Red Sox Rumors: This Trade Deadline Addition Is ‘Expectation’

The Boston Red Sox will almost certainly make at least one deal prior to the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline on July 31.

Why?

It’s just what contenders do, because even teams with near-perfectly constructed rosters have minor holes that need to be filled.

MassLive’s Chris Cotillo made that point in his well-sourced column on Wednesday, which stated that there’s an expectation that the organization will deal for at least one bullpen piece over the coming weeks.

“(Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig) Breslow would be wise to add a veteran arm or two, and the expectation is that he will [like all contenders do],” Cotillo wrote. “Maybe not an elite option but a level higher than the Lucas Sims/Luis García ‘warm body’ tier from 2024. It’s always an expensive market.”

Boston certainly could use some help in the ‘pen, but their current crop is good enough for the club to be more selective when it comes to the arms that will be made available over the next couple of weeks.

Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Jordan Hicks, Justin Wilson and Greg Weissert is a great place to start, but that unit could use a true set-up man or someone that can eat multiple innings. Walker Buehler and Richard Fitts would be internal options once the postseason rolls around, but you need plenty of bodies to get you there.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley is among the least-likely options, but would represent a big swing should he be acquired. The Washington Nationals’ Kyle Finnegan, Baltimore Orioles’ Seranthony Domínguez and Cincinnati Reds’ Emilio Pagán are true rentals that should be available, however, so keep your eyes peeled for those names.

The Red Sox will make a move, it’s just a matter of who and when.