Red Sox reportedly sending scouts to look at Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly

With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Red Sox are doing some homework on two of the top notable starting pitchers who could be moved before the end of July.

The Red Sox have sent scouts to watch Diamondbacks starting pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly ahead of their upcoming starts in Arizona, USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale reported Sunday. The Yankees have also reportedly sent scouts to Arizona to focus on those two pitchers, along with Diamondbacks All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez.

Kelly is scheduled to start against the Cardinals on Sunday, while Gallen is slated to start the Diamondbacks’ game against the Astros on Monday.

Of those two pitchers, Kelly has had the stronger 2025 season. The 36-year-old righty is 8-5 with a 3.34 ERA, 1.052 WHIP, and 113 strikeouts in 116 innings pitched over his first 20 starts.

Gallen, meanwhile, arguably has the higher upside between the two pitchers. However, the righty, who’ll turn 30 in early August, is 7-10 with a poor 5.40 ERA this season. He also has a 1.374 WHIP and 110 strikeouts over 115 innings pitched through his first 20 starts of the season.

While Gallen has struggled, there is some reason to think he could turn his season around. This is by far the worst stretch of pitching in his seven-year career, as he was an NL Cy Young candidate in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He actually led the NL in WHIP in the former of those two seasons, which marked the first of two top-five finishes for him in the Cy Young vote. His 4.80 FIP would also suggest that he’s been a bit unlucky this season, too.

Gallen is also set to become a free agent this offseason. So, having a strong performance in the final months of the season could help him net a large payday this offseason. Acquiring Gallen months before he hits free agency could, theoretically, give the Red Sox an incumbent advantage. But Gallen is represented by Scott Boras, so there wouldn’t be any guarantees of him re-signing.

Kelly is also set to become a free agent this offseason. As the Diamondbacks entered Sunday 4.5 games out of the last wild card spot in the National League, Gallen and Kelly’s pending free agency could make it easier for Arizona to trade those two players at the deadline.

Gallen and Kelly aren’t the only two pending free agents on the Diamondbacks’ roster who could be of interest for the Red Sox ahead of the trade deadline. Standout first baseman Josh Naylor is also in the final year of his deal.

Even though Naylor would give the Red Sox another left-handed hitter in their lineup, he’d provide some stability at a position that they’ve had to shuffle a lot of players at over the last couple of years. Entering Sunday, the 28-year-old Naylor has a .291 batting average to go with a .813 OPS and 11 homers this season.

Starting pitching and first base are widely viewed as the Red Sox’ top two needs ahead of the trade deadline. MLB on Fox insider Ken Rosenthal said that Boston will seek upgrades at those two positions during Saturday’s Red Sox-Cubs game.

“[The Red Sox and Cubs] also are looking for the same thing: A starting pitcher good enough to take the ball in a postseason series,” Rosenthal said. “The problem is very few of those pitchers are likely to be available, and these teams have other needs as well.

“Both are looking for a corner infielder — the Red Sox a first baseman and the Cubs a third baseman. And both, like all contenders, are also likely to explore bullpen help.”

The trade deadline is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 31.