Red Sox insider believes relievers could create 'bidding war' at trade deadline
The Boston Red Sox have hovered around .500 for much of the season. It isn't clear if they'll be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, and their path could take months to determine.
Regardless of their record in July, Boston carries many players in the final years of their contracts with the club. It could be in the Sox's best interest to sell said players at the deadline if there aren't extensions in their futures (and the team is out of contention).
Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin are among the players nearing the end of their deals. The two are older than most of their Red Sox counterparts — Jansen will be 37 in September and Martin will be 38 in June — so the possibility of extensions for the two hurlers is likely slim.
Sean McAdam of MassLive believes that the Red Sox may be able to secure good returns for the two relievers. Both are "October tested" former World Series champions, and McAdam believes they may incite a "bidding war" around the trade deadline.
Red Sox reporter thinks Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen will be highly coveted by trade deadline
McAdam also noted that Tyler O'Neill and Nick Pivetta could be dealt at as well, but their performances have been stellar in the first quarter of the season and are more likely to warrant the extensions over Martin and Jansen.
RIGHT BACK AT YA, MARTIN. pic.twitter.com/IggQWTewOK
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 15, 2024
After he posted the season of his life in 2023, Martin is still pitching well for Boston. The righty has pitched to a 3.44 ERA with 20 strikeouts and two walks in 18.1 innings of work. Martin logged a 1.05 ERA last season, the best of any qualified MLB pitcher, and carried a 24-appearance scoreless streak into the first weeks of the 2024 campaign.
That was Kenley Jansen’s 425th save, passing John Franco for 5th most in MLB history:
— J.P. Long (@SoxNotes) April 20, 2024
1. Mariano Rivera 652
2. Trevor Hoffman 601
3. Lee Smith 478
4. Francisco Rodríguez 437
5. KENLEY JANSEN 425
Jansen is also pitching well for the Sox after he shook off some early-season rust. He's posted a 3.45 ERA in 15.2 innings with 21 strikeouts and 10 walks. Jansen's walk total is high, but seven of his 10 free passes came in April while he adjusted after offseason injuries.
The Rangers, Phillies and Orioles are all quality teams with rough bullpen numbers, although Baltimore has improved in recent weeks. Jansen and Martin could help any team's struggling bullpen. The two relievers provide years of experience and, for the most part, reliability to the back end of any pitching staff, and the Red Sox could collect nice returns for shipping their services elsewhere.
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