The Red Sox entered deadline season with pitching to spare. Now they’re hunting for help.
Boston has already moved Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals, Sonny Gray stands alone as the only right-hander in the rotation, and rookies Jake Bennett and Payton Tolle have already logged plenty of miles on their arms. That reality has pushed the Red Sox into the starting-pitcher market as the 6 p.m. deadline approaches.
One target is already gone. If Boston had been eyeing Angels righty José Soriano as a fit next to Gray, the Blue Jays got there first.
Toronto, despite sitting in last place, made the move for Soriano on deadline day and sent Los Angeles a package that includes No. 2 Jays prospect shortstop Arjun Nimmala plus two other prospects.
Soriano brings plenty to the table. He owns a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 127 strikeouts and 57 walks over 123 innings.
His first seven starts were outrageous - a 0.84 ERA to open the year - before things settled back to earth. Toronto also wasn’t just buying for now.
Soriano has two years of team control left and won’t hit free agency until after the 2028 season.
That deal narrows the board, but it doesn’t empty it. There are still right-handed rental starters available, though the top names could disappear quickly, if they’re available at all.
Detroit’s deadline opened with the expected Tarik Skubal trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Tigers are not expected to turn around and start selling everything. Still, rental starter Casey Mize remains in play for the right price.
Mize would be a strong fit for Boston, and probably cheaper than Soriano. The Tigers’ return for Skubal was described as pretty pitiful compared to what many fans expected, and the Red Sox have the prospect depth to offer a top name plus additional pieces for a pitcher in Mize’s range.
The numbers are there. Mize has put up a 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 85 strikeouts and 19 walks across 86.2 innings.
His season has been interrupted by two injured-list stints for adductor issues, and his fastball velocity dipped in his last outing, which could give some clubs pause. But he still handled July 25 well, giving up one run on three hits while striking out three.
Clay Holmes is another name drawing attention. Multiple reports have said his market with the New York Mets has gained traction, and the former Yankees closer has done well since moving across town into the Mets’ rotation. He could give the Red Sox another right-handed option behind Gray, or even help out of the bullpen if needed.
Holmes is currently on a rehab assignment after a comebacker fractured his leg on May 15. The rehab numbers have been solid: five earned runs, 12 hits, eight strikeouts and four walks over 11.2 innings.
Before the injury, he had posted a 2.39 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 52.2 innings. That recent injury could also lower the cost for Boston.
With the deadline ticking down, the Red Sox could use one more arm to absorb innings and lighten the load on their young starters. Mize or Holmes would both fit as veteran right-handers who could steady the rotation alongside Gray.
In Other News...
Red Sox Eye One More Deadline Move To Fix A Lingering Problem
The Red Sox have already done business with the Nationals twice in the past nine months, landing pitcher Jake Bennett and infielder Curtis Mead, but the work in Washington may not be finished. Mead is currently out with a broken wrist, and Boston still appears to be searching for a cleaner answer on the infield as the trade deadline approaches.
According to reports, the club has continued to monitor Washingtons infield market while looking for another move that would address the lingering issue. The interest points toward a player who has been productive this season, and the price could require Boston to part with a notable major league piece or a pitcher from the current roster mix. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Wild Card Push Suddenly Hinges On Two Unsettled Developments
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The bigger organizational questions are still simmering behind the scenes. Tanner Houcks recovery from UCL surgery has reached the point where he is throwing in bullpen sessions, and the possibility of a late-season return adds another layer to Bostons pitching picture. On the roster front, the Red Sox have also had interest in Luis Garca Jr., but the Yankees are close to getting there first, which would force Boston to keep looking for help as the deadline pressure and the playoff chase continue to overlap. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Face One Huge Deadline Decision On A Star Catcher
The Red Sox are staring at a late-breaking catcher decision with real consequences, as Boston and Baltimore have already lined up the framework of a potential deal involving Adley Rutschman. Prospects have been identified, medical information has been exchanged and the sides have gotten far enough along that the only remaining hurdle is Bostons final approval.
Rutschmans status adds another layer to the pause, since he is dealing with an injury that has kept him out. For a Red Sox club weighing both the short-term fit and the long-term cost, that makes this less about simply adding a name and more about deciding whether the timing, health and price all line up well enough to move forward. [Read more 🡒]