The Boston Red Sox have turned from early season sellers to buyers as the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline approaches.
As the team has battled their way back into postseason contention, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom now will have the task of addressing some of the team’s holes, which includes upgrading the first base position, maybe another outfielder and obviously adding another starter and some more bullpen help.
The Red Sox do have some reinforcements internally. Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi and Michael Wacha will return to the rotation at some point which helps the starting rotation depth. The team also has emerging prospect Triston Casas they will likely take a look at this season, but there is still room for some tweaking to the roster.
The Cincinnati Reds will be sellers, the Boston Red Sox should be callers
One team Bloom can pick up the phone and call are the Cincinnati Reds. As a last place team in the NL Central, the Reds are expected to be active at the Aug. 2 MLB Trade Deadline and they have some players that could help the Red Sox address some of those needs.
Reds general manager Nick Krall will be looking to add younger players or prospects looking to rebuild and the Red Sox now have a few prospects they can trade. But, as has been the case with Bloom so far as the Sox wheeler and dealer, any move must make sense for the club. He won’t make a move just to make a move, especially when it comes to giving up prospects.
So, in exploring the Reds rosters, which players could help the Boston Red Sox stay in contention and go deep in the playoffs?
Here is a look at 3 Cincinnati Reds players who Bloom should target at the MLB Trade Deadline.
Boston Red Sox should target veteran left fielder Tommy Pham
As with the case last MLB Trade Deadline, the Boston Red Sox could be content with adding some veteran help that may not excite fans too much.
Sometimes it is those kinds of moves that puts the team over the top. Back in 2018, it was a trade deadline move for Steve Pearce that ultimately put the team over the top that season. Last year, the move for Kyle Schwarber helped the team go deep in the playoffs.
Could Reds veteran outfielder Tommy Pham be that player in 2022?
Although he doesn’t have the power of Schwarber, the 34-year-old Pham does have some pop in his bat. So far this season with the Reds, he is batting .252 with 11 homers and 36 RBI. He also has 7 stolen bases showing he still has some speed.
With Keke Hernandez, Alex Verdugo, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Jarren Duran in the outfield, the Red Sox are more than okay defensively, but they need more offense at that position. Pham could be that spark and the Red Sox wouldn’t be taking on a lot of money in obtaining him. He also should cost the team much as far as value in return.
Again, not a sexy choice, but a piece that could add more depth in the outfield and give Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora more options in the lineup and also in the field as such a move could allow Hernandez to play more in the infield.
Mike Minor could add back-of-the-rotation depth to Boston Red Sox rotation
Knowing the Boston Red Sox, a pitcher like Mike Minor will make more sense for back of the rotation depth and someone who can work out of the bullpen.
Once Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi and Michael Wacha returns, the Red Sox will have a nice rotation to with Nick Pivetta. Depending on how Brayan Bello looks in his second MLB start, the team could be set with veteran Rich Hill rounding out the rotation.
But, due to the injuries the team has already seen in the starting rotation, adding another starter like Minor could be of value.
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Just 1-6 with an ERA over 6.00, Minor doesn’t appeal on paper, but he is a pitcher who can give six innings in the back of that rotation. His $10 million could be a turnoff, but if Chaim Bloom believes he can help, it shouldn’t take much to get him unless other teams starving for starting pitchers are willing to overpay, which is what the Cincinnati Reds are hoping to cash in on.
The greater value for Minor, besides adding depth to the starting rotation, is his postseason experience. In four playoff games, he has an 0.90 ERA. With how pitchers are handled in playoff games, this could be with that Red Sox envision if they do indeed target the 34-year-old pitcher.
Minor could be a free agent following the season, so it could be a rental and that is more than okay given the young arms the team is developing.
Tyler Mahle a good option for Boston Red Sox to pursue
Both Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitchers Tyler Mahle and Luis Castillo both should be available ahead of the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline. Either one would look good in the middle of that Boston Red Sox starting rotation.
Obviously, whether Bloom targets a front-end or middle of the rotation starter will depend on how Sale bounces back and what Eovaldi does when he return. If he does, the Reds do have these two hard-throwing pitchers who could help.
When deciding between Mahle and Castillo, it comes down to affordability. Castillo may be the more coveted of the two due to his electric fastball. Mahle is a little younger and if he finds consistency on the mound could be a valuable pickup.
Though he is dealing with shoulder issues right now, which could serve as a red flag and bring down his value even more, he has pitched well as of late.
In 17 games started, he is 3-7 with a 4.48 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched. In his recent start against the Atlanta Braves, he pitched 5.0 innings, giving up just two runs on five hits.
With a nasty four-seam fastball, Mahle could be the kind of addition Eovaldi was back in 2018. If the price is right, Bloom should go for it. Given his age and upside, Mahle could be a pitcher who can help the team beyond 2022.