The Red Sox were busy before Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, but experts are unclear how their moves will affect their playoff push.
Boston made five trades before the deadline and filled its most important needs with a right-handed bat and more arms for the pitching staff. It even made a move for the future. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow admitted the Red Sox didn’t get their “preference” of acquiring controllable players, but manager Alex Cora was satisfied with the rentals.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden on Wednesday graded every team’s trade deadline haul, and the Red Sox came out with a passing C+ grade.
“The acquisition of Danny Jansen helps the Red Sox against left-handed pitching and in game-calling,” Bowden wrote. “The deal for Quinn Priester was a nice under-the-radar move and a worthwhile gamble, especially considering pitching coach Andrew Bailey’s ability to help pitchers maximize their potential. The Red Sox improved their bullpen depth with Lucas Sims and Luis García, but didn’t do enough to catch the Orioles or Yankees. Still, regardless of their trade report card, the Red Sox deserve credit for recently extending manager Alex Cora’s contract for three more years. That was the best move they made at the deadline.”
Baltimore remains the favorite to win the American League East, and New York’s high-profile trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr. and pitching additions were viewed as wins among MLB experts. The other AL wild-card contenders also made big moves to compete for the rest of the season, so the Red Sox will face immense pressure in every series. But they’ll hope their new additions can give them the boost they need to clinch a playoff spot.
