MLB Insider Links Red Sox To Cardinals Pitcher At Trade Deadline

As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the Red Sox look to address some of their needs.

While some people have said Boston’s top priority should be upgrading the first baseman position, ESPN’s MLB insider Jeff Passan believes the Red Sox need to address their relief pitching problems.

“Red Sox relievers walk too many hitters and don’t strike out enough. Take away Aroldis Chapman– the best reliever in the AL this season — and the Red Sox have a middle-of-the-pack bullpen,” Passan wrote.

To address the bullpen, Passon wrote that the Boston front office should look at St. Louis Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley.

The 30-year-old has spent his entire professional career in the Cardinals organization, with seven seasons under his belt. He is a two-time All-Star who has a career 2.69 ERA through 294.2 innings pitched.

“Getting Helsley from St. Louis would give Boston arguably the top setup-closer combination in baseball and go a long way toward supporting a rotation that has been among the game’s best over the past month,” Passan wrote.

When the Red Sox return to a fully healthy team, and if they add Helsley to the roster, Passan thinks that they can be strong contenders going forward.

“Boston has the makings of a very good team in the second half,” Passan wrote. “…Everyone is contributing. A reliever or two and another starter would make the Red Sox the sort of contender they envisioned being at the beginning of the season.”

The MLB trade deadline is July 31 at 6:00 p.m. ET, giving Boston three weeks to upgrade its roster.