We’re more than 60 games into the MLB season and the Red Sox are sitting at 31-30, currently last place in the AL East. While some Sox fans may rightfully have their disappointments, help is soon on the way.
Adam Duvall will return from the 60-day IL soon, coming off a video game-like slash of four homers with a .455 batting average in his first 33 at-bats with the club. Trevor Story may also return earlier than expected, bringing back another valuable piece to the lineup. While it’s great these pieces are returning, the Red Sox still need more to compete at the top of this elite division. Let’s take a look at five realistic additions the Red Sox could make at the deadline to help with a playoff push.
Possible Red Sox trade deadline acquisition No. 1: Aroldis Chapman
Aroldis Chapman was merely an afterthought over this past offseason, signing late with Kansas City on an inexpensive one-year deal. With the Royals looking to sell at the deadline, Chapman and the Red Sox make for a perfect match. Boston has been searching for a reliable lefty reliever nearly all season, but nothing has worked so far.
Acquired in the Matt Barnes trade, Richard Bleier has been awful with a 5.85 ERA, failing to get outs in timely situations. Former Mariners lefty Brennan Bernardino has stepped up well in Bleier’s placed notching a 2.70 ERA in 16 innings of work, but he’s skipped back and forth between the majors and Triple-A, leading us to believe the club might not believe in him as the number one lefty option in the bullpen moving forward.
Acquiring Chapman would also provide Boston another closing option, giving them a strong fallback option in case Kenley Jansen falters like he did last season with Atlanta. However, the asking price might be pretty high, as Chapman very well may be the best reliever on the market this offseason.