The Boston Red Sox acquisition of Curtis Mead might have come out of left field, but betting big on the breakout slugger might have solved the need for an infield bat. Well, that was the thought until he was hit by a pitch on his wrist during the July 27 matchup against the Athletics. At first, it seemed to be just a scare, but the move to bring back Nick Sogard indicates that Mead's injury is worse than originally feared.
Even before panic set in about Mead's status, rumors continued to swirl regarding other infield targets, primarily shortstops, the Red Sox may pursue. Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto has been bandied about as a name potentially worthy of a Franklin Arias-led package
While Jeremy Peña rumors seem to have subsided, CJ Abrams continues to be floated, as some feel that Breslow could go back to the same well and import him from Washington, while new names like Miami Marlins star Otto Lopez are entering the rumor mill.
Whether or not Boston actually pursues another infielder likely depends on Mead's status, but it's far from the only need the team has. Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic (subscription required) posits that Craig Breslow could now turn his attention to the bullpen, and it's an assertion that makes a ton of sense.
The Red Sox have been searching for a shortstop, in a market notably thin in shortstops.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 27, 2026
Regardless of Curtis Mead's status, adding to the relief corps should be a Red Sox trade deadline priority
The Red Sox are set up pretty well to capitalize on the relief market, given how things have shaken out. Teams that need a closer will have slim pickings unless they pony up the astronomical price for Mason Miller, but Boston doesn't fall into that bucket. With Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock serving as a dynamic back-end duo, it's the middle innings where they could use some help.
Building up that bridge to Whitlock and Chapman and covering the sixth and seventh innings is where the strength of the reliever market lies, so the Red Sox have no shortage of options. Additionally, grabbing another lefty to complement Jovani Morán would be ideal given that the only other southpaw in the pen is Chapman.
So which candidates could Boston look to? Here are a few right-handed options that make sense. New York Mets reliever Huascar Brazoban has a 2.66 ERA over 50 2/3 innings. He can occasionally go more than an inning, making him an ideal middle-inning fireman.
If the Red Sox want to build a "super bullpen" and really firm up the setup situation, going after Brazoban's teammate, Luke Weaver, would be ideal. Weaver has a 1.93 ERA over 42 innings and has allowed just one earned run since May 1. Weaver, Whitlock, and Chapman would essentially make ball games six-inning affairs.
If Weaver is too expensive, which is likely, then Marlins strikeout artist Anthony Bender could be a nice fit. He could take over that seventh-inning role, and his 29.3% K-rate and 2.62 ERA would fit nicely.
From the left side, there are several options. Going back to the Mets, Brooks Raley has been death on lefties, allowing just a .185 batting average against. He also handles righties reasonably well, surrendering a .224 batting average to them.
The San Diego Padres also have a pair of options. Adrian Morejon has been one of the best left-handed setup men in the game over the last three seasons and could make a huge difference. Meanwhile, Wandy Peralta and his 3.04 ERA would fit nicely in the middle innings.
One more under-the-radar option could be Kansas City Royals southpaw Daniel Lynch IV. The 29-year-old groundball artist has posted a 2.05 ERA over 44 innings and is another guy who handles both lefties and righties. Same-handed hitters are batting just .147 against him, while those with the platoon advantage come in at .212.
Breslow might very well have some multitasking on his hands as he sorts through what to do with the infield while also exploring bullpen issues. Fortunately, the way the trade block has shaped up, the types of relievers the Red Sox need are in plentiful supply, almost assuring that he should be able to come away with one or two new bullpen weapons.
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