The Red Sox may not be able to land Mets closer Edwin Diaz by the trade deadline, so they’re turning their attention to other relievers on the market. San Francisco closer Will Smith is the reliever who has “most intrigued” the Red Sox over the past week, Sean McAdam of BostonSportsJournal.com tweets. The Red Sox have also shown interest in Diamondbacks left-hander Andrew Chafin, per McAdam, and Blue Jays right-hander Daniel Hudson, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription link).
Smith would clearly give the Red Sox the stable game-ending option they’ve lacked this year, but it doesn’t appear the team will be able to swing a deal for him. They’ve found the Giants’ asking price for Smith to be prohibitive, McAdam reports. Smith isn’t signed past this season – one of the reasons the Red Sox aren’t aggressively pursuing him – though it’s no surprise the Giants want a haul back for him. They’re still in playoff contention, for one, and Smith’s eminently affordable ($4.225MM) and highly effective. The 30-year-old has logged a 2.72 ERA/2.77 FIP with 12.82 K/9 and 2.14 BB/9 in 46 1/3 innings this season. He has also converted 26 of 28 save opportunities.
Meanwhile, either Chafin or Hudson could help improve the Red Sox’s setup situation. This is the latest in a growing line of solid seasons for the 29-year-old Chafin, who has pitched to a 4.17 ERA/3.69 FIP with 11.05 K/9 and 3.19 BB/9 across 36 2/3 frames. He also ranks second among all relievers in infield fly rate (24.2 percent), has held left-handed batters to a subpar .272 weighted on-base average, earns a relatively meager salary ($1.945MM) and comes with another year of arbitration control. Unsurprisingly, Chafin’s drawing plenty of interest from around the league – not just Boston – Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Hudson, 32, would be the easiest reliever in this trio to acquire. He’s had a productive year, though peripherals don’t quite back up his above-average run prevention, and would be a pure rental for his next team. Nevertheless, Hudson’s the cheapest of the group ($1.5MM salary) and has been popular in the rumor mill leading up to the deadline. The hard-throwing journeyman has notched a 3.00 ERA/4.21 FIP with 9.0 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 over 48 innings. Righties have mustered a weak .276 wOBA off him.
Aguilar to Tampa Bay
Worst team in al east doesn’t have the gas to trade for a high to mid level closer looks like that Boston window is closing
What does Baltimore being the worst team in the AL East have to do with Boston’s window closing ?? Strange take on Red Sox Pursuit of relievers.
Do I sense jealousy of the reigning World Series champions? Perhaps jealousy of multiple championships in the last two decades ?
I’m an O’s fan and truly respect what Boston did last year. However, their pursuit of some players at this trade deadline this year puzzles me: they do not seem like a legitimate contender, and their overall system seems lacking in high impact talent. Pricey guys like Price and Sale have disappointed, and may for years to come. They also have a gm who knows how to acquire talent but hasn’t shown great skill in developing organizational talent. What their short- and long-term future looks like seems suspect.
If Sake and Price don’t step it up, the team will not win. What is hampering negotiations is Mookie Betts. He’s saying all the right things but this reminds me of the Islanders and John Tavares eighteen months ago. I love Mookie but it’s hard for the team to move forward without knowing whether he’ll be part of the team in 2021. Just my two cents unless the team is working under the impression that he’ll be signed long term at any price or have decided to let him walk after next year and take the draft pick.
I appreciate what you say, I just think Mookie doesn’t move the needle much for me re their future. First, I think he’s a great player, but not anywhere near last year and who knows for how long. In short, Boston’s future issues are potentially much deeper and more significant than Betts.
Pssst, the internet can be your friend. Feel free to look up the records, or thought to be forever stupid.
The Red Sox have the prospect capital to get them it just appears that DD is not trading them for a rental. I am fine with this they are starting to develop there minors.
Hahaha
aguilar to tampa
What about dalbec and groome? That could be enough to get a deal done i feel like
Not imo. Too much for 2 months of a closer. And I also wouldn’t do it because the RS issue is not the BP, surprisingly, but Sale and Price. If those two guys can’t go more than 5 innings, then we need 4-5 Smiths.
They aren’t in any hurry to trade Groome.
So what you’re saying is they’re looking at every reliever that is possibly available…Thanks for the heads up.
This is cute that the Red Sox are looking at the high end relievers but realistically it won’t take much for teams to out bid them due to their terrible farm system
And how many teams have been anteing up what it takes? Yes, most teams have a better farm. But no, most teams are not putting those prospects on the table, yet.
It’s not just having the prospects to make a deal, it is a willingness to trade those prospects.
You are not part of the ‘…Nation.’ The Red Sox traditionally look at the ‘High End’ first.
Price, Sale, Porcello, Eovaldi and JD. Sometimes they get skunked. Sometimes shut out or held up at a deadline.
Still 3 hrs. to go.
They’re not asking for just Farm guys.. they want Major Leaguers too. Red Sox will kindly pass on “some” of those deals. We’ll see what plays out.
That’s the current, reigning world series champion Red Sox.
Congratulations to all other teams with AAA farm system championships. Nice job.
Everyone mocked DD last year when he got Eovaldi and Pearce with no farm system, too. He’ll be OK.
Yeah it’s be much better to have our 22yr olds in the minors and get a better ranking then to have 7-9 position players being homegrown and raking in the majors. Tell me where Dalbec or Cassas would play? If you say 1b I say that getting another World Series is worth having to find a Mitch Moreland for 6mil every once in a while. The 3 yr window is open. Take advantage then rebuild
1-Casas plays 1st so that we don’t have to pay $11M for Moreland/Pearce.
2-Dalbec goes to DH so that we don’t have to pay JDM $20M, backs up Casas against tough lefties, and backs up Devers for days off.
3-And yes, I agree that if the player that Dalbec gets traded for, will guarantee us a WSC, then it is well worth making the trade. Alas, out here in the cold, cruel world, we get no guarantees. Dalbec alone won’t get Smith. And Smith alone does not even guarantee a WC spot, let alone a WSC.
I have no problem trading prospects to improve an already-strong shot at the WS. I do have a problem trading prospects when we currently have less than a 50/50 of being a WC.
It’s $13m I believe. That said, Moreland should be resigned for $3m next year. I don’t see him getting a better offer and even with his injuries, he’s clutch and plays great defense.
If Moreland is signing that for 1 more year, yeah ok. If not, give the ABs to someone else.
Fine. Their involvement is still likely costing the competition more.
As you stated, Daniel Hudson would be easy to acquire, but I couldn’t see him in a postseason game holding down a 1-run lead in the 9th. You get what you pay for with Huddy.
DD you’ve waited too long,
this deadline is quickly approaching.
Sometimes No Deal is better than the rushed deal
or the deal that was never made.
How about auditioning Feltman for 4 or 5 games? Hernandez has worked so far
He was designed at TCU as a closer and performed well a year ago. through 3 Minor levels.
This year he has had a few stinkers@ AA. He knows how to pitch, from what I hear.
Iggy and Diaz were the primary names as closers–wait til the offseason.
Feltman can’t get people out in AA they aren’t bringing him up yet.
I’d sell if I was dombrowski this team sucks starring and relief pitching their going no further than the 1 game playoff if they get that far
I thought about that too, why don’t we trade away some of our relievers? Imagine we might get some good Farm hands for Barnes or Workman or Hembree or whoever.
But we’re right there and have to go for it, stay in it. Too many last place finishes in the last 10 years to not stay in this race.
Too many last place finishes or 2 championships? Been a pretty solid last decade.
Both.
We’re in the race, one game out. Got to go for it. Who knows when we’ll finish last again. maybe too soon LOL.
While finishing last isnt fun, it has had its role in the overall success in the last 10 years. Helped end the dumpster fire that was Bobby V, got rid of some pricey vets, got our few rare top 10 picks. I know we never try to finish last but this organization is never down long.
Exactly.
INO, I couldn’t care less if we finished last. With 4 WSC in 15 years, I’m not sweating the occasional poor year.
I’m in the minority but I believe BV did his job. The team knew what they were hiring and most of what he did at the time had management’s blessing. As others said, he was hired to make change and to be the fall guy PR wise when there were players that were loved by fans but needed to go.
As a RS fan, I wouldn’t put anything (outside of robbery) on the table, unless it was a l/t option like Diaz or Vazquez (who’s unaffordable in any case). We’re an underdog to even make the WC, let alone win the WC game, the ALDS, the ALCS, and then the WS.
Where are all those Red Sox fans who insisted they could be big players at the deadline? They still may get a big name player but so far sounds like they are connected to table scraps.
Asking prices are way too high. Some teams think they have a reliever they want to let go and can ask for the Moon. Can’t talk any sense to you Anti-Sox out there. You criticize for paying too much, you criticize for not getting anybody.
Prices are too high or the Sox want a cheap, controllable pitcher for nothing? I get they want to remain under the cap and keep there 2 good prospects — so get ready for more Cashners!!
You’re probably right. Fingers crossed we can make something of this year .. if we’re not sellers at this deadline.
so get ready for more Cashners!!
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That’s exactly how we should handle it. It would be to our advantage to us chase low-cost guys, while the Yankees diminish their farm in search of high-end guys.
Only way Boston was going to be a big player at the deadline was to be a seller which they rightfully arent. Anyone who expected them to be is out of touch. They are the defending champs, they have the talent to compete if Starters show up. If they dont, no trade for any reliever is changing how the rest of the year goes. They either step up for a strong finish or they dont, thats 2019.
There are also always last second surprises.
Last night was indicative of the 2019 season. One good pitch or one clutch hit away from the win. They have had that enough times this year to be 10 games out of first. I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault, I believe the season can swing a lot on individual performance moments when you play in a lot of close games. Last year everything felt right all the time. You knew everyone would perform, it was that kind of year. They are still a good team but they have yet to have the kind of hot streak they would need to be postseason worthy.
You know what, you’re exactly right. 2018 we won all those games. Coasted to the championship. Not this year. Almost want to be a seller at this deadline.
Absolutely 100% correct for you and whyhayzee. We won all these last year, and lost of lot of them this year. Always the same too, with key line drives hit directly at someone.
And it is too late, but I wouldn’t have lost a minute of sleep had we gone into sell mode.
I can’t believe they stood pat… (though I may be shooting myself in the foot here if something is done but just not reported yet) but seriously. They needed to AT LEAST pickup a mid-quality bullpen option – they really needed a Closer but if that failed they should have at least gotten a decent arm. Really disappointing.
Not going to overpay if our two high-priced Aces aren’t doing their job.
Red Sox failed today!!!! They needed a relief pitcher and a CF who can hit at the deadline in order to make playoffs..
It wasn’t prospects the reason Boston didn’t do anything today it’s the 246 million lux tax. Boston wasn’t going over that line and quite frankly it really didn’t matter in the end Houston is easily the best on paper now barring injuries. The Red Sox have 3 guys in the top 100 for Midseason on BA glad they didn’t trade any of them. This team is only going as far as their starters and that’s not looking good.
Porcello’s fastball honestly looks like a BP fastball now glad his contract is done after this year.
Forget the luxury tax nonsense. Hoe much money does the organization make during a World Series title run?
They let Kimbrel leave which I agreed with. Problem is they never replaced him with any other closer.
Encarnacion was another guy who they could have grabbed while Moreland was ailing. Nope, let the evil empire get him for nothing.
If they could have added Syndergard and Diaz for top prospects they should have done it.
After watching the Sox lay down tonight vs an inferior talent level TB we should all understand the season is OVER! Thanks for going cheap management. No wonder certain players will leave when you could have been pushing for back to back titles.
It’s the back to back 10 draft pick drop especially in what looks like the deepest draft in years. Plus the Henry had already mandated no over 246 million this year. They won the World Series last year and have underperformed this year and if there starters don’t pitch better it’s a moot point.
Its a pattern with Sox, They have ways gone cheap after winning WS. They know the fans will keep on coming.
I just watched Bradley strike out agin with a base runner on in 8th. Is there no other OF in minors that can hit better than .200?
There were rumors about going after Abreu from White Sox. Why not??? Trade JBJ and 2 prospects for him. Just Cheap!
Dude it’s not the offense it’s the starters unless they pitch better the season is over for the Sox.
There have been numerous games where Sox have lost 3-2 such as Tuesday night vs TB. Or they have had a lead going into the late innings only for bullpen to blow the game.
The starting pitching hasn’t been great but there were many games that could have been won this season if Sox had a closer or a big bat in CF.
The Yankees win many games by outscoring teams because of additions like Encarnacion. So lets not pretend that JBJ’s bat isn’t a big rally killer late in games. An addition of a Hunter Pence yesterday would have been very useful too.
Unfortunately the big mistake in the off season was giving a $68M contract to Eovaldi and not to Kimbrel who ended up signing for $42M.
But what’s done is done
And yes the starters have come up short in 2019.
Although JBJ is and automatic out he is a great defensive CF.
Evoldi will come around. Getting swept by an inferior talented team like TB is what this team has done all year……which is under achieve.
There was a stat about how many blown saves there were earlier this year. To not have any reliable closer on the roster was paving the way to a dismal season. Not adding relief pitching or another really good starter at deadlne ended the season quicker.