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Red Sox trade deadline: What we know with two days to go

MINNEAPOLIS — Typically, the vast majority of the action centered around the trade deadline takes place in the final hours before the actual deadline. This year, that seems more true than usual, with little activity in the days leading up to Thursday's 6 p.m. ET deadline. An official with another team described the Red Sox to be in 'stealth' mode with 48 hours to go. 'Haven't heard much of anything with them,' volunteered an executive with another club. That doesn't mean the Red Sox aren't still working toward finding some pitching help or other roster reinforcements. But they appear to be doing so in low-key way. Here's what we know: *The Miami Marlins have two of the better controllable starters available in Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. As recently as 10 days ago, when the Red Sox called to inquire about Alcantara's availability, the message they seemed to be saying, according to someone with knowledge of the talks, was: 'Don't move him without checking back with us.' But since then, there's been little contact between the Marlins and Red Sox. That could stem from the high asking price for either pitcher, which according to a source, 'starts with two elite prospects... plus.' *It's well-known that the Red Sox covet Tampa Bay first baseman Yandy Diaz, who would give the Sox a run-producer and a right-handed bat, all in one. What's less certain is whether the Rays are inclined to move any significant players off their roster. 'I keep hearing they might be 'soft-selling,' whatever that means,' said one executive with a team that has been in touch with the Rays. 'I don't know if they're buying or selling, and I don't know if they know either.' Further evidence of the Rays' indecisiveness: they traded one catcher (Danny Jansen), then, in a separate transaction, acquired another one (Nick Fortes). They've also inquired about pitchers while engaging in talks for some of their own pitchers. Tampa Bay was reportedly in on Chris Paddack before Minnesota send him to the Tigers. *The chances of the Red Sox landing a controllable starter seem negligible. With so little pitching inventory available to begin with, the handful of starters with more than a year of control remaining is short, and accordingly, the ask is through the roof. That would include Alcantara, Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore and Joe Ryan. The Red Sox have reportedly reached out on Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller. 'I think,' observed an executive with one NL team, 'some of these GMs just decided to set the asking price unbelievably high and are waiting to see if there's someone desperate enough to meet it.' *Finding a catcher may not be a huge priority for the Red Sox, who are largely focused on pitching — both starters and relievers. But the Red Sox would like to obtain a second catcher whom they could play more frequently than they're playing Connor Wong, if for no other reason to provide a breather for starter Carlos Narváez. Narvaez looks exhausted of late, both behind the plate and at it, where he's slumped in the last few weeks. Over his last 15 games before Tuesday, Narvaez was slashing .170/.214/.358 with 15 strikeouts in his last 53 at-bats. Minnesota's Christian Vázquez would be welcomed back. He wouldn't cost much. *At times, teams with established closers trade for other closers to have them serve in a set-up capacity. The Red Sox did it with Billy Wagner (2009) and Eric Gagne (2007). Wagner worked out well; Gagne didn't. There are a number of established closers currently on the market, including St. Louis' Ryan Helsley, Minnesota's Jhoan Duran and Pittsburgh's David Bednar. That list also included Cleveland's Emmanuel Clase, too, until he was suspended by MLB Monday for his suspected connection to a gambling investigation. To date, however, the Red Sox don't seem to have been engaged on any of these relievers even as they seek a bullpen upgrade. More Red Sox coverage Red Sox 'have seen flashes' from starter acquired in Rafael Devers trade Red Sox' Kristian Campbell homers again, demotion 'reminds' him of past adversity Don't let the numbers fool you - Red Sox need bullpen help | Sean McAdam Red Sox turned 'awful' flight into new celebration: 'Embracing all the adversity' Red Sox reactions: Trevor Story lets Boston breathe with homer in bounce-back win Read the original article on MassLive.