The MLB trade deadline is Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, but the Boston Red Sox have yet to make any major moves to better position themselves for October.
Other teams have already been busy – including a frequent Red Sox trade partner in the Pittsburgh Pirates, who traded Gold Glove third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds for a return that included lefty reliever Taylor Rogers.
At first glance, it looks like Rogers will be expected to help Pittsburgh's Major League bullpen right away after going 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA over 40 appearances for the Reds. He has struck out 34 batters and walked 19 over 33 innings this season.
The addition of Rogers also foreshadowed the departure of southpaw Caleb Ferguson, who was traded to the Seattle Mariners Wednesday afternoon. Even after trading Ferguson, though, the Pirates still have lefty reliever Ryan Borucki waiting in the wings and seemingly ready to be activated off of the IL at any moment.
Perhaps, then, the Pirates could be looking to flip Rogers in another trade before Thursday's deadline? If so, the Red Sox should already be calling.
Red Sox must call Pirates now for bullpen piece after Ke'Bryan Hayes-Reds trade
The Pirates have already punted on this season and are looking to improve their team for 2026. Rogers, who is 34 years old and a free agent at the end of this season, is not going to help them accomplish that goal.
The Red Sox, on the other hand, currently have a firm grip on an American League Wild Card spot in the playoffs and could use Rogers' services in the immediate term. Aroldis Chapman has the closer role locked down but is currently dealing with back spasms, and the Red Sox's bullpen is probably another injury or two away from being strapped.
Another lefty in the bullpen is never a bad thing, especially if that lefty is a proven veteran arm who won't come at a high asking price. It's no secret that the Red Sox could use some relief help, and how aggressively they pursue that help at this year's deadline will determine how serious they are about contending in 2025.
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