Fansided

Analyzing weird Boston Red Sox trades shortly after Vázquez deal

By Gabrielle Starr |
Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham (28) slides into third base safely his a triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, July 10, 2022, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.Tampa Bay Rays At Cincinnati Reds July 10 0039
Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham (28) slides into third base safely his a triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, July 10, 2022, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.Tampa Bay Rays At Cincinnati Reds July 10 0039
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Come one, come all! The Boston Red Sox are going out of business (for the year) and (almost) everything must go.

With 24 hours to the August 2 trade deadline, the Sox made a flurry of moves, starting with trading Christian Vázquez across the diamond to the Houston Astros. He was one of several soon-to-be free agents presumed to be dealt before the 6 PM ET cut-off on Tuesday.

Minutes later, they made two unexpected trades. JD Martinez and Nathan Eovaldi, the two most likely trade chips after Vázquez, remain with the team. Jake Diekman is gone, and Reese McGuire and Tommy Pham are joining this ragtag bunch.

Here’s every trade the Sox made on Monday night:

Trade 1: Christian Vázquez to Houston Astros for 2 MiLB prospects

In a stunning pregame shocker, the Sox dealt their longest-tenured player to the Astros in exchange for two prospects, infielder Enmanuel Valdez and outfielder Wilyer Abreu.

Vázquez was in the final season of the three-year deal plus club option that the Sox inked him to in 2018. He’s leaving a sinking ship for a first-place rocket to the postseason.

Valdez is a promising slugger who’s hitting .327/.410/.606 with a 1.016 OPS over 82 games between Double and Triple-A this year. Abreu can play all three outfield spots and also has some pop in his bat, with 15 homers at Double-A this year.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 17: Relief pitcher Jake Diekman #31 of the Boston Red Sox pitches at the top of the eighth inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on May 17, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 17: Relief pitcher Jake Diekman #31 of the Boston Red Sox pitches at the top of the eighth inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on May 17, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Trade 2: Red Sox trade Jake Diekman to White Sox for Reese McGuire

As if the Vázquez trade wasn’t painful enough, the Sox replaced him almost instantly by trading Jake Diekman to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Reese McGuire and either a player to be named later or cash.

The Sox signed Diekman to a two-year deal with a club option for 2024, but he struggled to find his rhythm. While 34 of his 44 appearances with the club were scoreless, the flashes of dominance weren’t enough to overlook his three blown saves and general inconsistency.

McGuire was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2013 draft and traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in August 2016. He made his big-league debut with the club on September 6, 2018, but now five years into his big-league career, McGuire only has 194 games under his belt.

He’s a mediocre hitter with little power, but a solid defender behind the dish, with +7 DRS this season. But presumably, his biggest appeal to Bloom is that he’s under club control until 2026, as Kevin Plawecki is also a free agent after this season.

Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham (28) catches a fly ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, July 31, 2022, Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.Baltimore Orioles At Cincinnati Reds July 31 0011
Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham (28) catches a fly ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, July 31, 2022, Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.Baltimore Orioles At Cincinnati Reds July 31 0011 /

Trade 3: Tommy Pham to Red Sox for a player to be named later

Chaim Bloom is bringing another former Tampa Bay Ray to Boston. The Sox acquired 34-year-old outfielder and notoriously calm Fantasy Baseball player Tommy Pham for a player to be named later.

Pham began his big-league career with the St. Louis Cardinals, and also spent time with the Rays and San Diego Padres before joining the Cincinnati Reds this year. He’s a career .261/.358/.438 hitter with a .796 OPS and a fair amount of power in his bat, though it’s diminished in recent years. He had three consecutive 20+ HR seasons from 2017-19, but no more than 15 in any year since.

This trade almost certainly guarantees the Sox aren’t done dealing away their own outfielders. Perhaps Jackie Bradley Jr. to the Phillies?

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