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Red Sox trade deadline live updates: Boston adds Dustin May
The Red Sox have the assets in place to make a big move or two before 6 p.m.
MLB’s trade deadline has finally arrived.
And with the Red Sox still scrapping for a chance to earn a playoff spot for the first time since 2021, the pressure is on Craig Breslow and his staff to bolster a talented roster with some reinforcements.
Even with Boston’s evident need to bolster their rotation, bullpen, and potentially their infield with another right-handed bat, the cost will be steep if the Red Sox intend on adding some big-league talent before Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline.
Boston already made a move on late Wednesday night by acquiring lefty pitcher Steven Matz from St. Louis. But Breslow still has several avenues he can take if he wants to upgrade Boston’s roster, even if it might involve trading a blue-chip prospect or a lineup regular like Jarren Duran.
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Follow along with us as we keep you updated on all the latest news related to the Red Sox and the trade deadline.
LIVE COVERAGE
6:01: Dustin May appears to be the lone pickup by Boston on Thursday.
Considering how wide open the AL is this season — coupled with the amount of other teams near the Red Sox in the standings that made major moves — this feels quite deflating.
We’ll have more to come shortly.
5:48: That’s one trade for the Red Sox on Thursday — acquiring righty pitcher Dustin May from the Dodgers. May is 6-7 with a 4.85 ERA this season.
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May, 27, has had a tough year back from several injuries. He was one of the most promising young starters in baseball prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2023, but he’s struggled to find his game since returning. He was recently shifted into more of a relief role with the Dodgers.
Joe Ryan still the big piece available.
5:46: One potential trade target for the Red Sox is staying put with his original team.
5:37: Sure feels like Joe Ryan is going somewhere before 6 p.m. Twins in full sell-off mode now.
5:33: A pivot to Joe Ryan would be a welcome sight for the Red Sox. But it’s going to cost quite a bit.
5:25: Sure enough, Kelly heads to the Rangers.
5:22: Not exactly good news if you’re a fan of Merrill Kelly. Still plenty of starting pitching targets out there with under 40 minutes to go.
5:17: The Red Sox continue to get linked to D-Backs starter Merrill Kelly. Texas also linked to the veteran righty.
4:36: The Padres strike again — plucking O’Hearn and an outfielder in Ramon Laureano from Baltimore. One has to assume that the Padres are likely out of the running for Jarren Duran at this point.
4:14: Jon Heyman of the New York Post reinforces that the Red Sox continue to be in the mix for the top starters on the trade market. Kelly, at 36, will still cost a lot, but may not be as steep a price as someone like Joe Ryan or Mitch Keller.
4:10: The Astros make a blockbuster move — bringing back Carlos Correa after four seasons in Minnesota. Not the same player he once was, but he’ll slot over to third as Alex Bregman’s replacement.
4:00: The Red Sox could be in the hunt for that sought-after No. 2 starter.
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According to Francys Romero, the Arizona Diamondbacks are in talks with the Boston Red Sox about right-hander Merrill Kelly.
Kelly is 9-6 this season with Arizona with a 3.22 ERA. The 36-year-old righty is a free agent at the end of the year, but also has some experience in the postseason.
He posting a 2.25 ERA over four starts during Arizona’s run to the World Series in 2023.
3:40: Orioles first baseman Ryan O’Hearn could be a nice pickup for Boston as an impact bat at an area of need — but Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said that the asking price for the 2025 All-Star is “very high”.
3:10: The Yankees continue to make moves — acquiring reliever David Bednar from the Pirates. Bednar has a 2.37 ERA in 42 appearances this season and is signed through next year. Red Sox could have used another late-inning arm like him.
2:20: Another thing worth monitoring on Yandy Diaz.
The Rays first baseman left Thursday’s game against New York after getting hit on the hand by a pitch. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, Diaz is undergoing X-rays.
1:40: Acquiring an impact bat at first base like Tampa’s Yandy Diaz would also represent a major upgrade for Boston.
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But The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier doesn’t see such a deal happening on Thursday with Boston.
For obvious reason, there’s been a great deal of curiosity about Yandy Díaz as a Red Sox target – a reflection of the fact that Díaz is really good and the Sox’ 1B/DH production is lacking,” Speier wrote on BlueSky. “As best as I can tell, Díaz to the Sox is extremely unlikely for a few reasons:
1) The Rays love Díaz and he’s got multiple years left.
2) Rays would want impact, near big league-ready (or current big league) players back for him. A few weeks ago, Abreu (maybe Duran) fit that bill. But w/the Mayer injury and Rafaela getting time at 2B, the Sox no longer have OF surplus.
3) Even if the Rays dealt Díaz, they certainly wouldn’t love to move him to a 2025 divisional/WC rival. Even as they work a buy-and-sell strategy, the Rays remain in it.
None of that means 0%, but between those factors and the Sox’ priority of pitching, a Díaz deal seems very unlikely.
1:37: Could the Red Sox have a spending limit in place at the trade deadline? The Red Sox are currently over the MLB’s first Competitive Balance Tax (luxury tax) after the Matz trade, but still below the second threshold.
“Boston has $9-10 million to go before crunching up against the next CBT threshold of $261 million,” MassLive’s Chris Cotillo wrote Thursday. “That would seem to be hard to get to. But one executive who has had talks with the Red Sox has said money is a factor in their negotiations.
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“There’s always the possibility of a John Henry-imposed budget, which in this case would be higher than the ones he has installed in previous seasons.”
1:20: Boston coming out of the deadline with another proven starter to slot in with Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito, and Brayan Bello would be a welcome result on Thursday.
According to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey, Boston is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to potential pitching targets like Arizona Diamondbacks starters Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen, as well as Pittsburgh Pirates righty Mitch Keller.
“Internally, the Red Sox feel bolstering the starting group behind ace Garrett Crochet and alongside Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello could give them a chance at competing for the division in an unsettled American League East playoff picture,” McCaffrey wrote.
Another name worth following? Twins starter Joe Ryan. He’s be the sought-after No. 2 behind Crochet in Boston, but it remains to be seen if Minnesota wants to move an asset with plenty of team control in place.
1:00: With Mason Miller going from the A’s to the Padres, it could have a sizable impact on Jarren Duran’s potential future in Boston.
The Padres parted ways with top prospect Leo De Vries as part of the deal with the A’s. Even if the Padres still covet a dynamic outfielder like Duran, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal reported Wednesday night that Boston likely would ask for either De Vries or catching prospect Ethan Salas as part of the return for Duran.
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With De Vries now off the board, one might wonder if San Diego still has the assets in place to try and pluck Duran from Boston.
12:58: As the Red Sox assess their options, it looks as though the Yankees are also in the market for a top starter. New York is just one game ahead of Boston in both the AL East and the Wild Card standings.
12:50: As far as Boston’s priorities before 6 p.m., the Red Sox remain “in the hunt” for a “No. 2 starter and a first baseman,” according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey.
12:45: Eugenio Suarez is heading to the Mariners as arguably the top power threat up for grabs at the deadline. But the Red Sox reportedly also made a push for the former Arizona slugger
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey, Boston was “in the mix” for the All-Star infielder — with “the intention of acquiring him to play first base”. Suarez would have been a major upgrade to Boston’s lineup (36 home runs, 87 RBI), but he also has only played one game at first base in his career.
12:35: Jarren Duran remains the top big-league trade chip to watch in Boston. But the Red Sox might have to part ways with a blue-chip prospect like Payton Tolle or Franklin Arias if the team really wants to pull off a blockbuster.
Here are some prospects to know ahead of the trade deadline:
12:30: The Red Sox did make one move before Thursday’s deadline, acquiring lefty Steven Matz from the Cardinals in exchange for Worcester infielder Blaze Jordan.
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Matz, 34, is in the final year of a four-year, $44 million contract he signed with the Cardinals in November 2021. Signed as a starter after a couple of productive seasons with both the Mets and Blue Jays, Matz has largely underwhelmed in that role with St. Louis.
But Matz has recouped some value this season as a long-relief option for St. Louis — going 5-2 so far this season with a 3.44 ERA. Over 55.0 innings of work (32 appearances, two starts), Matz has struck out 48 batters and walked nine.
As noted by The Ringer’s Brian Barrett, lefties are hitting just .179 off of Matz this season, while righties are batting .313. Matz now joins a Red Sox bullpen that also includes several others lefties including Wilson, Aroldis Chapman, Chris Murphy, and Brennan Bernardino.
Matz is a useful pickup, but his presence alone likely won’t shift Boston’s fortunes of punching a ticket to the playoffs.
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