Red Sox Reportedly Targeting Two Specific Positions For Deadline Upgrades
The Boston Red Sox are continuing to surge toward a postseason spot and will likely be looking to add on more pieces at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
The always-average Red Sox seem to have turned a corner and are continuing to force chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom's hand as the deadline is now just two weeks away.
Looking at the current roster, there aren't as many holes as you may expect for a club that, if the season ended today, would miss the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
They are set in the outfield, and could easily afford to deal away former All-Star center fielder Adam Duvall. They have several options at the designated hitter spot. Once Trevor Story returns, likely in August, their infield will be all but set. There are only a few true positions that really need upgrades.
According to WEEI's Rob Bradford, sources are suggesting the Red Sox will upgrade in two key areas. First, a back-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. And second, a seventh-inning right-handed reliever.
The starting rotation has just been trying to survive recently after injuries to Chris Sale, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock.
The emergence of Brayan Bello as a top-of-the-rotation caliber starter and the dominant return of James Paxton has kept their rotation afloat, but that can only last for so long.
Nick Pivetta has essentially played the role of a starter coming out of the bullpen following an opener and Kutter Crawford has held his own filling in for the absent pitchers. Even with all of that, this team still needs arms that can toss extended innings.
A back-end-of-the-rotation pitcher like Rich Hill, who several reporters have hinted could be a top target for the Red Sox this deadline, would seem to make a lot of sense. Either way, that is a clear area of need with the deadline soon approaching.
The return of John Schreiber to the Red Sox bullpen will be a much-needed right-handed addition to a mainly left-handed group. Though it appears this won't prevent Boston from adding more righty reliever help in the next few weeks.
Most Red Sox fans will just be happy to know that it seems like this team will be in buying mode. The majority of this season seemed to have the team destined to sell by the end of July, but the tides have shifted and postseason baseball could now be the most realistic destination for the 2023 Red Sox.
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