The Boston Red Sox are in the mix for a playoff spot, just half a game back of the Kansas City Royals in the American League wild-card race.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow outlined his plan to approach the trade deadline by striking a balance between adding necessary pieces to Boston’s lineup and building for the future. He reportedly checked in with the Chicago Cubs, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
“The Red Sox and Yankees have had talks with the Chicago Cubs about starter Jameson Taillon,” Nightengale wrote. “But the Cubs are undecided whether they will be buyers or sellers (at the trade deadline).”
The Cubs dropped consecutive games coming out of the All-Star break and sit 4.5 games back in the National League wild card.
Despite the Cubs struggles, Taillon is sitting on a solid 3.10 ERA in 93 innings this season while surrendering just 12 home runs and 18 walks with 75 strikeouts.
With Garrett Whitlock and Lucas Giolito out with season-ending injuries, the Red Sox adding a starter to help bolster the rotation of Taner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello is not out of the question.
Taillon would add stability to the Red Sox rotation and push Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski into the bullpen, which would help with Boston’s depth.
Taillon’s contract has two years remaining beyond the 2024 season, and his annual salary is $18 million. He does have a 10-team no trade clause, but he would add a veteran arm to the 2025-26 rotation, with Pivetta and Kenley Jansen slated to become free agents in the offseason.
