Everything seems to be going right at the right time for the Boston Red Sox — Garrett Crochet has been everything they could've asked for and more, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are rising to the occasion, Roman Anthony has fit in perfectly, Masataka Yoshida is back, and Romy Gonzalez and Ceddanne Rafaela have played like MVPs in the last month.
Boston carried a 10-game winning streak into the All-Star break, and personalities around baseball are all-in on it to make the postseason. MLB insider Jeff Passan of ESPN always believed the Red Sox were a playoff team, but recently gave them another vote of confidence going into the trade deadline.
"We're going toward the July 31 trade deadline and all eyes are going to be on the Red Sox. Aroldis Chapman's going nowhere. Alex Bregman's going nowhere. They're gonna add, and if they get another starting pitcher who can be at the top of that rotation with Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello pitching so well, Lucas Giolito, the Boston Red Sox are legitimate World Series contenders," Passan said on the "Pat McAfee Show," filmed at All-Star media day on July 14.
The Red Sox have plenty of top-tier talent they could trade for rotation reinforcements or a power bat in the wake of the Rafael Devers trade. From top prospects to a loaded outfield, Boston could realistically have the capital to secure trades for any of its needs, even at the deadline premium.
Jeff Passan assures fans Red Sox will not sell before the trade deadline
"The Red Sox are gonna add before the trade deadline..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 14, 2025
They are legitimate World Series contenders"@JeffPassan #ProgrumSummerRoadTrip https://t.co/4kDWpCk0ze pic.twitter.com/53NufgW2z2
Passan suggested a No. 2 starter as one of Boston's top deadline needs, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has already mentioned that starting pitching will be a focus. The Sox have been linked to Twins All-Star pitcher Joe Ryan, but the rumors have otherwise been quite sparse — the American League race is tight this year, and many teams still haven't decided their approach to the trade deadline.
Despite the difficulty of their upcoming schedule, experts have put their confidence in the Red Sox to make it to the postseason, mostly if they play their cards right at the deadline. Giolito and Bello may not be able to maintain their current pitching pace all year, and Rafaela and Gonzalez won't hit at their current rate throughout the second half. With the right additions, the Red Sox could absolutely be serious postseason contenders, but they'll have to address their needs with big-market moves and stay hot offensively.