The Boston Red Sox have become known for poor trade deadline performances in recent years. They haven't contended for any big prizes since 2021, and even then, they did so with an underwhelming roster.
With a new chief baseball officer in charge, Red Sox fans hope for a change at this year's trade deadline. There's no telling yet whether the Sox will be buyers or sellers because their record has been middling so far, and they sit in third place in the American League East at the time of publication.
Boston's roster has been decimated by injuries for much of the season and many of the players on the current team are temporary. There are also a fair few Sox whose contracts will expire at the end of this season and are at risk of being dished elsewhere at the deadline.
July 30 is still two months away, so the Red Sox have time to spare before they make any moves, but here are some that we think would help the team out, and one that may not.
2 trade deadline moves Red Sox should already be eyeing, 1 they must avoid
Do: Trade for Erick Fedde
The Red Sox have dealt with injuries to multiple pitchers in the early months of the 2024 campaign, but most were short-term issues. Lucas Giolito was the outlier until news broke that Garrett Whitlock had ulnar collateral ligament damage in his throwing elbow, which ended his season.
Cooper Criswell has been a valuable replacement piece in Boston's rotation throughout most of its pitchers' recoveries, but he lost grip in two of his most recent outings. White Sox righty Erick Fedde would provide experience and quality early-season numbers to the BoSox's rotation.
Fedde made his MLB debut in 2017 and played with the Nationals until 2022. The following year, he played a season in Korea before he returned to MLB. Fedde's fortunes changed in Korea — he went from a career 5.41 ERA pitcher with the Nationals to winning the KBO's equivalent of the Cy Young award.
Fedde has pitched to a 2.80 ERA in 64.1 innings of work with the White Sox. He's posting career-best numbers with the severely underwhelming Chicago club and Andrew Bailey may be able to improve upon his season if he's shipped to Boston.
Do: Trade Chris Martin
Chris Maritn has been at or near-elite in during his tenure with the Red Sox. The reliever posted the lowest ERA of any qualified pitcher last year (1.05) and he did it without much recognition because Boston was a last-place team.
Martin carried a 24-outing scoreless streak into the 2024 season, which is four appearances shy of the Red Sox record, held by Koji Uehara. Martin is up to a similarly under-the-radar quality campaign this year.
The 37-year-old has logged a 3.10 ERA in 20.1 innings. He's collected 22 strikeouts and just two walks, which places him in the 98th percentile in the league in walk rate. Martin is on the older side, but the pitcher is still in ship-shape — he's caught a few comebackers that would've hurt if he missed them.
The Red Sox likely won't pursue an extension with Martin due to his age, but he's been stellar for the organization. Thirteen of his last 14 appearances have been scoreless and he would add experience and skill to any bullpen.
Don't: Trade Nick Pivetta
Nick Pivetta's contract with the Red Sox expires at the end of the 2024 slate. There haven't been rumors of extension talks between the club and the pitcher, but Pivetta said in 2023 that he would be open to sticking around.
Pivetta has shown flashes of brilliance for the Red Sox in 2023-24. He's logged a 4.20 ERA in 30 innings, but he's still making his way back due to a stint on the injured list. He's tossed 33 strikeouts to just five walks, which ranks him in the 92nd percentile in walk rate.
Pivetta has dabbled in the extremes in the first third of the campaign. He's posted four outings in which he's surrendered two or fewer runs, but has a couple starts where he's gotten rocked for five or more. Pivetta's ups have been good enough to warrant keeping him around just in case Boston makes an unexpected playoff run.
If Pivetta continues his current level of play and is open to an extension with the Red Sox, they should jump on it. He's versatile enough to pitch in the bullpen and the rotation and he has the tools to succeed with Boston's new pitching infrastructure.