The Boston Red Sox are a team that needs to find another pitcher. MLB Insider Jeff Passan claims that the Red Sox could quite possibly be World Series contenders if they add another arm. Rightfully so, since they've been on a 10-game winning streak going through the All-Star Break. Now that the break is over, come Friday, it's time to truly evaluate this team.
The evaluation is simple: Are the Red Sox legit? Or did they get lucky based on a paper-soft schedule? It's time to get those answers, and the Red Sox will be put to the test right away when they face the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Los Angeles Dodgers in three straight series.
It's put-up or shut-up time for Boston. If they lose a game or two in Chicago (most likely will be the case), then Breslow will have to 'cowboy up' like the clubhouse has since July started. There is no better way to splash early at the deadline and get an outstanding true #2 starter like Joe Ryan. Don't be fooled, he's a #2 in name only. He's the de facto ace in that Minnesota rotation.
Red Sox Must Add No. 2 Starter at the Trade Deadline
This season, he's 9-4 with a 2.72 ERA and 121 strikeouts with a 3.20 FIP and a 0.915 WHIP. He has a strikeout rate of 28.3 this season with the lowest HR rate of his career at 2.8, and making his first-ever All-Star Game as well. The 29-year-old pitcher has always been a strikeout pitcher, but his command is the best it's ever been, and he's under team control until 2028. For Minnesota, he's a gold mine that they have, and the Red Sox will have to pay a pretty penny for it.
The Red Sox, especially with their fertile farm system, have no problem at all paying whatever price Minnesota's willing to bite at. They have so many shortstops and outfielders in the minor leagues that will, in one way or another, be major league talents in the future. Some names that come to mind are SS/2B Mikey Romero, SS Franklin Arias, OF Jhostynxson "The Password" Garcia, OF James Tibbs III, SS/2B Yoelin Cespedes, SS Dorian Soto, and OF Miguel Bleis. Another name that wasn't listed could be 1B Blaze Jordan, who's been tearing it up in AAA Worcester since he got the promotion.
Many possibilities could happen, but the ball is in Breslow's court. Will he be able to do this? He should, but he also may go another direction. As long as it's not 41-year-old Charlie Morton, it'll be okay.