Red Sox Predicted to Land 'Perfect Match' All-Star Ace After Tanner Houck Setback
The Boston Red Sox suffered a tough loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, but they have reason for optimism headed into the trade deadline.
The team rattled off an impressive win streak before hitting the All-Star break, then took a game from the juggernaut Chicago Cubs. Most recently, the Phillies needed extra innings and a catcher's interference fluke to defeat them, as starter Walker Buehler enjoyed an encouraging return to form.
Now the Red Sox face a final chance to bolster their roster and prove that jettisoning Rafael Devers was indeed some addition by subtraction. And after starter Tanner Houck suffered an injury setback that could keep him out of the rotation for the rest of the year, it seems their biggest area of need will be a frontline ace, even if Buehler bounces back.
"Whereas their offense has kept humming along even after the trade of Rafael Devers in June, the starting rotation just keeps getting thinner underneath staff ace Garrett Crochet," Zachary Rymer wrote for Bleacher Report. "Kutter Crawford and Hunter Dobbins are already done for the year, and the same may be true of Tanner Houck after his latest setback."
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 29: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Washington Nationals throws some warm up pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 29, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia....
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 29: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Washington Nationals throws some warm up pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 29, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) More
Kirkland/Getty
And with the need clear, Rymer predicted the Red Sox would fill it by swinging a trade for Washington Nationals All-Star Mackenzie Gore.
"As Gore is only 26 and controlled through 2027, the Nats might as well listen and see if anyone offers a boatload of talent that could help get their years-long rebuild back on the right track," Rymer added. "And if any team should indulge them, it's the Red Sox. ... To this end, Gore is a perfect match on paper."
In his fourth big-league season, Gore has a 3.49 ERA and 140 strikeouts across 20 starts, making him perhaps the most intriguing starter held by any likely trade deadline seller. Virtually every contending team would be interested in reinforcing their rotation with Gore, so the Red Sox would likely need to part with at least one highly ranked prospect to get him.
But with plenty of those on hand and a clear chance at a deep playoff run ahead, the Red Sox could very well be the trade landing spot for one of the National League's best pitchers.
More MLB: Dodgers Trade Deadline Rumors Heating Up Amid Losing Stretch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
a few seconds ago
- NBC Sports
MLB contenders watch for fatigue as some starters experience an increased workload
CHICAGO — At age 34, Matthew Boyd is going back to what was once familiar territory for the left-hander. He has logged 130 2/3 innings so far in his first season with the Chicago Cubs, more than he totaled in the previous two years combined. It's a workload jump that goes against what had become conventional wisdom in the majors, where teams have frequently capped pitchers' innings in hopes of keeping them healthy. 'Things have been going great,' Boyd said. 'And I think it's like none of us know what's ahead. And that goes for everybody.' Boyd's workload is worth watching as the Cubs try to rally in the NL Central race and go on a deep October run. He is among a group of pitchers going through a spike in innings in the heart of the playoff picture. After spending most of his career as a reliever, Clay Holmes has 117 1/3 innings going into his 23rd start for the Mets. Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo is up to 127 innings after he finished with 66 2/3 last year. All-Stars Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox and Bryan Woo of the Mariners also are progressing toward major increases. 'That's something we always monitor and watch,' Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. 'I know we're in constant communication in-between starts.' The days of predetermined innings limits, especially when it comes to young prospects and pitchers on losing teams, aren't going away anytime soon. But more organizations appear to be going with a case-by-case approach. 'I think the reason why it's changed a little bit and we don't look at that either percentage increase or fixed innings increase is because it wasn't working,' said David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the Mets. 'I think more and more we're trying to treat each pitcher as an individual. And if a pitcher feels good both subjectively and objectively, we try not to artificially shut them down.' Crochet, 26, helped show what might be possible last year. The 6-foot-6 left-hander, who had Tommy John surgery in April 2022, began last season with 73 innings in 72 appearances spanning four seasons with the White Sox. He made his first big league start on opening day. With the White Sox closely monitoring his workload in the last part of the season, he finished with 32 starts and 146 innings. He is tied for the major league lead with 141 1/3 innings going into his start against Kansas City. 'I think that I really set myself up for this season to go out there and for there really to be no leash necessary,' said Crochet, who was traded to the Red Sox in December and then agreed to a six-year, $170 million contract. 'I've been feeling really good throughout the season and the five days in between my starts I really feel like I'm prepared and doing a lot to get my body in the right position to have success and to continue to give length throughout the year.' Boyd was recovering from Tommy John surgery when he signed with Cleveland last year. He returned to the majors last August and went 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in eight starts and 39 2/3 innings for the Guardians. He also pitched 11 2/3 innings for the AL Central champions in the playoffs. That was enough for Chicago to give Boyd a two-year, $29 million contract in free agency. And he has delivered so far, making the NL All-Star team while going 11-4 with a 2.34 ERA in 22 starts. Boyd pitched a career-high 185 1/3 innings for Detroit in 2019, but he hasn't approached that territory since. The Cubs gave him nine days off between starts over the All-Star break, and Boyd has frequent conversations with manager Craig Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy about his workload and how he is feeling. The Cubs also have rookie right-hander Cade Horton, who is up to 102 2/3 innings this season — including his time with Triple-A Iowa — after he totaled 34 1/3 innings in the minors last year. 'This is an area where the industry has not maybe figured out the answer, so you're just trying to keep getting better answers,' Counsell said. 'I think in the past, we were just relying on history. I think now we're relying on the data we collect from the actual player.' Communication is one thing, but an array of metrics and biomechanical analysis is at the center of the decision-making process when it comes to pitchers and rest. 'There's tangible things that you just keep an eye on,' Boyd said. 'You have your spin data, you have your velocity. We have biomechanics tracking. It's like, 'Hey, the mechanics are getting out of whack. ... Is there something we need to address? How do you address that?' 'There's so many different avenues you can go down and levers you can pull if you will. And it's not as cut and dry as like 20% increase, 50% increase (in innings).'
USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
What should the Nets focus on heading into the 2025-26 NBA season?
The Brooklyn Nets finished the 2024-25 NBA season with a 26-56 record, ultimately getting them the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to begin their latest rebuild. Brooklyn broke the league record by taking five players in the Draft and it seems that the foundation is being laid down. Pundits believe that the Nets should remain focused on the rebuild. ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Kevin Pelton put together a list of which each team in the NBA should be "all-in" on ahead of the 2025-26 season and the Nets were put into the "draft positioning" category. Brooklyn isn't the only team in the tier as they share the category with the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards as all of the teams are understandably focused on the future. "These were four of the NBA's bottom six teams in the standings last season, and they have the four lowest over/under totals for the 2025-26 season at ESPN BET," the ESPN duo wrote when describing why each team was in the category. "Still, all of these teams are probably at least a season away from competing for a playoff spot, and they'd love to add another top pick first." As this relates to the Nets, this statement rings true in the sense that Brooklyn does not yet have a player on the roster that is currently considered to be an All-Star at some point in their career. The Nets will enter the 2025-26 season as one of the youngest teams in the league due to the amount of youth on the roster, but the hope is that guard Egor Demin, who was taken eighth overall by Brooklyn, can realize his potential sooner rather than later. As of this writing, BetMGM gives the Nets an over/under of 20.5 wins over the course of the 2025-26 regular season, meaning that the Las Vegas betting market could be expecting another tough season for Brooklyn. With the 2026 NBA Draft expected to boast premium talent such as AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, the Nets could be best served to keep the future in the forefront of their mind.
NBC Sports
30 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
NBC SPORTS & UCREPORT ENTER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NAVY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL THROUGH 2027
NBC Sports and UCReport today announced a multi-year partnership with the Navy All-American Bowl through 2027. UCReport will serve as the Official College Recruiting Service of the Navy All-American Bowl. 'We are excited to expand our UCReport event coverage by adding the historic All-American Bowl platform to our event portfolio,' said Billy Tucker, UCReport founder and Vice President, Football & Scouting at 3STEP Sports. 'The lineup of events in San Antonio is filled with elite football prospects and we look forward to creating top-tier scouting exposure for these premier athletes.' UCReport is the most comprehensive and trusted college recruiting service in the industry utilized by 68 out of 69 Power 4 programs. Their trusted staff will be on site in San Antonio to film and evaluate the Navy All-American Bowl practices and the Navy National Combine. 'We're excited to partner with UCReport as the Official College Recruiting Service of the Navy All-American Bowl,' said Gary Quinn, Vice President, Programming & Owned Properties, NBC Sports. UC's innovative approach will benefit the nation's elite athletes as we continue to grow the game and combine to highlight the next generation of stars.' Only 100 football players receive the honor of wearing the Navy All-American Bowl jersey each year. The 2026 Navy All-American Bowl from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, will be presented live on NBC and Peacock. About the All-American Bowl As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the Premier League, and primetime's #1 show for an unprecedented 13 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 631 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).
