Nationals Hurler 'Generating Trade Interest,' Could Red Sox Join Bidding War?

Boston would be wise to stock up on relief help should they push their chips in

Scott Neville | Jun 17, 2024

Jun 11, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Hunter Harvey (73) pitches in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports / David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

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Will the Boston Red Sox actually go for it with the July 30 Major League Baseball trade deadline approaching?

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has leaned conservative in his short tenure and has been open about not sacrificing future wins for current wins. With that said, back-to-back series wins over the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees -- who have the best records in their respective leagues -- are nothing to scoff at.

Vibes are at an all-time high for the Red Sox and reinforcements are on the way soon in right-hander Chris Martin, outfielder Wilyer Abreu and eventually first baseman Triston Casas. At 37-35, Boston sits just three games back of an American League Wild Card spot and could easily make up that ground by the end of July.

Should that happen Breslow will have to determine which needs to fill -- and reportedly already has his eyes on upgrading the rotation and finding a short-term fill-in at shortstop.

However, that is far from the only area he could target and the bullpen typically becomes a place to upgrade for all contending clubs. The Red Sox could fill a couple of needs by calling the Washington Nationals -- who reportedly have been receiving calls early in the rumor mill season.

"Multiple Nationals players have generated trade interest ahead of next month's deadline, including Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, and Lane Thomas," MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday. "But at this point, it's not clear at all that they're going to sell. In fact, the Nats are tied for a playoff spot."

Finnegan (2-3, 1.78 ERA) will be the highest-coveted player of the trio and could be a fit in Boston -- but do not sleep on Harvey as a notable upgrade as well.

Harvey has a 2.75 ERA with a 41-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .222 batting average against and a 1.06 WHIP in 36 innings this season. That production falls right in line with his 2.82 ERA in 159 2/3 innings throughout his six-season career.

The 29-year-old is under team control through 2025 and could be a perfect bridge player to not only give Boston a better chance to contend for this season but lock up a high-leverage arm next season with Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen on expiring deals.

For now, a bullpen consisting of that trio alongside some of the young standouts acquired by Breslow in the offseason could create one of the best arsenals in baseball. For any of this to matter, they need to contend, making the next month and change as important of a stretch as ever.

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Published Jun 17, 2024

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu