Just now:Red Sox’s Top Players as an accident
After finishing 78-84 and ending up in the AL East cellar last year, the Boston Red Sox have exceeded expectations this season and entered the All-Star break as one of the hottest teams in baseball.
A better-than-expected starting rotation was the key to their early success, and while breakout ace Tanner Houck continues to deal and Kutter Crawford looks like the real deal, the team could still use another playoff-caliber starter.
The bullpen would also benefit greatly from the addition of another proven late-inning option to get the ball to Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning.
Ahead we’ve highlighted two players they should target and one they should avoid as a quick overview of how they might approach this year’s trade deadline.
After flaming out with the Washington Nationals as a former first-round pick, Erick Fedde spent the 2023 season pitching in the KBO where he won MVP honors and reshaped his approach on the mound.
He returned stateside on a two-year, $15 million deal with the Chicago White Sox during the offseason and his success overseas has carried over to a strong 2024 campaign, going 7-3 with a 2.99 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 111.1 innings over 19 starts.
His team-friendly $7.5 million salary for next year makes him extremely valuable, and that is the type of addition the Red Sox should prioritize.
This year’s team has exceeded expectations, but they are still far from a lock to even reach the postseason. That makes mortgaging prospect talent for a rental starter in a seller’s market an approach they should avoid
While a rental starter might not be in the Red Sox best interest, there is a case to be made for adding a rental reliever since that is generally the profile of the vast majority of relievers on the move at the deadline.
Carlos Estévez has thrived in the closer role since joining the Los Angeles Angels on a two-year, $13.5 million deal prior to last season. The 31-year-old saved 31 games and earned his first All-Star selection last year, and he has a 2.61 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 with 17 saves in 20 chances so far this season.
Slotting him in the eighth inning ahead of closer Kenley Jansen would shorten games and improve the entire Boston relief corps with everyone shifting back an inning
