The Boston Red Sox only seem to be improving as the 2024 trade deadline nears. They've forced the front office into a buyer's mentality. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow declared starting pitching as a necessary area of improvement for his club and he's been scouting hurlers for potential deadline additions.
MLB insider Jon Heyman suggested there's a small chance the Tigers trade their Cy Young hopeful and first-time All-Star Tarik Skubal, but other insiders swiftly shot down any possibility that he'll be on the move. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand listed another more likely Tigers trade candidate the Sox could pursue.
Jack Flaherty has posted a rebound season so far, and he could be a great fit for the Red Sox rotation. He spent seven seasons with the Cardinals and was traded to the Orioles at last year's deadline before he signed a one-year deal with the Tigers for the 2024 slate.
Flaherty has posted a 3.13 ERA, 199 strikeouts and just 16 walks — good for 94th percentile strikeout and walk rates — through 95 innings of work. He's not the only quality starter option Feinsand listed, though.
Erick Fedde is posting career-best numbers with the unfortunate White Sox this season and he'll be highly sought after by clubs that need rotation help. He's logged a 2.99 ERA through 111.1 innings with 99 strikeouts and 30 walks.
MLB insider Mark Feinsand lists potential starting and relief pitching targets Red Sox could pursue
10 @MLB trade targets to watch after the All-Star break https://t.co/YMmDgXatLa
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 18, 2024
Flaherty and Fedde don't have a ton of playoff experience between them and they're both right-handers — Boston's current rotation is all righties. But there are a lot of teams in the hunt for starters before the July 30 deadline, and the Red Sox should take who they can get for a reasonable price. The Sox have been great in recent weeks, but they're not in the position to give top prospects away for this potential postseason run.
Earlier in the season, when the Red Sox were closer to .500, it was reported they would try to trade Kenley Jansen after an unsuccessful attempt in the offseason. It may not make sense to trade him anymore because he's been playing so well during Boston's hot stretch, but if he gets dealt, Feinsand listed a few cheaper relief pitcher options.
The Marlins' Tanner Scott and the Nationals' Kyle Finnegan are All-Star relievers likely up for grabs. Scott will be a free agent at the end of the year, while Finnegan is arbitration-eligible next season and becomes a free agent before the 2026 slate.
Scott has posted a 1.34 ERA over 40.1 innings and collected 14 saves on 16 opportunities. He's a lefty and would be one of the few on the Sox's staff if they traded for him. Finnegan has pitched to a 2.45 ERA over 40.1 frames and completed 25 saves over 29 opportunities.
Both hurlers would be quality additions to any contender's bullpen, with Scott likely being the more coveted option. If the Red Sox hope to add to the bullpen, which wasn't directly addressed by Breslow, either pitcher would work well. But with Jansen playing as well as he has, it's likely the Sox will stick with what they've got.