If the Red Sox are buyers at the trade deadline, these are the players they could target. Originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
If the Boston Red Sox are still in contention for a playoff spot later this month, first-year baseball executive Craig Breslow and the board will be under pressure to make a purchase at the trade deadline.
They currently sit 1.5 games behind the third American League Wild Card spot with a 43-39 record. As of Monday, FanGraphs gives them a 30.5 percent chance of clinching a postseason spot.
“Hey, let’s get greedy,” manager Alex Cora said of adding at the deadline on Wednesday. “There are teams ahead of us that aren’t playing good baseball. I know one of them probably only plays five days, but there are others.
“This kind of baseball, I think we can stick with how we’re playing. Let’s not settle for the third wild card, let’s go higher and see where the season takes us.”
If Boston decides to buy, starting pitching will be a priority. It could also benefit from an addition in center field, particularly a defensive upgrade at second base.
Many players who should be on the trade block fall under that criteria. Here are nine options for Breslow and Co. if they’re willing to spend before the July 30 deadline, something the club has been reluctant to do over the past five years:
The Red Sox reportedly showed interest in Anderson as a free agent after the 2022 season. The left-hander ultimately signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Angels.
Anderson’s first season in Anaheim was tough, as he posted a 5.43 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 27 games (25 starts). This year, though, he’s bounced back and rediscovered some of his 2022 All-Star form. The 34-year-old has a 3.03 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 17 starts (104 innings).
Anderson wouldn’t be the sexiest acquisition. He doesn’t strike out many batters and is a mid-rotation arm at best on most pitching staffs. Still, he seems like an ideal fit for a Red Sox club looking for lefties who can eat up innings at the end of the pitch.
Reid Detmers, Left-handed Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
Detmers would be the most expensive option of the two Angels pitchers on this list. The 24-year-old is under team control through 2027, and while he has struggled mightily this year, he has shown flashes of brilliance at the highest level.
Two years ago, Detmers made a name for himself as a rookie with a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays and a flawless inning against the Texas Rangers. He also enjoyed pitching against Boston, posting a 1.95 ERA and striking out 29 in five appearances.
Given the Red Sox’ glaring lack of young pitching talent, a Detmers deal would make a lot of sense. He’s currently in Triple-A, so this is a great time to buy low if they believe in the former top prospect’s high upside.
The White Sox are set for a sellout as the worst team in the league. Fedde, in the midst of a breakout campaign, is almost certain to be among the players sent from South Side Chicago.
Fedde signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the White Sox last season after spending the 2023 season in Korea. He previously played six seasons with the Washington Nationals, where he posted a 5.41 ERA in 102 games (88 starts).
This season, Fedde has a 3.23 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with 91 strikeouts in 17 starts (100.1 innings).
Fedde is under contract through the 2025 season. A trade for him wouldn’t be a blockbuster like the next name on our list, but he would be a welcome addition to Boston’s starting rotation.
If Craig Breslow and the Red Sox plan to make the deadline, Crochet should be at the top of their wish list.
Crochet is firmly in the American League Cy Young conversation with a 3.02 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP and an MLB-best 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings through 18 starts (101.1 IP). He is currently projected to be the best pitcher available at this year’s deadline.
Given Boston’s recent history, a deal for Crochet seems highly unlikely. The 25-year-old would cost a pretty penny, meaning the Red Sox would likely have to part with one of their “Big Three” prospects — Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony or Kyle Teel — to acquire him.
If Breslow and Co. can close a deal without involving any of those valuable prospects, the choice is easy.
The Red Sox had a chance to sign Flaherty last offseason, but the right-handed pitcher signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Tigers.
That deal has proven to be a steal. Through 15 starts (89 innings), Flaherty has a 3.24 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 115 strikeouts and just 14 walks. He’s on track for career bests in K/9 (11.6) and BB/9 (1.4).
If the Red Sox buy at this deadline, they’ll likely prioritize left-handed pitching. But if the price is right for Flaherty, a fourth-place National League Cy Young finisher in 2019, they should jump at the chance.
Quantrill had a pair of strong seasons with the Cleveland Guardians in 2021 and 2022. The 29-year-old’s dismal 2023 campaign led to him being traded to the Rockies last season, a move that in retrospect looks like a win for Colorado. In 17 starts, Quantrill has a 3.78 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 95.1 innings.
Quantrill is under contract through 2025. There are more attractive options on this list, but he’s perhaps the most realistic for a team reluctant to spend big.
Rodgers was an average bat through the first six years of his MLB career, but Colorado’s former top prospect already has a Gold Glove to his name at second base. The 27-year-old would give Boston a significant defensive upgrade over Enmanuel Valdez.
Rodgers is hitting .279/.318/.408 with five homers and 27 RBI in 66 games this season. He is under contract through the 2025 campaign.
Luis Rengifo, UTIL – Los Angeles Angels
ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently suggested that Rengifo would be an ideal target for the Red Sox. As an above-average hitter who can play anywhere on the field, it’s easy to understand the appeal.
Rengifo plays primarily at second and third base, but also has experience at shortstop and all three outfield positions. The 27-year-old is also enjoying a career year at the plate, hitting .317/.362/.449 with six homers and 24 RBI in 67 games.
Rengifo isn’t the kind of addition that would propel the Red Sox into and through the postseason. However, pairing him with a starting pitcher — perhaps Anderson or Detmers — is an intriguing possibility.
Another potential target Passan mentioned, Alonso, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this coming winter. If the Mets slip in the NL Wild Card race in the coming weeks, he will be one of the biggest names mentioned in trade rumors.
Alonso would be a huge addition to the Red Sox left-handed lineup. He’s a lock for 30+ homers and an .800+ OPS in six seasons with the Mets, and it’s hard not to drool at the thought of his right-handed pop at Fenway Park.
Despite Passan’s speculation, a deal for Alonso seems like a long shot. Even as a loanee, he’d likely be too expensive for Boston’s tastes. Plus, there’s the question of how he’d fit into the roster, with Masataka Yoshida currently holding the designated hitter position and first baseman Triston Casas returning from the injured list. Yoshida has been terrible this season, but he’s in the second season of a five-year, $90 million contract.
A big move for a starting pitcher is more likely than a blockbuster for a big hitter. That said, we can’t ignore the fact that Alonso has been linked to Boston by one of the game’s most trusted insiders.
