Jeff Passan: Red Sox ‘not inclined’ to make big moves at trade deadline
"Boston is an organization that deeply values operating efficiently."
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow signaled on SiriusXM earlier this week that Boston will be buyers ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
But just how aggressive will Boston be?
“We’ll be open-minded about the opportunities to bring a bat that can play first base. Starting pitching, same thing. A month and a half ago, we would’ve said we needed somebody that can pitch toward the front of a rotation. Then, you look at what Lucas [Giolito] and Brayan [Bello] have done, they’re pitching every bit the part of a guy who can pitch at the front of a rotation.”
“I don’t think you’ll find anybody who comes on here and says that they have enough starting pitching, so that’s going to be an area of focus for us as well,” Breslow added.
A Red Sox team that has lost four out of its last five games since the All-Star Break would receive a significant boost if Breslow was to acquire an impact bat or a proven No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet like Joe Ryan.
But according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Red Sox aren’t exactly poised to pull off a blockbuster similar to the one that pried Crochet out of Chicago in December 2024.
“At this moment, the Red Sox are not inclined to engage in any large-scale deadline moves,” Passan wrote. “Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has said the team wants to add after trading (Rafael) Devers, and while it would surprise no one if they did, Boston is an organization that deeply values operating efficiently, and a market like this is the epitome of inefficient.
“Holding now would speak to the Red Sox’s comfort with their current roster and the exceptional price to bolster it.”
Even if the current high-priced environment of this trade market could cost Boston several blue-chip prospects as part of a major deal, the writing is on the wall that the Red Sox need a boost after a sluggish start to the year.
Even though Boston is currently third in the AL East and holding onto third in the AL Wild Card race, Boston has only scored 10 runs in its five games since the break, with six of those runs coming in one game.
Beyond the need for more pop at the plate, the Red Sox could still use another reliable starter to slot in with Crochet, Giolito, and Bello moving forward — even if the Twins opt to hold onto Ryan beyond July 31.
But after a tepid trade deadline in 2024 where Boston’s pickups of Danny Jansen, Quinn Priester, Luis Garcia, and Lucas Sims didn’t move the needle en route to another second-half collapse, Boston can’t afford any additional half measures in 2025.
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