Pair Of Ex-Red Sox Pitchers Expected To Be Dealt Prior To Trade Deadline
The Boston Red Sox are in the market for starting pitching and will have to mull over some familiar options with less than 24 hours until Tuesday's Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.
While it's not highly likely that the Red Sox will go that direction, at least two former friends almost certainly will be on the move.
Those options are Eduardo Rodriguez and Rich Hill, two southpaws who spent plenty of time in Boston.
Rodriguez will "definitely" be traded before the deadline according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale on Monday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly have shown interest in their quest to claim every member of the 2018 Red Sox -- they already have Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, Joe Kelly and Ryan Brasier -- David Price and Craig Kimbrel had brief stays there as well since the championship.
Rodriguez has a 2.95 ERA, 91-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .216 batting average against and 1.03 WHIP in 88 1/3 across 15 starts. The 30-year-old arguably is the top pitcher on the trade market, maybe behind New York Mets ace Justin Verlander.
Hill reportedly is drawing heaps of trade interest as a low-budget rental for teams who do not need a frontline starter but could use some depth. The 43-year-old has a 4.76 ERA with a 104-to-47 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .272 batting average against and a 1.48 WHIP in 119 innings across 22 starts.
The veteran will not make whichever fanbase that acquires him excited upon arrival but he could provide some innings for a team that does not want to go all-out on a rental -- likely due to their placing in the standings.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has not ruled out rentals but did seem to want to stay away from impending free agents at the deadline. That could put both hurlers out of contention for another stint in Boston. Either way, they'll be on the move.
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