Don't look now, but the Boston Red Sox might actually be good now?
The Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 games and are fresh off a three-game sweep against the Los Angeles Angels (and that was shortly after they swept the New York Yankees in a four-game series from Jun. 25-28). They are also just 0.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the third spot in the AL East and four games behind the Texas Rangers for the third and final AL Wild Card spot.
Also, with the exception of their 8-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Jun. 30, the Red Sox have scored at least two runs in each of their 13 games since Jun. 22 (including at least five runs in nine of them).
Boston might legitimately be turning things around and getting hot at a good time. And with the trade deadline a little less than a month away, maybe there is a case for them to be buyers after all.
The Red Sox still need a power bat
One of the biggest reasons for Boston's recent turnaround is the team finding its rhythm at the plate.
Since the start of the Yankees series, they have gotten good performances out of Willson Contreras (.314 BA, 4 HR, 13 RBIs -- probably should be an All-Star), Anthony Seigler (.313 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBIs -- may be the Red Sox' new starting second baseman), and Caleb Durbin (.257 BA, 3 HR, 7 RBIs -- may actually be a long-term asset).
But Boston's biggest problem still holds true: they don't have a legitimate power bat. They haven't had one since they shipped Rafael Devers out to the San Francisco Giants last year.
A little over halfway through the season, the Red Sox rank last in the majors with 78 home runs (the Arizona Diamondbacks are second-to-last with 82 total home runs). They also rank 24th with a .386 SLG and 23rd with a .698 OPS.
On top of that, Contreras leads the team with 20 home runs (for context, Jarren Duran is second with 13). The 34-year-old has been Boston's best hitter all season, and he is clearly benefiting from being in an AL ballpark, but it's not a great sign if he's your best power hitter by a mile.
If the Red Sox do decide to be buyers at the trade deadline this year, they should already know exactly what they need to add to the roster.
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