Could Nationals’ Starter Be Red Sox Trade Target?

The trade deadline is just weeks away, and the market is starting to materialize. While expanded playoffs allow more teams to stay the course, some teams are resigned to selling by the end of July.

Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow recently spoke about his approach at the deadline and identified starting pitching as an area to upgrade.

The Washington Nationals are 37-50 and 14 games out of the National League East. They’re likely to be sellers at the deadline, and are starting right-handed pitcher Mike Soroka on Friday against the Red Sox.

Soroka currently holds a 4.70 ERA across 59 1/3 innings. He’s struck out 26.3% of hitters and walked 6.2%. If the Red Sox are looking to upgrade at starting pitcher, Soroka may be an option.

While the 4.70 ERA doesn’t jump off the page, the underlying stats do. Soroka has held right-handed hitters to a .170 average. He’s walked just two of the 102 righties he’s faced. His fastball has been excellent against the right side. He’s recorded an 18.5% swinging strike rate and a .219 average against the pitch. His curveball has been just as good, posting a 35.1% putaway rate.

Lefities have given Soroka problems at times. His fastball hasn’t been as effective, though he hasn’t located the ball at the top of the zone as consistently against lefties. He uses a changeup about 10 percent of the time as well, but it hasn’t been very effective.

The Red Sox have toyed with adding a cutter before for pitchers who struggled with the oppsite hand. Brayan Bello added one and has been catapulted to new heights. Tanner Houck hasn’t mastered it, but showed one in the past. Soroka needs a pitch to earn strikes against left-handed hitters and has nothing between his fastball and curve, making him an excellent cutter candidate.

The Nationals are likely to sell, and Soroka is likely one of the first names ont the block. Although it will be a competitive market, he only has half a season remaining on his contact, which should lower the return. Soroka is earned $9 million this season.

The Red Sox and Nationals start at 11 a.m. on Friday, in what could be an audition for Soroka.