The Red Sox have spent most of this season trying to claw their way back to where they thought they’d be all along, and the last two weeks have at least made that climb look possible.
Boston is 8-2 since opening a four-game set against the New York Yankees on June 25, a stretch that included a sweep of New York, a win in three games against the Washington Nationals, and another sweep, this time over the Los Angeles Angels. During that run, the Red Sox have looked more like the team people expected in March: the pitching has settled in, the defense has been solid, and the offense has started to show some life.
That matters because the standings still leave room for a push. Boston sits at 40-48 and is four games out of a Wild Card spot, with 74 games left to play.
On Monday, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported that Boston is “looking for offense in all of their trade discussions” and is “open-minded” about what it might move. Bowden also wrote, “The Red Sox are looking for offense in all of their trade discussions and are open-minded about what they have to deal. However, their best play would be to sell because it’s a seller’s market and the Red Sox could be one of the headliners at the deadline with Sonny Gray, Aroldis Chapman and Jarren Duran all potential trade bait.
"A rebuild to contend next season is probably in their best interests, even though they have moved back into the wild-card race.”
That reporting marks another turn in what has been a shifting deadline picture for Boston. In early June, there was plenty of buzz about the club adding offense, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow even addressed that possibility publicly.
Later in the month, Breslow said the team would be “realistic” at the deadline, while still making clear he believes this roster can be better. There were also reports that ownership had gotten involved with offense in mind, and that Boston was willing to take on money to help the lineup.
Then, toward the end of June, the direction appeared to change again, with reports suggesting the Red Sox were backing away from adding. Bowden’s latest note suggests the conversation may be moving back toward offense once more.
Boston’s position is simple enough: it’s not out of the race, and that keeps the door open. If the Red Sox can pair even a little more offense with a pitching staff that has already shown what it can do - even with Ranger Suárez injured - they can still make this interesting.
There are 28 days left before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and the picture could change fast. For now, though, the Red Sox are back in the middle of the conversation, and the biggest takeaway is still the same: they’re not done yet.
In Other News...
Red Sox Just Got A Tense New Twist In Suspension Drama
Major League Baseball trimmed Nate Eatons suspension from three games to two after the dust-up involving the Red Sox and Nationals, a small but meaningful development for Boston as it tries to navigate the fallout from the altercation. Cade Cavalli also saw his punishment reduced, going from seven games to five, which keeps the discipline from the incident moving in a slightly less punishing direction for the teams involved.
The bigger issue for Boston is the timing. The Red Sox were already dealing with a short bench in Tuesdays game, and the possibility of roster absences stacking up around the same time has only added to the tension. Willson Contreras appeal is still unresolved, and with his status hanging over the next day or so, Boston is left waiting on how much more this suspension picture might shift before the break. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Linked To A Franchise Defining Shortstop Gamble
The idea of the Red Sox getting involved with Francisco Lindor is the kind of rumor that instantly changes the temperature around a roster. Boston has spent plenty of energy trying to stabilize shortstop in recent years, and Lindors name carries the sort of star power that would make any front office at least take a look, especially with his long-term contract and the possibility of him anchoring the position for years.
There is plenty of reason for caution, though, because the fit is about more than name value. Lindor has been off at the plate this season, and any pursuit would come with a major financial commitment that would have to make sense for a club that has generally been careful about paying big money deep into a players later seasons. For now, it is all just a possibility, but it is the kind of possibility that can linger around a team until someone decides whether the price is worth the gamble. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Fans Wont Like What Arias Delay Could Mean
Franklin Arias has done just about everything a Double-A hitter can do to force the issue in Portland, putting together a loud offensive season that has kept his name in the conversation around Bostons future. The Red Sox have seen this movie before with top prospects who stack up big numbers in the minors and then wait a little longer than expected for the next step, so Arias situation has started to feel familiar for fans tracking the pipeline.
Arias is still sitting in Double-A even as the deadline approaches, and that delay has naturally raised questions about how Boston is handling one of its most productive young bats. Whether the Red Sox are simply being patient or keeping their options open, the longer he stays put, the more the conversation shifts from development to what his timeline might mean for the clubs bigger plans. [Read more 🡒]