Dodgers Poised to Benefit from Red Sox's Tibbs Trade

Prospect's red-hot stats at Triple-A beg for call-up to MLB roster

Apr. 5, 2026 at 11:50am

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The Boston Red Sox traded away promising prospect James Tibbs III to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a midseason deal, and it's looking like the Dodgers will be the ones reaping the rewards. Tibbs has been tearing it up at the Triple-A level, putting up eye-popping numbers that have many experts calling for the Dodgers to bring him up to the big league roster.

Why it matters

The Red Sox's decision to trade away Tibbs, a highly touted young player, for just half a season of Dodgers pitcher Dustin May is already being questioned. Tibbs' dominant performance in the minors suggests the Dodgers may have landed a future star, while the Red Sox are left wondering if they gave up on a player who could have made a big impact in Boston.

The details

In the trade, the Red Sox sent Tibbs, a 23-year-old outfielder, to the Dodgers in exchange for May, a 26-year-old right-handed pitcher. At the time, the Red Sox were looking to bolster their pitching staff for a playoff push. However, Tibbs has been tearing it up at Triple-A Oklahoma City, batting .345 with 18 home runs and 48 RBIs in just 60 games.

  • The Red Sox traded Tibbs to the Dodgers in July 2025.
  • Since the trade, Tibbs has been playing at the Triple-A level for the Dodgers organization.

The players

James Tibbs III

A 23-year-old outfielder who was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2025.

Dustin May

A 26-year-old right-handed pitcher who the Boston Red Sox acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the July 2025 trade.

Boston Red Sox

The Major League Baseball team that traded away prospect James Tibbs III to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Major League Baseball team that acquired prospect James Tibbs III from the Boston Red Sox in July 2025.

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What they’re saying

“The Red Sox really dropped the ball on this one. Tibbs is tearing it up in the minors and the Dodgers are going to be the ones who get to reap the benefits.”

— Jim Bowden, MLB Analyst

What’s next

The Dodgers will likely call up Tibbs to the major league roster in the coming weeks or months, giving him a chance to prove himself at the highest level of professional baseball.

The takeaway

This trade is shaping up to be a major win for the Dodgers and a missed opportunity for the Red Sox, who may have given up on a future star in Tibbs too soon. The Dodgers' patience and development of Tibbs could pay huge dividends down the road.