Red Sox must address underlying trade deadline issue with Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett

Craig Breslow shocked Red Sox Nation late Saturday night when he traded away rookie left-handed pitcher Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for breakout slugger Curtis Mead. It was a staunch piece of business for the Red Sox CBO, who attacked a need from an area of strength, the opposite of what he did last deadline. Now, though, the Red Sox rotation becomes more of a focal point in the days leading up to the deadline. 

In recent weeks, the starting rotation was starting to fall under some question. It wasn't because performances had dipped, but because the Red Sox had three rookies quickly approaching career highs in innings pitched. Two of those rookies are still in the rotation, Jake Bennett and Payton Tolle.

Now, the rotation consists of Tolle, Bennett, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Patrick Sandoval, with Brayan Bello still around working in bulk relief. Gray and Suarez have zero questions surrounding their viability for the rest of the season and playoffs, but besides Tolle and Bennett, Patrick Sandoval is just returning from a two year absence from the mound, and Bello hasn't proven that he can actually start a game. That's why Breslow should start shifting his focus to the pitching market. 

The Red Sox can't pile on the rookies like they did down the stretch last season

The Red Sox need to protect Tolle, Bennett, and Sandoval down the stretch of the season if they want to make the playoffs. While the offense has improved over the last month, and hopefully will improve more with Mead, the identity of this team is pitching and defense. The Sox are going to need all of their starters healthy for the stretch run, and the best way to do that is by replacing Early. 

Some may think that Breslow should still be addressing the lineup, and after the Mead injury, he should. That doesn't mean that a starter can't be a path they explore either, and it seems like Breslow knows that. 

When asked if offense is still the priority for the remainder of the deadline, Breslow answered: “We have to be mindful of losing Connelly and losing those innings… we have to be mindful of the workload that we put on our bullpen.”

Now Boston doesn't need to be shopping at the top of the market. Any pitcher they get should be comfortable sliding to the pen in a playoff scenario. Any veteran rental they can acquire for cheap, but can eat innings, would do the trick. 

It’s going to take time to judge the full effects of the Early-Mead trade. One consequence is shortening the rotation depth. The Red Sox should prioritize replacing those innings with a veteran with one less arm in the building. 

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