2024 MLB Buyers or Sellers: Boston Red Sox
As we continue our Buyers or Sellers series, we’ll keep moving in the AL East and go to the Boston Red Sox. This is an interesting one as the team could go in either direction or could decide to stay put and do nothing at the trade deadline.
The team so far
Record(as of 6/3/24): 30-30, 11.5 GB AL East, 3.5 GB ALWC
Best hitters so far: Rafael Devers, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Connor Wong, Ceddanne Rafaela,
Best pitchers so far: Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Kenley Jansen, Justin Slaten, Nick Pivetta
Buyers or Sellers?
Only 3.5 games back of a wild card spot and a .500 record, the Red Sox could go either way. Despite not spending money in the offseason and the team’s CEO calling them “underperforming” this is still a potential playoff team.
Most of their success has come from pitching coach Andrew Bailey. The dude is a godsend and has been making the Red Sox pitching one of the best. Houck, Crawford, Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock (before the injury), and Brayan Bello have been doing great.
Offensively has been picking up as well. Devers is back to his old self, Tyler O’Neill was a home run machine before getting hurt, and Rafaela is an RBI machine. The Red Sox should also be getting Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida back within the next month.
If this team does decide to buy, they’ll need pitching. With Whitlock out the Red Sox will need another solid starter behind Houck. Jansen has been OK in the closing role, but he’s had rollercoaster moments and his age could catch up to him at any time.
Since this is a team in the middle, let’s look at players the Red Sox could trade for and trade away at the deadline.
Buyers
The Red Sox’ farm system isn’t the best but isn’t the worst. They have a lot of young talent in the making, such as Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, Wikelman Gonzalez, and Kyle Teel. The team has plans for these prospects, however. I can’t see their front office going all in during such an unbalanced season.
If the Sox do decide to buy, some cheaper options will be more likely. Chicago White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde makes a lot of sense. The right-hander has a 3.12 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 12 starts with 66 strikeouts. Fedde is also under contract for next season, giving the Red Sox an extra arm to take into 2025.
Cal Quantrill and Austin Gomber also fit this role of controllable starters for cheap. While they’re under contract through 2025, neither should require a huge package unless paired together. Gomber has a 3.06 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 61 innings. Quantrill has a 3.84 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 68 innings.
In terms of relievers, there are plenty of cheap options for the Red Sox to snag. Marlins lefty Tanner Scott will be a free agent after this year and carries a sub-2.00 ERA so far. Nationals flame-thrower Kyle Finnegan has been a bright spot on the team and will be under contract for the 2025 season.
With the injuries the Red Sox have faced offensively, there are a few utility players the team could target as well. The Angels Brandon Drury, A’s Aledmys Diaz, Giants Wilmer Flores, and Marlins Josh Bell could all fill in holes for the Sox. While they aren’t big names, they fit into the Red Sox’s current plan of being in the middle.
Sellers
Should the Red Sox fall off and decide to sell, there’s a good amount of options the team could sell off. Even if they decide to buy and sell and ship off a few players as a retooling style, The Sox have some chips.
Assuming they can’t reach a deal on an extension, Pivetta would be their best option to sell off. Playoff teams are always in need of mid-rotation starters, and Pivetta has been excellent in his time with Boston. Unless the team completely falls off, this is a pitcher the Red Sox should still try locking up.
Jansen would also be a good piece to sell high. While he’s been a rollercoaster, he’s collected nine saves with a 2.89 ERA and 24 strikeouts. Despite his age, his name speaks for himself, especially for a team needing back-end relief help in the playoffs.
O’Neill would be a good option as well as he’ll be a free agent after the season. Despite the IL stints, O’Neill has been a great power hitter and the Red Sox could get a decent haul for him.
It’ll be an interesting month and a half for the Red Sox. Anything can happen between now and the deadline and a tough AL East doesn’t make it any easier. If the Red Sox can stay healthy, put me down for them being buyers. I could also see this team staying put or making one-two small deals, but only time will tell.
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