Red Sox have expressed interest in Marlins star Otto Lopez 

On Monday, ESPN MLB writer Buster Olney on

The next day, Olney reported that the Red Sox were kicking the tires on one of the best shortstops in the game in Miami Marlins All-Star Otto Lopez.

“The Boston Red Sox are looking for a shortstop, and one name that has come up in talks is Miami Marlins outfielder Otto Lopez, who was part of the National League All-Star team earlier this month.” Olney wrote on ESPN Tuesday. “He would be a great player for them,” said one rival executive familiar with Boston’s interests.

“Lopez is a contact hitter, making him a good fit for the type of player Craig Breslow has targeted in the past. The 27-year-old leads the majors with a .331 batting average, has 22 steals and is considered a positive figure.”

The Red Sox are still on the hunt for another impact bat in their lineup, with those sentiments growing stronger after new trade catcher Curtis Mead suffered a broken wrist after just one game with Boston.

Boston’s starting shortstop to open the 2026 campaign in Trevor Story is still working his way back after undergoing sports hernia surgery in May. Even when healthy, Story left a lot to be desired with Boston this year, as he had an on-base percentage of just .244.

The Red Sox backup options at shortstop also left a lot to be desired, with both Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Marcelo Mayer sidelined with injuries.

Meyer’s durability and offensive ceiling have been question marks regarding the big-league prospect’s overall profile. Boston also has one of the best prospects in baseball in Franklin Arias — although the Red Sox may be tempted to flip premium talent for more guaranteed big-league production.

According to Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLivethe Red Sox are looking for a “long-term” option at shortstop this offseason, with Boston linked to names like Washington’s CJ Abrams, Houston’s Jeremy Pena, and Anaheim’s Zach Neto.

“Given the pending potential lockout — and the very weak player class in free agency this winter — Boston may be looking at this deadline as an opportunity to resolve this situation,” McAdam and Cotillo wrote of the shortstop position.

Lopez would be a great addition for Boston, even if he looks more like an elite hitter than a proven player in the heart of the Red Sox lineup.

The 27-year-old shortstop has been a force this season for the Marlins, batting .331 with 27 doubles, nine home runs, and 48 RBI with 22 steals across 103 games so far during the 2026 campaign.

The right-handed Lopez could have more to offer offensively if he plays most of his games at Fenway Park, especially when it comes to attacking the Green Monster for extra base hits.

Similar to Mead, Lopez is in the midst of a true breakout campaign this season in Miami, which could present some risks for any team willing to part with the significant assets needed to pry him away from the Marlins.

However, Lopez still has a very high floor due to his high contract rate, solid defensive play, speed, and the fact that he is under team control through 2030.

Connor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.