The Red Sox are six games out in the AL East and sit just one game back of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. They’ve been linked to a number of trade targets over the past week — James Paxton, Jameson Taillon and Luis Rengifo among them. That should be indicative of the team’s deadline approach, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow removed any doubt and publicly stated that he’s “looking for ways to improve the club” in the final days before next Tuesday’s trade deadline (link via Alex Speier of the Boston Globe).
Specifically, Breslow cited a desire to add to an injury-depleted pitching staff and to find a right-handed bat to complement a lineup that leans left-handed. Asked about the possibility of both moving some current contributors who are free agents at season’s end (e.g. Tyler O’Neill, Kenley Jansen) and also looking to add elsewhere on the roster, Breslow said it’d be “irresponsible” if he didn’t at least listen to what teams had to offer, but he also heavily downplayed the possibility of trading a current contributor: “It’s hard to think about how moving those guys would make us better,” said Breslow.
Boston’s rotation was dealt a significant blow before the season even began, when offseason signee Lucas Giolito suffered a UCL tear during spring training and underwent an internal brace procedure that’ll keep him out of action until 2025. Righty Garrett Whitlock underwent the same procedure just two months later. Depth starter Chris Murphy had Tommy John surgery in April.
At the moment, the Sox are going with a rotation of Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello and Cooper Criswell. Houck has already set a new career-high in innings pitched with more than two months of the season to play out. Crawford is 10 innings shy of last year’s 129 1/3 frames. Criswell has been a nice under-the-radar find for the Sox, pitching to a 4.02 ERA in 65 innings. However, he’s cooled after a hot start. Even with the seven scoreless frames he tossed in his most recent start, Criswell has a 5.26 earned run average dating back to mid-May. Like Houck and Crawford, he’d sail past his career-high innings count if he remained in the rotation for the rest of the season.
Boston’s depth beyond that quintet isn’t great. Righty Josh Winckowski has pitched well in five starts, but he’s been valuable as a long reliever as well (highlighted by an excellent six-inning relief appearance in which he held the Jays to two runs and saved the rest of the ’pen on a day when Bello was knocked out in the third inning). Veteran Chase Anderson is another long option in the bullpen but has a rough track record in recent seasons. He’s pitched to a 4.59 ERA in 2024 but has generally worked in low-leverage and mop-up situations. Veteran Brad Keller is on the 40-man roster in Triple-A, but the Sox used him in relief earlier this season and he was hit hard both in Boston and with the ChiSox. Non-40-man options include Naoyuki Uwasawa, prospect Richard Fitts and journeyman Jason Alexander.
Suffice it to say, the Sox could use both some bulk innings and some more depth. Breslow indicated that “in a perfect world,” he’d be able to acquire someone controlled/signed beyond the current season, though such options aren’t exactly plentiful. Boston’s reported interest in Paxton signals that they’re at least open to a short-term rental, while their talks with the Cubs about Taillon demonstrate a willingness to take on some salary of note. Taillon is signed through 2026 and earning $18MM per season along the way.
With regard to a right-handed bat, the need is arguably less acute but notable nonetheless. Red Sox hitters have posted a league-average .249/.325/.403 slash against left-handed pitching this season. That’s hardly a glaring flaw, but there’s room for improvement. That’s especially true when it comes to their contact abilities against lefties — or rather, their lack thereof. Sox hitters have fanned at an MLB-worst 28.8% clip against lefties, and no other team is particularly close. The Mariners have the second-worst mark at 26.2%, and the Rockies (25.2%) are the only other team north of 25%.
Between Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu, the Sox have a handful of key left-handed bats in the lineup. Devers and Duran have been fixtures regardless of opponent. Abreu is typically complemented by righty-swinging veteran Rob Refsnyder. Right-handed regulars in the lineup include catcher Connor Wong (who’s in the midst of a breakout year at the plate), versatile Ceddanne Rafaela and the aforementioned O’Neill.
Speculatively speaking, first or second base would be a sensible area to target a right-handed bat. Dominic Smith has held his own with a .232/.326/.371 slash in the absence of slugger Triston Casas (another lefty), but Casas isn’t especially close to returning. Boston’s Chris Sale-for-Vaughn Grissom swap has been disastrous thus far, with Sale returning to form in Atlanta while Grissom has hit .148/.207/.160 in 87 plate appearances during an injury-ruined first year in Boston. Sox second basemen have batted an MLB-worst .197/.253/.299 on the season.
Mark Canha, Gio Urshela, Amed Rosario and old friend Justin Turner are among the rental options who could help in one of those roles. More controllable names include Brent Rooker, Isaac Paredes and the aforementioned Rengifo (a switch-hitter).
The Red Sox drew plenty of criticism for a relatively quiet offseason that followed chairman Tom Werner’s regrettable “full throttle” comments earlier in the winter, but one notable result of that is a luxury-tax ledger that’s not all that close to the threshold. RosterResource projects about $218MM worth of luxury obligations for the Sox, meaning they’re a hefty $19MM shy of the first tier of luxury penalization. The Sox reset their tax bracket when they dipped under the threshold in 2023, but even if ownership is reluctant to exceed it again, their current number should allow Breslow and his staff flexibility when exploring trades in the next few days.
ChiSox_Fan
Call the other Sox and get Fedde or Crochet!
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Stupid idea. Those guys will cost half the farm and neither one of them get us to the postseason this year on their own. I also believe they both don’t have long or good track records, so they’ll decline after this year.
Sell, sell, sell.
User 4204968895
Crochet will decline after this year?
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Decline was the wrong word, but I think Croche will regress with a sophomore slump. I don’t trust him until I see a full season or two under his belt.
Where did this guy come from? I do not see much Minor League stats for him.
User 4204968895
He came from the University of Tennessee and evaluators decided he didn’t need much minor league seasoning. He’s still only 25.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Might be good but he would cost too much. I still worry spending the farm on a guy without any kind of track record. And sometimes one season is very misleading. Not much data.
Look at Bello- excellent Minor League stats that hasn’t transferred to the Majors and now we are stuck with him for awhile. I hope he improves but you never know.
Bobby Dalbec was even good for one year.
User 4204968895
OK
Joemo
I like the idea of Fedde, but I see he spells his name Erick and I can’t trust someone who spells their name like that.
lesterdnightfly
Do you prefer that he trades the initial E for a P ?
teddyj
Or drop the e and r and replace with a D
all in the suit that you wear
I think the Red Sox likely need two starters and one or two relievers to stay competing at a high level. With the crazy asking prices for pitching, I doubt they will get three or four pitchers. I think the Red Sox will hold on to their best prospects.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Completely agreed, and that’s what they need to. Hold onto the prospects, build for next year and then when we are 15 games above .500 next year, use the deadline to make out already great team better. You can’t rely on the deadline to get 4 or 5 players to even put you in contention.
all in the suit that you wear
Theo Epstein is supposedly watching the team closely and Breslow is consulting with him.
nesn.com/2024/07/red-soxs-craig-breslow-explains-t…
Joemo
You can’t hang on to all the prospects though. The Red Sox are going to have some issues with the 40man roster this off-season as they deal with injured players (Story, Giolito, etc) and prospects ( needing a spot – soxprospects.com/rule5.htm the vast majority of the list should not be protected but there’s Yorke, Fitts, Lugo, Blaze?, maybe more?).
The issue with having a “strong” farm system is that you can’t hold on to all the prospects. You will eventually have to make a deal or see them leave for nothing.
Let’s look at an example. At 2B in the majors you would have David Hamilton (and Romy I guess), and in the minors you have Meidroth, Yorke, and Campbell. Meidroth is more utility playing more SS, but you have Mayer coming up there and have Rafaela and Hamilton. There’s too many players and not enough roster spots, get something for some of them before their value decreases. They can’t be afraid of making the wrong move, it can and will happen. If it happens, learn from it and make a better decision next time.
all in the suit that you wear
Joemo: Agreed they could and should trade from the second tier of prospects, but if teams insist on only top tier prospects, deals may fall apart.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Trade the prospects in the offseason. That’s the best place to do it if there’s a logjam, which clearly there is now
Bob Sacamano 310
Are they in the market for a RHH 1B or DH? Andrew Vaughn still hits lefties well and very much available.
Bob Sacamano 310
Against Lefties: ..291/.309/.481 for a .790 OPS
Goku the Knowledgable One
Sell the house for Vlad jr.
Maybe Houck or Pivetta packaged with prospects
Bob Sacamano 310
Make your rotation worse by trading Houck? And why would the Jays want Pivetta? He’s a free agent after this year.
Canuckleball
There’s almost no chance the Jays trade Vlad. There is actually no chance they trade him to a division rival.
The return would have to be crazy and far more then Boston would ever be willing to pay.
Goku the Knowledgable One
Why wouldn’t Boston be willing to sell house for Vlad?
Canuckleball
Because the Sox don’t want to see a bunch of their best prospects having great success against them in the upcoming decade while wearing Blue Jay blue.
Just as the Jays don’t want to see Vlad come back to town and beat them repeatedly in a Red Sox uniform.
JoeBrady
Why wouldn’t Boston be willing to sell house for Vlad?
====================
Because he’s averaged a 3.0 bWAR/650 over the past three years. Good, but not special.
stymeedone
That’s for one year and 2 months of VG, Jr.
Fever Pitch Guy
Bob – Can’t trust anything the front office says.
Last month Breslow insisted they will “pick a lane”, either they only buy or they only sell.
Now he’s backtracked on that stance. So sick of their lies.
User 4204968895
It’s a stretch to say Dominic Smith has held his own, but regardless, I’m hoping Breslow does something. Teams that overachieve should be rewarded by management at the trade deadline.
smitty527
Why would you say it’s a stretch? Dom’s recorded an OPS of .562, .711 and .903 in May-July. 95 OPS+ as it stands and, assuming he maintains somewhat the trajectory he’s on, that is due to continue to rise. For a replacement for Casas while he was injured, I would be, and am, thrilled with the production the Sox have gotten from him.
User 4204968895
Dominic Smith is barely hanging on to a MLB job. He’s the definition of a league average or worse player.
Why would you assume he’ll maintain the “trajectory” he’s on given his history?
stymeedone
League average means he is better than 50% of the players. Doubtful that means he is barely hanging on to a job. It does mean he will have to produce to keep his position. If all players have to be better than average, we will need a new defn of average.
deweybelongsinthehall
League average is one of the worst stats to consider. How about narrowing it down to position when they primarily play just one? That said, Smith has played solidly enough for a full in. I wish he was right handed as that’s what this team needs. Cahna is in my view the inexpensive hitter to get with Turner as a back up plan.
DirtyWater04
We picked Smith up off the street as an emergency plug in, to get a 95 OPS+ out of him in addition to a month and a half or so of being a genuinely useful bat (yeah there was rust at first, but again, he came off the street). I agree that it’s expecting too much to think he’s going to keep improving, but if he keeps getting AB’s I think he can stay comfortable enough to continue to be competent until Casas is ready. That’s a pretty lucky find for emergency filler, and after the last several years of the Bobby Dalbec experience I am all for it.
User 4204968895
Smith’s WAR is currently -0.2, which is what he is: slightly below replacement level.
Canha would be an improvement on Smith.
DirtyWater04
There would be a cost to acquire Canha because he is currently employed by the Tigers. Smith was a free agent, he only cost money. Also worth noting Canha’s salary is $11.5 million while Dom gets a mere $1.4 mm.
Smith: 194 AB’s, .232/.326/.371, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 93 OPS+
Canha: 308 AB’s, .234/.338/.357, 7 HR, 36 RBI, 97 OPS+
in terms of production, they have essentially been the exact same player. The only difference is that Canha as a righty would help with balancing the lineup while Dom doesn’t.
That’s really worth $10 million to you?
User 4204968895
If you’re talking to me, Canha wasn’t my idea.
Only here are there Red Sox fans beating the drum for Dominic Smith. It’s like an alternate universe.
DirtyWater04
You just said Canha would be better. And no, not beating the drum, if he has any kind of role beyond organizational depth in 2025 it’s an abject failure on the part of the front office.
That doesn’t mean you can’t admit that for a guy picked up off the street on May 1st, he is doing fine. And as well as any other realistic emergency fill in could be reasonably expected to do. Not sure why you seem to have such an issue with that.
User 4204968895
Again, my opinion is that Dominic Smith is league average or worse. That’s “fine” to you. It’s not fine to me.
I’ve read your posts elsewhere here. Whatever the Red Sox do, you will be here telling people they did the right thing. You will twist yourself into a pretzel to make sure you find just the stats to prove it, too. It’s not about Dominic Smith to you. It’s about defending Red Sox management no matter what garbage they shove down our throats. Honestly, I think it’s pathetic. Stop defending the fact that they’re cheap. It’s embarrassing.
DirtyWater04
Dom Smith was never supposed to have a role on this team and is only part of the mix at first base because Casas has been on the DL for three months. To get just a hair under league average production from the random bum they grabbed off the waiver wire to fill in until he’s back is actually pretty good. What exactly were you expecting? You think Freddie Freeman is just out there to be scooped up as a 3 month injury replacement? Get real. Either say out loud what you thought they were supposed to replace Casas with in early May that would have made more sense or done significantly better, or stop talking.
And no, you either haven’t read my other comments or you still have quite a bit of growing to do in the reading comprehension department. I have been almost nothing but critical of Henry’s tightwad regime ever since they made the decision to break up the greatest Red Sox team ever assembled with the Mookie Betts trade and other subsequent disasters. I have disliked almost every decision they’ve made in the last 3 years with only a handful of exceptions and been quite vocal about that, so I’m not sure what the hell you’re talking about. Then again, I’m not sure you know either. Have a nice day.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
They’re not really overachieving. If the last two series showed us anything, we are regressing to the norm. Just like Nick Pivetta goes on long successful stretches but cannot end the season with an ERA lower than 4.00.
smitty527
First series was the Dodgers where we were competitive. Then in Colorado which is a different animal when it comes to pitch movement.
All with a depleted bullpen. Regression might be a bit of a reactionary assessment.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Can’t blame Colorado. Those players deal with it all the time and it affects the visiting teams just as much, so the “Colardo factor” is more a myth or excuse than anything else. There’s a reason pitchers are bad in Colorado and it has nothing to do with the atmosphere.
User 4204968895
They’re within striking distance of the wild card. At a certain point the objective of baseball is to win, not hoard prospects. Breslow has to do something.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I agree something has to be done but the deadline is to make an already good team better for the remaining part of the year and we need at least 4 players to do that.
If you’re using the deadline to be a contender behind 6 or 7 other competitive or better teams, that’s a problem.
User 4204968895
OK
olmtiant
CR… to say it’s a stretch Dom Smith has held his own is to say it’s a stretch I look like George Clooney when I look like George Wendt… I get Justin Turner is 74 but I would much rather see him at 1b and it’s another RH bat
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Dom Smith is mediocre at best. I do applaud Breslow for getting him quickly after the injury to Casas as it was a great gamble, but he’s just not a solid hitter and has never been.
Joemo
A 0.711 OPS is about league average for 1B based on team production baseball-reference.com/leagues/team_compare.cgi?re… Boston is 16th at 0.711, ATL 15th at.0.712). Bostons value is carried a little by Casas.
Smith is currently at 0.697. Initially I would have said he’s underperformed, but that’s actually good for a guy who was a waiver pickup. His defense has been alright too, I think.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
That about fits the title of “mediocre.” But honestly, you can’t depend on him in the lineup.
Our team has lacked clutch. Players fail to know when they need a big hit, and that’s a big issue.
User 4204968895
Smith is just some guy being paid not much to play 1st base because the better guy not being paid much is injured. They’re the Scrooge McHenry Red Sox now.
Mike56
Good luck! Every team in contention looking for that!
all in the suit that you wear
Exactly. I think the Red Sox will add as long as they keep their top prospects. If the asking price is too high, I think they will pass on deals.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Trying to get 4 to 5 players to improve and even make contention without spending any prospects? Good luck with that.
User 4204968895
Who said they MUST add 4 or 5 players? These are just things you seem to make up to make sure you’re making every excuse possible for Henry.
Just add some players. Teams trying to win do that. You seem to think the playoffs are pointless. Teams make money off of playoff games. They’re a revenue stream the Red Sox can pursue right now. If it were up to you, the Red Sox would have 25 prospects on the doorstep of the majors. Only 9 of them can be in the field at one time, in case you don’t realize that.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I’m just assuming we need 4 to 5 players to get better. You need at least 3- a starter, a reliever, and a right handed bat, but that may not be enough.
I’m okay with adding any players, but the big guns we need to compete will cost too much. It’s worth a try, but I just don’t see us making it. We’ve had under a 50% chance of making the playoffs since May.
deweybelongsinthehall
Sox do need at least three if not four. Anyone in the minors? If not, one starter, two relievers and a right handed bat minimum.
Atlanta Jack
And pass on the playoffs!!
lesterdnightfly
Way to let the GM’s Secret Strategy out of Pandora’s box, Breslow.
“Looking for ways to improve the club” indeed.
Now everyone will start doing that.
Some people just can’t keep a secret.
Saint Nick
They can have Adam Duvall back for an unopened back of 96 donruss cards.
ssowl
Rooker would be a fun fit for this team. Can hide him in LF/DH and is controlled beyond this year.
Rsox
Problem is they need a RH hitter that can play 1B as well as DH. If Rooker can do that then by all means go get him
User 4204968895
Needing a 1B isn’t a reason to not acquire Rooker though. It’s a separate issue.
Rsox
No, but you only have so many roster spots to play with
User 4204968895
OK
JoeBrady
Fair enough, but how many ABs will Rooker get? O’Neill will play every day in LF. Against righties, I think Rooker might be a mild upgrade over Abreu & Yoshida. That kind of makes Rooker the short side platoon in a division without a lot of lefties in it.
User 4204968895
O’Neill cleans up on bad pitching. He’s kind of a mirage.
Bruin1012
The problem with Rooker isn’t a free agent until 2028 and he’s going to cost a lot in prospect capital. If they can get him for Yorke and lesser guy then I say you do it.
User 4204968895
I’d drive Yorke to the airport for Rooker.
Goose
The Red Sox are NOT going to get someone big and go after a Scherzer, Crochet, etc…
Since the Dodgers DFA’d Paxton I can see dealing for Paxton and maybe Eovaldi. Especially since asked Eovaldi went out of his way to say he would go back to the Sox if dealt. If the Red Sox did that and it didn’t cost any top prospects I can see the fans and ownership being happy with it.
They still need some bullpen help, a good RH bat for the OF or DH and a really good middle infield glove guy as a defensive replacement.
If they don’t get the two starters it won’t matter. They are playing with fire right now considering their depth in the rotation.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
You can’t get that much in one deadline. It’s possible but not probable. Sell and adjust the team for 2025, because you are absolutely right that we need all those pieces. Trade Jansen, O’Neill, and possibly Yoshida if it can be done. Yoshida is useless. We have tons of talent that can DH and move around the diamond, but Yoshida takes up space as DH and he really is only a slap hitter. Love the guy, but Cora doesn’t play him consistently and he hasn’t been tearing up the ball as a DH.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Paxton is not a bad idea but it doesn’t put us over the edge.
JoeBrady
I’d be real comfortable going after Eovaldi.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I’d like him but he won’t come cheap and will probably get injured again.
smkelly1970
assuming he clears waivers, go after Paxton and our old buddy Rich Hill, who could be had for pennies on the dollar. .
no prospects will be needed either way.
Fever Pitch Guy
Smk – Then what is the goal this month? Pick up bodies to give the impression they are GFIN? Or trade prospects for players that are an actual improvement?
If Hill and Paxton are the best they can do, might as well stick with Criswell as their #4 SP and wait for Martin, Slaten and Liam to return.
smkelly1970
I agree with you vis a vis Paxton and Hill. I was being somewhat sarcastic in that post.
I’m sure my opinion will lead to criticism in many corners, but I personally feel the Sox should be sellers only. move the expiring contracts before they lose however many they lose to free agency and have nothing to show for it.
Too many teams are looking for the same bats and arms the Sox are. My fear is that they will overpay for rentals that may or may not get them the final wild card spot. There’s no doubt the farm system is improving, but they’re not the Orioles, for example, who can deal from a position of strength. yeah, it took many brutal seasons for the O’s to build up the farm, but they are now reaping the rewards and have the assets to trade, should they choose to.
The Sox would be better served playing it out with who they have, then revisit the trade market in the off season, when a more level playing field for prospects can be established.
Fever Pitch Guy
smk – I hear what you are saying, but I don’t expect the incoming players to be good enough for an overpay to be possible.
When you look at their recent deadline history, it’s been purely token MLB acquisitions … last year Urias, the year before Hosmer and Pham, even in 2021 they gave up virtually nothing for an injured Schwarber and two relievers with awful numbers.
I’m thinking they will trade players that they anticipate exposing in the Rule 5 draft, not a big loss.
I think this weekend series against the Yanks will be a huge factor in how much they GFIN..
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Sell, sell, sell. Our biggest deal should be trading away Jansen to a contender, trading O’Neill, and seeing if we can trade Yoshida.
This team is reminiscent of 2022 and 2023 where we were 10 games above .500 and then ended up at .500 by season’s end. Yankees right now have glaring weaknesses and we can’t even catch them.
Sell, sell, sell and reboot for 2025. Otherwise it’s deja vu and another wasted deadline where we lose pieces for the future.
smitty527
Which pieces have we lost at the deadline recently?
Also, the Sox ended up back to .500 in those seasons, as people love to mention, because they didn’t get support at the deadline. So the master plan is to now sell and remove any chance. Makes sense.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
You can go all in, but if we still miss the postseason, who gets the blame then? As someone posted, to really be on par, we need a right hand bat and two great pitchers. That’s not cheap and will cost most of our farm. Even that might not be enough. I do not trust getting that return in a deadline, being 7 or 8 games above .500, and we are not currently in a playoff spot.
I don’t think Bloom was as incompetent as most make him out to be but the deadlines weren’t a complete failure because the teams weren’t going to advance anyway if we went all in and traded our future prospects.
If you’re worried about making the postseason based on a trade deadline, that is NOT a good position to be in.
User 4204968895
The truth is, they should do both, sell and buy. Add players that help right now and are under contract for next season. My guess is that’s what Breslow is looking for.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I completely agree with this assessment, to buy and sell, but they tried doing that the past two years with minimal results. Maybe Breslow is better, though his approach so far has been very similar to Bloom’s. Fans aren’t going to be happy if we miss the postseason but it’s an even bigger issue if we overspend to do so. I’m good with the happy medium but I don’t think that gets us to the postseason. I’m not the GM, so we will see.
User 4204968895
Fair enough. I think the perception that the Red Sox no longer care about the postseason IS their biggest problem right now as an organization. And they only have themselves to blame for that perception.
smkelly1970
they should’ve traded Jansen before the AS break, and see if they could’ve packaged Yoshida with him (no matter what happens, the Sox are gonna have to eat the bulk of Yoshida’s contract to move him), but his value is down now with his heart condition.
I like O’Neill, and could see the team try and lock him up longer term.
If rentals need to go, then Pivetta should also be dangled.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Problem is we have too many outfielders. Abreu or Yoshida need to be traded, at least one of them. I know Yoshida isn’t really in the field, but he opens up a spot if traded.
I’ve been a supporter of Cora all along but he’s really hurt Yoshida’s production
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
The heart condition was always there. I think only Colorado was an issue for him
Yankee Clipper
Yankees have JD Davis and Jahmai Jones for you. I mean, Jones is a leadoff hitter and if you want a power stroke, Davis is the cleanup guy in the lineup. Boone also explained that JD has had “recent success” too.
Rsox
Boone needs to stop playing MLB: The Show and start watching his actual team…
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I’m so jealous you guys have Jahmai Jones. I think he could totally transform the Mariners lineup.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Trading Yoshida should be a top priority. I like the guy, but he doesn’t play consistently (Cora is a big part of this), and he isn’t hitting enough to be a DH. Since they committed to Cora, and he doesn’t really fit Cora’s game, he’s got to go.
Yoshida is a roadblock for our rookies. If we trade him, Devers can DH or switch off at 3B with other players coming up through the system. Either way, there’s a logjam and Cora underuses Yoshida.
I don’t know who would take him but Cora ain’t going anywhere, and Cora has shown he won’t play Yoshida consistently (which Yoshida needs to be successful and not sit at every southpaw we play), and he relies more on the rookies, so bite the bullet and trade him. Addition by subtraction.
butch779988
You’d be paying most of his salary for the next 3.5 years…
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
He is still a black hole in this lineup so long as Cora is running things.
DirtyWater04
Sunk cost fallacy.
We’re on the hook for his money either way. He can’t play in the outfield and isn’t enough of an impact bat to be an everyday DH. That makes his salary immaterial because $18 million is being lit on fire either way.
The choice is, you can either compound the mistake by continuing to waste a roster and occasional lineup spot on him, or you can move on and clear the space for one of the prospects to get a shot to prove himself. If the prospect pans out, then he generates some excess value that recoups part of what you threw away paying Yoshida.
Rsox
For all the people clamoring for a Yoshida trade; let it go, it isn’t going to happen, no one is taking on the remaining $55 million for a DH. This sounds (and probably is) exactly like the same people demanding Devers be traded last year.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Devers is generational talent, at least with the bat. Yoshida isn’t. Cora barely starts the guy and he can’t even play the field.
Joemo
Eat some of the contract and include a prospect. The Sox will have a hard time protecting everyone from the rule 5 draft. The Yoshida and Story deals were dumb at the time and are looking dumber by the day. Yoshida’s roster spot will be needed for prospects by mid-next year. If some team would want to do a swap of bad contracts for a RH bat, the Sox should jump on it.
I actually love Devers though. The people saying he should be traded are dumb.
Bruin1012
The Rule 5 shouldn’t be that much a problem this year. I don’t think it really factors at this point. It is potentially a much bigger issue in 2025.
Joemo
Bruin – Sox prospect has a list of all the guys rule 5 eligible: soxprospects.com/rule5.htm
There’s minimal people leaving the 40man (Jansen, Martin, Pivetta, O’Neill and a few others).
People definitely added (baring a trade):
Yorke
Lugo
Probably:
Fitts
Niko
Blaze
Dobbins / Gambell / some of the other pitchers who have had decent AAA seasons
And that’s without going too indepth with the list, it’s annoying to switch tabs on mobile.
You’re right, it is going to get worse next year.
tff17
Yorke, Lugo, and Fitts works…
Did you take into account guys returning from the 60?
all in the suit that you wear
I think Jhostynxon Garcia will likely be protected and possibly Luis Guerrero. Yorke and Fitts seem likely. Not sure about Lugo and Jordan.
all in the suit that you wear
Reading more about the Red Sox Rule 5 draft situation, SP Hunter Dobbins may be protected and Garcia may not be protected. Garcia is having a great offensive year at A+, but maybe he won’t be protected because he hasn’t made it to AA yet.
Fever Pitch Guy
Joe – Let’s not forget Casas and Hendriks when they come off the 60-Day IL in August or September will need to be added.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
The Mariners could take Yoshida. We need anybody with a pulse.
DirtyWater04
Then DFA him if nobody wants to trade for him. There is no way that one of the prospects can’t provide more than a .715 OPS and better defensive versatility.
Rsox
Unfortunately you don’t usually DFA a player with over $55 million remaining on his contract and one who was pretty solid offensively a year ago and has slowly started to get going after a significant thumb injury.
DirtyWater04
As I wrote above on a different thread, this is a classic sunk cost fallacy.
He can’t play the field, and through nearly 800 PA’s across 2 seasons we can safely conclude he is not a high impact bat, certainly not the type of hitter you want as an everyday DH.
It was a mistake to hand him $18 mm over 5 years, but the damage is done. From this point forward they can either choose to cut bait and open up that roster spot and his at-bats to give one of the kids an opportunity to flourish, or they can choose to compound the mistake of overpaying him by continuing to waste the roster spot and at bats instead of giving a chance to someone potentially more productive hoping for production that’s not coming.
I would much rather see what Niko Kavadas, Nick Sogard, Nick Yorke, or Chase Meidroth can do with those at-bats than continue to give them to Yoshida. I feel it’s much more likely one of those four would be able to recoup some of the value being thrown away on Yoshida than Yoshida directly recouping any of that lost value himself.
They knew what they needed to do with Rusney Castillo, it’s time to admit the same with Yoshida.
KyleT
“no one is taking on the remaining $55 million for a DH”
If you dont know that portions of contracts are eaten all the time, then you dont know much about baseball.
bighiggy
Carlson or edman, or dare I say…gorman?
jayroon
India and Montas.
olmtiant
We want Nate!!! We want Nate!!! Or Pedro at 57 is okay?? Tiante at 89?? Cy Young?? Someone/ anyone ( crickets)
Fever Pitch Guy
Olm – Forget them, I want Brais-Ort!!
olmtiant
Can’t be greedy!! Would cost naming rights to Fenway to bring both of them back!!!
Fever Pitch Guy
olm – The only-52-years-old Pedro wants to have a word with you!
letitbelowenstein
I get that they have over 60 games left, but even if they make the post-season, they’re not going far. Trade Pivetta and Jansen for whatever they can get. Then void Cora’s extension and get a real manager.
olmtiant
See Texas/Arizona last year.. can’t remember past that… but take your shot when you can…
Fever Pitch Guy
Olm – YES!! It’s all about matchups, health, and playing well heading into the postseason.
When Houck, Crawford and Pivetta are at their best, they are very tough to beat. Devers and Duran can carry the offense just like they’ve been doing most of the regular season.
Prsabroso
What is a realistic trade for Taillon?
User 4204968895
None. Scrooge McHenry won’t pay his contract.
TB Sox NY
I love reading how the opinions have changed since they are doing better than expected.I also love that we are super excited about a bunch of prospects who we don’t know will be good.Win now Right?
Fever Pitch Guy
TB – I agree, quite a few here are very reactionary and change with the weather. Most don’t even watch the games and therefore don’t know the difference between good wins and ugly ones. They don’t know when wins were earned or simply gifted.
Me, I analyze and allow for all possible outcomes. Coming into this year I said good chance of 75 wins, but I also outlined a possible path to the postseason. All it takes is a little bit of critical thinking.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Full throttle?
Going for it this year? Or just the same old, same old talk?
The Tigers have Sp Skubal, Flaherty; RP Foley, Chaffin; Catcher Rogers; batters Urshella, Vierling….etc…..
Boston has top prospects and CAN get anything they want from Detroit.
Looks like it’s just all talk and the guys in the front office have no intention of playing in October if they do nothing with Detroit.
Golden opportunity to block Baltimore and NY from upgrading and leaving the Red Sox in the dust…….
ActionDan
Jack Flaherty and Mark Canha from Detroit for Miguel Bleis
Munsonmanor71
Depending on the asks by other clubs, don’t be surprised if picking up a ty France to hit lefties and James Paxton types is the way they go. Not sure how close Liam Hendricks is to coming back. Probably jack flaherty and his ilk is the best we’re going to get. There is quite a few players on the 40 man roster that decisions will need to be made before the rule 5, like nick Yorke. IF they’re smart, a few of those players will be involved in any trades we make.
CarolinaCubsandKush
Tough start for VG. Almost didn’t see his single digit OPS+ for second.
Claydagoat
It’s super odd a man says the words “full throttle” and people get so worked up about it they’re still writing about it months later,
Whatever.
Moleyrussell’swart
Astonishing how little pitching depth the entire organization has. John Henry is Rachel Phelps. Get this creepy fella out of here
Fever Pitch Guy
Moley – Props to you for knowing the Indians owner’s name! I’ve compared Henry to her many times.
swanhenge
Flaherty would be huge. Should’ve gotten him this past off season. Tigers will trade him before Skubal.
Kikuchi works and would be nice to have a LH in the rotation. Paxton, meh.
Honestly, I think the offense is pretty ok. Only real “hole” is 1B, but Casas should be back in time to contribute. SS/2B is kind of a mess, but every team needs a #9 hitter. An Iglesias-type would be nice for def replacements.
I like the team. They just need to avoid placing heads in butts like this last roady.
Rsox
SS is fine with Rafaela and Story may still return before seasons end. 2B has been a patch job all season mostly owing to Grissom’s injury in spring training then having a serious bout with the flu that caused him to lose a decent amount of weight rather abruptly and not having his feet under him when he returned.