Red Sox lack prospects they can deal at trade deadline
The Boston Red Sox have some mediocre talent at the minor league level. Who could they trade at the deadline for bullpen help?
The Boston Red Sox are in a good spot right now as we head towards the end of May. Since last season, they’ve needed bullpen help. It wasn’t a problem during the playoffs because they had starters pitching out of the bullpen. However, you can’t do that during the regular season and really it shouldn’t have to come to that in the playoffs.
As we look in the minors, the only standout was Michael Chavis, who has earned his spot in the lineup. But when you look at the rest of the prospects there is little to no talent which could be an issue if they try to get help at the deadline.
SoxProspects.com lists the top 10 prospects the Sox have in their minor league system. Chavis is obviously first on the list followed by Darwinzon Hernandez from Double-A Portland. The 22-year old owns a 4.65 ERA, and a 1.55 WHIP. The next pitcher on the list is Tanner Houck who’s also in Double-A Portland. He was drafted in the first round in 2017 and has a 5.17 ERA with a 1.64 WHIP. Jay Groome had Tommy John Surgery and is out for the year. Durbin Feltman was drafted in the 2018 draft in the third round has a 6.23 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP.
Which pitcher in the minor league system can be traded for help at the deadline? My answer is none because no team is going to want a pitcher with over a 4.00 ERA to improve their team. If they had a decent pitcher in their minor league system that they could get a good deal on then it would be worth it.
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As for the hitters on the list of the top 10 prospects, there’s Triston Casas who plays for Class-A Greenville who’s batting just .263. There’s Bobby Dalbec, who Alex Cora likes, but has an average of .241. CJ Chatham, the shortstop in Portland, was placed on the injured list recently but was batting .314. Finally, there’s Jarren Duran who’s on Single-A Salem and his batting .422.
Out of the hitters, the only one I would trade at the deadline for help is Duran and maybe get a better pitching prospect or someone who can come out of the bullpen in the late innings. The list is very thin of prospects and the Sox shouldn’t trade Chavis for anything.
As you look at the top ten Red Sox prospects you see the reason for concern heading into the deadline. The talent level isn’t really there at the minor league level and it shows. Matt Barnes is the best pitcher the Sox have in the bullpen right now with a 1.80 ERA in 20 innings pitched this season. The worst pitcher the Sox have in their bullpen right now is Tyler Thornburg who is on the injured list but with a 7.71 ERA in 18.2 innings pitched.
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The Sox aren’t going to trade anyone from their major league roster and President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski could get heat again if they don’t acquire bullpen help at the trading deadline.