With the trade deadline just hours away, the Boston Red Sox are still squarely in playoff contention despite struggling out of the all-star break, sitting just five and a half games back of the American League East lead and one game back of the last wild card spot in the AL.
Rumors are flying around on who the team may or may not trade for, with moves having already been made in both the catching department as well as starting pitching ahead of that July 30 deadline.
Last year's trade deadline didn't go as many had hoped, and that might have been the final straw in the Chaim Bloom era in Boston. With Craig Breslow committed to buying, this year has already been busier than 2023. If any of these three scenarios play out, though, it would spell trouble for the Red Sox.
3 nightmare scenarios for the Red Sox at this year's trade deadline
The Red Sox shouldn't trade any of the "big three" at the trade deadline
The widely known "big three" of Roman Anthony, Kyle Teel, and Marcelo Mayer should all be untouchable at the trade deadline. All three of them are having strong seasons in Portland and should be heading to Worcester soon if they maintain form.
During the offseason, the Red Sox appeared content to put their future in the three of them thanks to their stock and hype rising. With the Red Sox farm system getting stronger as a whole over the course of the season, they should keep Mayer, Anthony, and Teel off the board and trade other prospects with rising stocks to make the upgrades they need to make.
The Red Sox shouldn't trade Kenley Jansen
Kenley Jansen has been the subject of trade rumors all year long, dating back to spring training and as recently as a couple of days ago. With the Red Sox in the competitive position that they're in right now, trading Jansen would be a big mistake for Breslow.
For one thing, the bullpen is extremely thin right now, with two key relievers in Chris Martin and Justin Slaten on the IL with elbow inflammation. Yes, Liam Hendriks is returning to the mound sometime in August, and that hypothetically makes Jansen expendable.
But, with pitching at a premium on the trade market, it makes sense for the Red Sox to hang on to Jansen for the playoff push and create a four-headed monster of Martin-Slaten-Hendriks-Jansen when all four are healthy. Martin, Jansen and Hendriks have years of MLB experience and they can help Boston's young staff. They'll also take some pressure off the Sox's increasingly-taxed rotation. Keeping Jansen is a win-win for everyone.
Standing pat would be a massive mistake for the Red Sox
Last season, Bloom and the Red Sox essentially stood pat with the team in the thick of the playoff race, and it angered the fan base heavily. The team is in a similar position this year, and although they've already made more moves than last year, if they're done now, it would be a big problem.
The team needs a bat that can hit lefty pitching, as the Red Sox have struggled against southpaws all year. Another reliever is needed as well, so Alex Cora doesn't have to use Chase Anderson in the 10th inning of a tie game against the Yankees. Another starting pitcher would also help, as James Paxton can't save the rotation by himself.
For a team that has committed to being in the playoff race, more moves have to be made to continue to take this team seriously down the stretch. Not doing anything more before July 30 would be a serious problem, especially because division rivals are going all-in.