Craig Breslow Reveals Red Sox’s Top Priority At Trade Deadline
The July 31 Trade Deadline is still three weeks away, but the Boston Red Sox are already thinking about what they need and how they can improve their roster.
On Thursday morning, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow joined “The Greg Hill Show” on WEEI to discuss the Red Sox’s top focus at the deadline.
“You can never have too much (starting pitching), so I think that’s probably what we would prioritize,” Breslow said. “We have some depth, but I think if there’s the opportunity to provide some impact starting pitching, add that to the group, that’s probably where we’d focus.”
Breslow’s comments come on the heels of recent trade rumors linking Boston to Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan, who was just named to his first All-Star team. The 29-year-old righty is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA this season, plus he’s under team control through 2027.
Breslow acknowledged that the Red Sox’s starting pitching has been better lately, lessening the need for a major upgrade. Garrett Crochet has been excellent all season, while Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello have been tremendous recently, giving Boston a strong trio at the top of the rotation.
Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts have also been solid, providing length and depth. Walker Buehler and Tanner Houck have struggled this year, however, leaving room for improvement to a group that ranks 18th in ERA (4.12).
Beyond Ryan, the Red Sox could also look to acquire someone like Sandy Alcántara, Mitch Keller or Tyler Anderson. They still have a logjam of position players even after trading Rafael Devers last month, so moving on from one or parting ways with some prospects could make sense.
Boston is currently tied for the third American League Wild Card spot, and Breslow has said he plans to buy at the deadline. If he does, strengthening the rotation is a good place to start.