MLB Insider Addresses Red Sox’s Deadline Starting Pitching Needs

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is just over one week away, and the Boston Red Sox remain one of the teams that potentially could make a significant deal before the dust settles on July 31.

Following a 10-game winning streak that capped off a resurgent month in the American League East standings, the Red Sox have seemingly shed the seller’s label and look ready to make an impact move in an attempt to make it back to the postseason for the first time since the 2021 season.

Like other contenders around the league, the Red Sox have a few roster needs to address if they hope to keep pace in the AL Wild Card standings. With the team rumored to be very active in the markets for first base and starting pitching help, The Athletic writer Ken Rosenthal said he believes the Red Sox will be very aggressive in their search for starting pitching when answering fan questions during while hosting the Fair Territory podcast on Monday.

“Well, the Red Sox certainly need another starting pitcher,” said Rosenthal. “And ideally it would be a number two to slot behind Crochet and ahead of Brayan Bello. They’ve got Giolito as well, and Walker Bueller.”

Asked if the Red Sox should trade for a pair of rumored-to-be-available Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitchers, Rosenthal expects the Diamondbacks to decide between dealing coveted right-handers Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly.

“Can they get one of those two? Well, it’s going to be awfully competitive for those two guys,” said Rosenthal. “Now, I don’t expect the Diamondbacks to trade both. They have to get through the season. They don’t want to concede totally. They will trade perhaps one of them, not both, and I would expect a Gallen would be the more attractive guy.”

With Gallen and Kelly due to be free agents at the end of the season, Rosenthal believes that, despite being 36, Kelly still has a lot to offer on the mound and considers him one of the most underrated pitchers in MLB.

“Kelly is one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball, said Rosenthal. “He is remarkably underrated. He’s also 36 or 37 years old. Teams see that. They see the low velo. They’re not as intrigued as they should be, because he’s really good. But I don’t see him attracting the same kind of attention as Gallen, another potential free agent who, of course, has been a Cy Young finalist in the past.”

The Diamondbacks have a record of 50-50 on the season and sit eight games behind the NL West division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona is expected to be a major seller at the trade deadline next week.