The Boston Red Sox make no moves at Trade Deadline to bolster pen
Few teams made major moves at the Trade Deadline this season. The Boston Red Sox were one of the few teams that needed to make an addition or two to boost the talent in the bullpen. After General Manager Dave Dombrowski had made multiple moves that didn’t pay off, fear of losing his job might have been the culprit for not making any trades this season. Earlier this season, the Sox were in limbo. Should they buy or sell?
Prior to the four game set against the Yankees, that was still the case. Had they lost three or four of those games the Sox certainly would have moved some of their team to free up some money. After Game 1 saw Boston destroy New York 19 – 3, followed by a 10 – 5 victory, the Sox won the 3rd game 9 – 5. Three games, three wins. The finale unfortunately went the way of the Yankees as they won 9 – 6. The Red Sox were able to put up 38 runs in the first three games while allowing only 13.
The Division was not as locked up as everyone through it would be. With Chris Sale pitching in Game 4, most thought it was going to be a four game sweep. After Sale imploded, it gave the Bombers a chance to be relevant for once in the series. All is not lost as the Sox will get their redemption for three games starting August 3rd.
Did the boys from Bean Town really not think that adding an extra arm for the stretch would be a good move? Had they won three of four or even swept the Yankees, it would have made the most sense to add at the very least a potential closer. With two big options going over to the Atlanta Braves, the Sox were left with the tail between their legs. Both Shane Greene and Mark Melancon will be headed to ATL bolstering NL East leaders 6 1/2 game lead in their division.
Was Dombrowski truly nervous to make any moves? Were there any viable options at a decent price? Rumors began to swirl that the Mets were talking Edwin Diaz moving just months after they made a big move to get the closer from Seattle. Was there ever a serious chance that that was going to happen? Not really.
The Red Sox were not going to part ways with either of their top prospects and were unwilling to part with the likes of either Jackie Bradley Jr. or Andrew Benintendi. Both were going to be focal points as the key pieces for that move to happen. No, Dombrowski was not going to make that trade as it would have potentially negatively impacted the team for years. Diaz had a great year in 2018 but has been unable to replicate the same success a year later. With Greene and Melancon both gone, who was left?
Raisel Iglesias would have been a fun option from Cincinnati. They weren’t going anywhere. Iglesias is struggling this year which made him the excellent buy low candidate. Will Harris in Houston however would have been a buy high guy. Harris has been a dominant man in Houston for almost five seasons and will become a Free Agent at seasons end. Any move involving Bobby Dalbec or Triston Casas was out.
Being diplomatic of course, Dombrowski had to know the only way moving either one in a deal would have commanded a player with equal team control and getting someone with that and being Major League ready at the same time could have commanded one or both and then some. As the deadline has come and gone, we will have to wait and see if the Red Sox will be able to contend for a wild card spot as the goal of securing the Division will be tough. Just a couple of months left until the season until the Playoffs.
Photo Credit – AP Photo – Winslow Townson
Boston BeanTalk 