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Boston Red Sox Rumors: Why Will Smith is top trade deadline target

By Randy Marquis

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 22: Will Smith #13 of the San Francisco Giants delivers a pitch during the ninth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 22, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Giants won 7-4. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 22: Will Smith #13 of the San Francisco Giants delivers a pitch during the ninth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 22, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Giants won 7-4. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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If the Boston Red Sox hope to catch the New York Yankees after the All-Star break, improving the performance of their bullpen should be first priority.

Craig Kimbrel recently notched his first save of the 2019 season. Unfortunately for the Boston Red Sox, it came while wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform. It was just the latest reminder that the Red Sox closer-less bullpen has been an unmitigated disaster.

The only team with a worse Save percentage this season than Boston’s current 50 percent is the New York Mets. Collectively, Red Sox relievers have now blown 17 save opportunities. By contrast, the Houston Astros sit right in the middle of the pack with a 66.67 percent Save percentage.

In other words, if the Sox had received even a middling performance from their bullpen, they’d have six more victories and would be in the thick of the hunt for the division.

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Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, Brandon Workman and Marcus Walden have, for the most part, individually performed reasonably well. Collectively, however, they might be the biggest reason the Red Sox have underachieved in their efforts to repeat as world champs.

Things have become so dire for manager Alex Cora that the Red Sox are likely to install postseason hero and nominal starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi as the team’s closer when he returns from the IL. But Eovaldi is the owner of exactly zero career saves, so his success in the role is anything but assured.

More likely, Dave Dombrowski is going to have to acquire more help for the beleaguered bullpen and he should have one player in particular squarely in his crosshairs: San Francisco Giants’ closer Will Smith.

Smith has only been a closer in name for roughly one calendar year, but he has been nothing short of dominating in that time. Since assuming the role in the middle of last season, Smith has racked up 35 saves while blowing just 4. He’s a perfect 21-for-21 this season, with a 2.16 ERA.

The peripherals also back up the performance, as Smith is sporting a career best 13.8 K/9 and a 2.04 FIP. A lefty, Smith destroys both left-handed hitters (.182 AVG, 18/1 K/BB) and righties (.157 AVG, 33/7 K/BB).

Of course, he won’t come cheap. There will plenty of competition to acquire his services from fellow contenders such as the Braves, Brewers and Athletics. The Giants need to rebuild and with few top prospects in the pipeline they may not care about the proximity to the majors of the players they acquire.

That would benefit Boston as the Red Sox remain thin in talent at the upper rungs of the minor league ladder, but do have intriguing younger talent at the lower levels.

An offer built around slugging minor league third baseman Bobby Dalbec and a quality pitcher such as Tanner Houck or Darwinzon Hernandez could entice San Francisco to ship Smith to Fenway.

Next. Boston Red Sox Rumors: 4 relievers team should pursue for bullpen help. dark

Regardless if it’s Smith or another closer such as Alex Colome, Mychal Givens or Shane Greene, whether or not the Boston Red Sox beef up the bullpen before the trade deadline may determine if the team even gets the chance to defend their crown this postseason.

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