It's hard to look at what Craig Breslow did for the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline as anything but a win. He identified needs and attacked them. He wasn't hung up on winning deals, trying to maximize value, or getting a steal. He tried to improve the roster as best he could.
A catcher and bullpen help were two easily identifiable needs for the team, and getting a true fourth outfielder and pinch-run threat was a nice touch. One need that was talked about at the deadline went overlooked — a starting pitcher.
The Red Sox starting rotation has been elite this season. It's been led by veterans Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez, and rookies Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett have added immense value. The Red Sox's depth at the position has dwindled heavily, though, and it was definitely something that should have been addressed.
Tolle and Bennett have both surpassed their career high in innings pitched with at least two months to go. Tolle showed against the A's on August 7 that, at least for now, he isn't too tired to rack up a career-high 14 strikeouts. Bennett, on the other hand, has seen a sharp downturn in his effectiveness recently.
Jake Bennett's recent Red Sox struggles could have been mitigated at the trade deadline
Jake Bennett's last 9 starts:
— nugget chef (@jayhaykid) August 9, 2026
First 5: 33 IP, 0.82 ERA/2.81 FIP
Last 4: 23 IP, 5.09 ERA/3.78 FIP
The 25-year-old lefty went on a spectacular run from June 22-July 17, during which he allowed just three runs across five starts and 33 innings. He walked just four while striking out 25 in that stretch. Those were starts five through nine this season. In starts 10 to 13, Bennett has posted a 5.09 ERA in 23 innings. While poor defense has certainly inflated his numbers, as evidenced by his 3.78 FIP in those four starts, he hasn't been quite as sharp overall.
No one thought Bennett's season would turn this quickly, and he can still bounce back, but his results taking a step back were certainly predictable. Last season, the Sox relied on rookies Tolle and Connelly Early to be impactful rotation pieces down the stretch. They were hoping Tolle and Bennett would be able to do the same.
Bennett's apparent fatigue is also scary if any of the Sox's other starters get injured. Brayan Bello has been elite in the bullpen, but still hasn't proved he can pitch in the first inning this season. They could turn to the opener strategy with him again, but that hasn't been entirely successful. After Bello, Boston doesn't currently have another starter with major league experience available.
It's hard to look at a starting rotation that has two rookies who are already setting career highs in innings and a pitcher who missed almost two seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery in Patrick Sandoval, and not think that adding another arm to take some of those innings would be helpful. It's already starting to show with Bennett that Breslow didn't fill one key need.
Add us as a preferred source on Google