Relief pitchers:
Greg Holland:
Last season, Holland was one of the victims of the slow-moving free agent market. He eventually signed a one year deal with St. Louis, where he greatly struggled and was let go. He then signed with Washington where he bounced back before becoming a free agent again this offseason, where he signed with Arizona.
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So far this season, he has been tremendous, posting a 1.99 ERA with a 3.63 FIP. The FIP suggests there will be some regression, but to the point where he is still an effective relief pitcher. Holland is an experienced high leverage reliever and would be a huge addition to a rather thin Red Sox bullpen. He also has experience closing, which the Red Sox could use.
Jared Hughes:
While Jared Hughes may not be a household name, he has been a solid reliever for a while and that has continued this season with the Reds. Not only is he a solid pitcher, but has a club option for next season, which means the Red Sox could use him next season.
This would also mean he would cost more in a trade. This season, he has a 3.41 ERA with a 4.01 FIP. While he is not a spectacular reliever, he is certainly solid, and the Red Sox need depth.
Will Smith:
The reliever that might be the prize of the deadline is Will Smith who has been dominant all season long. He currently has a 2.03 ERA with a 38/6 K/BB ratio. He is also striking out an impressive 13 per 9. He may be difficult for the Red Sox to get given their lack of depth in the farm system. Other teams can likely outbid the Red Sox if they want.
With just under two months until the deadline the Red Sox don’t have much time to make their moves happen. The holes in the roster seem obvious to those on the outside but the organization seems steadfast in waiting on their IL to clear up. If they want to once again contend for the World Series crown in October they can’t afford to waste any time.