Red Sox: Trading for a starter may not be realistic

This is where Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski offers a reality check. Just because we want to trade for a pitcher, doesn’t mean there is another team out there eager to give one up.

"“The thing you have to remember is that you have two clubs to make a deal, and most clubs, as I’ve said all along and it hasn’t changed whatsoever, really are not prepared to move towards 2017 and be in a position where they’re willing to move,” Dombrowski explained to the assembled media over the weekend in Texas. “There are probably five clubs that have been looking at that all year long, and I think those five clubs are the ones that remain.”"

Dombrowski goes on to explain that it’s still early, with over a month to go until the trade deadline. Teams aren’t willing to waive the white flag on 2016 until they reach the point where the postseason is no longer reasonably within reach. Ever since the second Wild card was introduced in 2012, teams have remained in the hunt longer, limiting the number of sellers at the deadline.

Entering the day on Monday, there are only eight teams that are at least eight games out of a playoff spot. Everyone else is at least close enough that they’ll want to wait a few weeks before reassessing their position. So out of these eight teams, which ones are actually realistic trade partners for the Red Sox?

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