After their 10-game winning streak going into the All-Star break, the Boston Red Sox have all but confirmed they'll be buyers at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, they also got some season-altering news in the final hours before the break.
Hunter Dobbins exited Boston's July 11 game early after a strange play at first base. The Red Sox sent the pitcher for scans and later learned that he tore his ACL, officially ending his rookie season early.
Dobbins had been a key depth pitching option for the Red Sox while both Tanner Houck and Richard Fitts were on the injured list. He posted a 4.13 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 61 innings, which doesn't jump off the page, but he had some huge performances under his belt. The most notable among them was his six-inning shutout of the Yankees on June 14, in the throes of drama about his father's baseball past.
Dobbins' injury makes Boston's need for quality starting pitching even more severe than it was before. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has already asserted that starting pitching would be an area of focus at the trade deadline, but mentioned that he has confidence in his team's rotation depth. His confidence in Boston's depth came before Dobbins' injury, and although it still has options (Houck, Richard Fitts, Kyle Harrison), Dobbins has been the most consistent among them at this point.
Red Sox need pitching at the trade deadline more than ever after Hunter Dobbins' season ending injury
The Red Sox's rotation has looked mostly solid in recent weeks, except Walker Buehler, who's struggled to rebound from Tommy John surgery since 2024. Lucas Giolito has found his Cy Young vote recipient form and he's let up just three runs over six starts since June 10. Brayan Bello has also looked better than ever in June and July — he has a 2.36 ERA in his last seven outings and posted his first complete game on July 8.
But Boston can't bank on Giolito and Bello holding their recent success long-term. Giolito struggled severely at the beginning of the season and had a 6.42 ERA as recently as June 4. Bello's peripherals leave much to be desired, with a 20th percentile strikeout percentage, 10th percentile whiff percentage, and a 4.25 xERA.
The Red Sox have been tabbed as a good fit for Twins All-Star Joe Ryan at the deadline, but there's sure to be plenty of competition for his services. Andrew Heaney, Mitch Keller, Seth Lugo and Sandy Alcantara could also be sold choices. Breslow isn't targeting rental candidates, and there are plenty of options with years of control who suit the Sox's needs.
Inconsistency in the rotation has been one of the Red Sox's greatest killers this year, and losing Dobbins could only make it worse. Boston needs to add pitching at the trade deadline to keep up with the most difficult second-half schedule in MLB and to secure a playoff spot, which it hasn't had in three years.