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Grading the Boston Red Sox’ perplexing trade deadline moves

By Gabrielle Starr |
BOSTON, MA - JULY 6: Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom of the Boston Red Sox looks on before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 6, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 6: Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom of the Boston Red Sox looks on before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 6, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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Grading every move the Boston Red Sox made at the 2022 trade deadline

The Boston Red Sox had a perplexing 2022 trade deadline.

Did they get better? Worse? Both? Neither? It’s hard to say at this point, though their 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros immediately after was a promising sign.

The Sox weren’t all-in buyers, nor were they the big sellers many expected them to be. Several soon-to-be free agents remained with the team after the 6 PM cut-off, including JD Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi, and Jackie Bradley Jr.

But Christian Vázquez, their longest-tenured player in the entire organization, is gone. Tommy Pham, Reese McGuire, and Eric Hosmer are here, as are a few new prospects.

Often, it takes months, even years to know which side won a trade. But in the meantime, here’s the immediate reaction trade deadline report card:

Christian Vázquez: C

This trade was vintage Red Sox. They dealt their longest-tenured, homegrown player to the Houston Astros in exchange for two prospects.

It was unlikely the Sox planned to bring Vázquez back when he reached free agency after this season, so getting something for him at the deadline was strategic. But ultimately, he’s the latest in a long line of valuable homegrown talents they’ve sent packing.

May 17, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (30) breaks his bat on a line out during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (30) breaks his bat on a line out during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Eric Hosmer: B

If the San Diego Padres weren’t paying the entire remaining sum of Eric Hosmer’s enormous 8-year, $144M contract, this trade wouldn’t get a passing grade. But since they’re eating the remaining $44M, leaving the Sox to essentially shell out the minimum, I don’t dislike it as much as I initially thought I would.

Hosmer has four Gold Gloves to his name and postseason experience to improve the Sox’ struggling first base situation, though all of that came with Kansas City years ago. But he’s also been a mentor to Triston Casas, the Sox No. 2 prospect, who should debut at the end of this year or early next. The Sox are also getting two prospects, Max Ferguson and Corey Rosier, so there’s more upside than downside to this deal.

The reason this trade gets a B instead of a B+ is that the return is former first-round pick Jay Groome, the once-promising pitching prospect whose minor-league journey was sidelined by Tommy John surgery in 2018. The Sox had promoted Groome from Double to Triple-A in July, and it felt like he was finally on his way. Instead, his big-league journey will be in San Diego, with a team that’s had their eyes on him since he was in high school.

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 /

Tommy Pham: C

Hosmer’s arrival in Boston will reunite him with a former Padres teammate, Tommy Pham.

Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later or cash considerations, Pham made an immediate impact in Tuesday night’s game with a hit and a run scored. He came to the Sox after hitting .238/.320/.374 with a .694 OPS, 11 doubles, and 11 home runs in 91 games with the Reds.

Chaim Bloom was quick to praise his newest addition, whom he was familiar with from Pham’s Rays days:

“Tommy’s a really good major league player. He’s a good hitter. He manages an at-bat really well. And that’s something that I think will be a huge benefit to our group. He hits the ball hard. He knows the strike zone. He is a competitor. He’s a really knowledgeable hitter. Understands himself. Very passionate about hitting. Just a guy that has a lot of talent and has proven that over the course of time at the major league level.”

However, on the whole, did the Sox need yet another outfielder? The trade enabled them to demote Franchy Cordero to Triple-A and place Rob Refsnyder on the Injured List, where Kiké Hernández has been for most of the season, but this deal doesn’t really move the needle in any drastically positive way.

Jun 14, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Reese McGuire (21) makes a catch for an out during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Reese McGuire (21) makes a catch for an out during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Reese McGuire: B

The Sox immediately replaced Vázquez with Reese McGuire by sending struggling reliever Jake Diekman to the Chicago White Sox. Chicago will also send Boston either a player to be named later or cash.

Unloading Diekman allows the Sox to shed salary for next year as well, as he was owed $4M in the second year of his 2-year deal. He posted a 4.23 ERA over 44 games, the most appearances by any pitcher on the Red Sox roster. He also blew three of Boston’s 21 blown saves, the second-most in the majors.

Defensively, McGuire’s 46.7% strike rate behind the dish is the lowest of his career, but his +7 Defensive Runs Saved is just ahead of Vázquez’s +6.

McGuire is arbitration-eligible for the next three years, undoubtedly a significant part of his appeal to Bloom.

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