4 bold predictions for the Red Sox for the second half of the 2023 season
By Eric Cole
The Red Sox will add two starting pitchers at the trade deadline, one of which will come out of nowhere
Despite their position in the division, we are wagering that the Red Sox will indeed be buyers at the trade deadline. They could still trade some players away from areas of depth and/or move some pending free agents, but the team is playing too well at the moment for them to throw in the towel on 2023. Chaim Bloom could be playing for his job at the moment and betting on him to try and bring in some pitching help to make a run seems like a sure bet.
Realistically, the Red Sox need to at two rotation arms as that would give them some depth even if some of their injured guys don't bounce back. The bet here is that one of those arms will be a starter that is widely known to be available and probably a rental with Lucas Giolito probably near the top of their wish list. However, we think the other arm they end up adding will come out of nowhere and could have a fair amount of team control attached. Such a move would be costly, but would also help set Boston up for success in the years to come.
Rafael Devers will be awesome, but Jarren Duran will be the team's MVP
No one doubts that Rafael Devers is going to be awesome the rest of the way in 2023. Unless there are complications from his recent calf injury, Devers will still be a huge driver of the Red Sox offense and is on pace to match or exceed his output in 2021 when he slashed .279/.352/.538 with 38 homers. However, we are taking a shot that the team's true MVP for the 2023 season ends up being Jarren Duran.
Jarren's turnaround this season has been nothing short of remarkable. He went from a very talented guy who didn't seem to have what it took to be a productive big leaguer to being one of the most dynamic players on Boston's roster. Through 266 plate appearances this season, he is slashing .317/.368/.514 with 17 stolen bases to boot. We are wagering that he has finally figured things out and all of that hustling for extra bases will continue in the second half.