Four Relief Pitchers Red Sox Could Target At Deadline
The Boston Red Sox entered the All-Star break riding a 10-game winning streak and sit firmly in the postseason picture. That means Craig Breslow will be exploring all kinds of reinforcements at this month’s MLB trade deadline.
Breslow has acknowledged a need to bolster the rotation, but that cannot come at the expense of ignoring the bullpen. While Aroldis Chapman has handled ninth-inning duties at an All-Star level, the bridge to him remains less stable.
Last summer, Breslow made short-term moves in an effort to patch the late innings, trading for Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia. Both entered with strong track records but neither delivered after arriving in Boston.
Ideally, the Red Sox will look for relievers who offer more than just regular-season track records. A dependable eighth-inning arm with postseason experience or the type of stuff that can thrive under big game pressure would be best suited to what could become a heated AL East division race.
One name that stands out is San Francisco Giants right-hander Tyler Rogers (4-2, 1.55 ERA). He continues to rank among baseball’s most reliable relief pitchers. His unorthodox delivery, heavy workload and pinpoint control could make him a perfect fit in Boston’s bullpen.
If the Red Sox aim even higher, Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar (2.53 ERA, 13 saves) fits the mold of a high-leverage weapon with multiple years of control. His experience as a closer (96 careers saves) makes him an ideal Chapman complement.
Minnesota might be holding the keys to more than one bullpen piece. Jhoan Duran, who owns a 1.66 ERA with 15 saves, may carry too steep a price tag. The 27-year-old pairs elite velocity with team control through 2027. His teammate, Griffin Jax, could be a more realistic target, and would bring a 3.92 ERA and 14.4 strikeouts per nine.
Boston’s bullpen has been sound for stretches of the season, but the margin for error tightens in September and October.
If Breslow wants to protect leads deep into the fall, the trade deadline will be his best shot to make the Red Sox pen worthy of a pennant run.