Red Sox Insider Suggests Fans Pump Brakes On This Trade Deadline Desire

The Boston Red Sox have been heavily linked to some high-profile pitchers in recent weeks, but that doesn’t mean anything is going to come to fruition.

Joe Ryan, Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi probably shouldn’t be fitted for new digs just yet.

MassLive’s Chris Cotillo put together some sourced thoughts and opinions regarding the trade deadline on Wednesday, and did his best to temper expectations regarding a potential blockbuster pitching addition.

“(Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig) Breslow, similarly to how he approached the winter, has preached the importance of adding ‘an impact starter’ before July 31,” Cotillo wrote. “Anyone who has an expectation that a No. 2 option is a guarantee should reset their expectations, however.”

The Red Sox think the trio of Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito is playoff-caliber, according to Cotillo, who pointed in the direction of true rental options as much more likely targets than a top-of-the-rotation starter with control. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, Kansas City Royals’ Seth Lugo, Baltimore Orioles’ Charlie Morton and Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew Heaney were all floated, and while they aren’t game-changers, very well could help the organization strike a balance between buying smart and spending just because they have the means.

Ryan’s name has been the most popular targeted by fans, but acquiring him would likely cost a package centered around Jarren Duran and including multiple high-level prospects, which could prove too pricy.

The Red Sox ultimately need to find out just how bold they’re willing to get, and that conversation starts and ends with the pitching market over the next couple of weeks.