. The Angels have been a mess, which typically means their tradeable assets become available — and a young shortstop with real upside fits that bill perfectly.

The real question isn’t whether Neto would help. It’s what the Angels want in return and whether the Red Sox are willing to pay it. Acquiring a player like Neto means giving up prospect capital or a young major leaguer — and in the current climate, the Angels will drive a hard bargain. Craig Breslow and company need to weigh whether addressing shortstop now is worth mortgaging future depth, especially when the rotation already features established names like Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez.

There’s also the timing question. The deadline is approaching, and these conversations move fast. If Boston is serious — and the continued interest suggests they are — they need to move quickly. Half-measures don’t work in trade deadline deals. Either commit to upgrading the position or stand pat and develop what you have in-house. Fence-sitting costs you in both directions.

This feels like a genuine chess move by a front office thinking beyond the next 30 days. Whether it actually happens depends on matching price tags and organizational priorities. But the fact that Neto remains on Boston’s radar tells you something: the Red Sox believe the right move is still out there.