Red Sox Rival Reportedly Willing To Trade Top Prospects In Deadline Deal

The Boston Red Sox completed the unofficial first half of the season on an absolute heater after riding a 10-game winning streak into the All-Star break while making up ground in the wide-open American League East standings.

The Red Sox will return from the All-Star break on Friday, sitting only three games back of the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays. With a record of 55-41, Toronto took hold of the top spot in the AL East after finishing the first half 7-3 and overtaking the scuffling New York Yankees for the division lead.

Toronto’s recent play has unsurprisingly opened the door for a trade deadline acquisition.

Following a recent report from USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale that the Blue Jays plan to be “aggressive” searching for upgrades over the next few weeks, former MLB general manager and current writer Jim Bowden revealed on the “Foul Territory” podcast how willing the Blue Jays’ front office is to trade some of their top prospects to make the postseason this year.

“The gloves are off,” said Bowden. ‘They’re really open and they’re smelling that they can make the playoffs. They’re smelling that they can win.”

While winning games and making the postseason is the primary goal for the Blue Jays, Bowden believes the team’s intentions to be aggressive at the trade deadline are also motivated by job security, with members of the Blue Jays’ front office currently working while on contracts that expire at the end of the season.

“Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins, their contracts are up,” said Shapiro. “I mean, if they could sit there and make the postseason, they’re going to get long-term contracts. They’re going to do whatever it takes. I’m just telling you, at the end of the day, they’re willing to trade their top prospects and try to win right now.”

The Red Sox will try to make up ground on the Blue Jays when they begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.