Red Sox Trade Deadline: Nine targets you might hear in rumors

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 10: Zach Britton #53 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Cleveland Indians in the eighth inning at Progressive Field on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Orioles 3-2, (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 10: Zach Britton #53 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Cleveland Indians in the eighth inning at Progressive Field on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Orioles 3-2, (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 12: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates a two run home run with Xander Bogaerts #2 in the second inning during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 12: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates a two run home run with Xander Bogaerts #2 in the second inning during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Is it worth going over?

Typically I’d say no. But this isn’t a typical season for the Red Sox. A lot of work went into putting the current roster on the field. Years of developing its core in Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi and Eduardo Rodriguez. The expending of long-term resources to bring in Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel. Tons of cash going out to bring back David Price. This team is built to win, and it’s built to win now. In fact, Dombrowski used almost all of the franchise’s prospect capital to get them to where they are.

Only third baseman Rafael Devers was spared the trade block. Michael Chavis emerged last season but popped positive for steroids before any serious trade discussions could kick off this season. Jay Groome still has a massive ceiling but has lost most of his first two seasons to injury. They’re mostly tapped out for minor league resources, though they did just have a strong draft. Because of that, dropping their top pick in 2019 might not be as unpalatable as it would have seemed a month ago. So let’s go with yes, it is worth it, and proceed without financial constraints.

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