An MLB bullpen is never finished. Even the Boston Red Sox, whose 2.99 bullpen ERA (as of July 30) is the best in baseball, should still be trying to shorten a baseball game.
Boston currently boasts two of the 15 best relievers by fWAR this season, Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, and has the third best bullpen fWAR in MLB. Jovani Morán and Tyron Guerrero also boast ERA’s in the twos. Others haven’t been as dominant, but overall it's been an elite unit (subscription required). They can still upgrade on elite, though.
Every extra elite reliever is one more inning that feels in control. Why stop at locking down the seventh, eighth and ninth? Control the sixth too. Here are two relievers Boston should target before the deadline that could make their bullpen that much scarier.
2 relievers the Red Sox need to target before the trade deadline
Tejay Antone
Tejay Antone, Nasty Sweepers. 😨 pic.twitter.com/wO34Gekjrl
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 29, 2026
Finally healthy for the first time since 2021, the 32-year-old righty has rediscovered his form for the Cincinnati Reds. Antone has a 2.16 ERA in 33 ⅓ innings this season, with a WHIP under 1.00, and 30 strikeouts to eight walks. His very red Baseball Savant page shows that the under-the-hood numbers are just as strong.
At 6’4’’ and with elite ground ball rates, he fits the mold of pitcher the Sox like. Even though Antone doesn't have elite extension, Boston showed that with veterans like Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez, it can still help them maximize their potential. Antone is also being paid under $1,000,000 this season and has a year of control after 2026. Most of his work has come in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings this season, and he regularly works on one day's rest. He would be a perfect fit to mix in with Guerrero in the seventh inning.
Erik Miller
There is almost certainly a firesale coming in San Francisco, and that always involves the bullpen. The 28-year-old lefty has a 2.87 ERA in 31 ⅓ innings this season, and had a 1.50 in 30 last season. Miller is primarily a two-pitch pitcher, throwing his sinker and slider a combined 85% of the time.
Morán has been extremely effective this season, but adding another elite lefty to the back end of the 'pen could be just what the Red Sox need. Having Miller could allow Chapman extra rest, keeping him from pitching in the eighth sometimes. Miller, like Antone, is making under $1,000,000 this season, but he has three years of team control remaining.
The Red Sox bullpen is already fantastic. That doesn’t mean they should leave it untouched at the deadline. Even if Antone and Miller are going to cost a little more, they are the types of arms that could make the 'pen almost unhittable. If Breslow is going to make upgrades to the bullpen, these are the two arms he should target.
Add us as a preferred source on Google