Grading the Red Sox' trade deadline

Boston Globe

20 hours ago

For a team that already has lefties Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy, and Justin Wilson in its middle relief group, Matz seems a bit superfluous.
But he's capable of going multiple innings and throws strikes. If nothing else, he should be an upgrade over Murphy, who has pitched well this season but has only 30 games of major league experience.
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St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Steven Matz (32) in action during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Nick Wass/Associated Press
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May, 27, was about to become a reliever for the Dodgers had he not been traded. He has a 5.07 earned run average over 18 starts and has pitched beyond the sixth inning only three times this season.
May is a very talented, occasionally dominant pitcher who hasn't been able to stay healthy.
With Blake Snell ready to come off the injured list, May was expected to go to the bullpen. Now he'll get a reprieve from the Red Sox.
BOSTON, MA - JULY 27: Dustin May #85 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park on July 27, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By)
Winslow Townson/Getty
Breslow needed to add more to his rotation than a pitcher like May. He needed reliability, not possibility.
Diamondbacks righthander Merrill Kelly would have been a great fit. But he went to the Rangers for three pitching prospects ranked fifth, ninth and 13th
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The equivalent for the Red Sox would have been roughly Connelly Early, Luis Perales, and David Sandin.
That's a lot for a player who will be a free agent after the season. But the Sox, who haven't been to the postseason since 2021, hold a playoff spot with 52 games remaining. At some point you have take risks.
Breslow said there were no 'untouchables' in his much-improved farm system.
'I don't think this is about an unwillingness to include guys or anything like that,' he said. 'Teams have to like our players in order for [trades] to happen.'
When Breslow traded Rafael Devers to the Giants in June, he flew to Seattle the next day to meet with the players face-to-face and explain why he made the move.
He told them that he had not given up in the season.
The Sox were 37-36 at the time and are now 59-51. The players did their part.
This team has overcome a lot. Devers was a distraction from spring training until he was traded. Triston Casas was lost to a season-ending knee injury in early May.
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Kutter Crawford will miss the entire season because of injuries. Tanner Houck, an All-Star last season, was awful for nine starts and has been on the injured list since May 13.
It's been a mess, but the Sox are positioned to make the playoffs.
There were owed more than a middle reliever and a No. 5 starter, especially when the Astros, Mariners, Tigers, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Yankees all made significant additions.
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'We were kind of uncomfortably aggressive in trying to pursue [better players] and the players that we were willing to put into deals,' Breslow said. 'Ultimately, it wasn't from a lack of effort.'
Team president Sam Kennedy, who speaks for ownership, has said it is time for the Sox to compete after three seasons of mediocrity.
They showed that with an aggressive offseason that included the grade for Garrett Crochet.
The trade deadline represents a second — and final — chance for teams to correct their flaws. There was a flurry of activity Thursday.
Breslow defended his effort. But the results were barely passing.
Peter Abraham can be reached at