The Purple Sox are six video games out within the AL East and sit only one sport again of the ultimate Wild Card spot within the American League. They’ve been linked to plenty of commerce targets over the previous week — James Paxton, Jameson Taillon and Luis Rengifo amongst them. That ought to be indicative of the staff’s deadline strategy, however chief baseball officer Craig Breslow eliminated any doubt and publicly acknowledged that he’s “on the lookout for methods to enhance the membership” within the closing days earlier than subsequent Tuesday’s commerce deadline (hyperlink through Alex Speier of the Boston Globe).
Particularly, Breslow cited a need so as to add to an injury-depleted pitching workers and to discover a right-handed bat to enhance a lineup that leans left-handed. Requested about the potential for each transferring some present contributors who’re free brokers at season’s finish (e.g. Tyler O’Neill, Kenley Jansen) and additionally wanting so as to add elsewhere on the roster, Breslow mentioned it’d be “irresponsible” if he didn’t at the least hearken to what groups needed to provide, however he additionally closely downplayed the potential for buying and selling a present contributor: “It’s exhausting to consider how transferring these guys would make us higher,” mentioned Breslow.
Boston’s rotation was dealt a major blow earlier than the season even started, when offseason signee Lucas Giolito suffered a UCL tear throughout spring coaching and underwent an inside brace process that’ll hold him out of motion till 2025. Righty Garrett Whitlock underwent the identical process simply two months later. Depth starter Chris Murphy had Tommy John surgical procedure in April.
In the mean time, the Sox are going with a rotation of Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello and Cooper Criswell. Houck has already set a brand new career-high in innings pitched with greater than two months of the season to play out. Crawford is 10 innings shy of final 12 months’s 129 1/3 frames. Criswell has been a pleasant under-the-radar discover for the Sox, pitching to a 4.02 ERA in 65 innings. Nonetheless, he’s cooled after a sizzling begin. Even with the seven scoreless frames he tossed in his most up-to-date begin, Criswell has a 5.26 earned run common relationship again to mid-Might. Like Houck and Crawford, he’d sail previous his career-high innings depend if he remained within the rotation for the remainder of the season.
Boston’s depth past that quintet isn’t nice. Righty Josh Winckowski has pitched properly in 5 begins, however he’s been invaluable as a protracted reliever as properly (highlighted by a superb six-inning reduction look during which he held the Jays to 2 runs and saved the remainder of the ’pen on a day when Bello was knocked out within the third inning). Veteran Chase Anderson is one other lengthy choice within the bullpen however has a tough monitor document in latest seasons. He’s pitched to a 4.59 ERA in 2024 however has usually labored in low-leverage and mop-up conditions. Veteran Brad Keller is on the 40-man roster in Triple-A, however the Sox used him in reduction earlier this season and he was hit exhausting each in Boston and with the ChiSox. Non-40-man choices embrace Naoyuki Uwasawa, prospect Richard Fitts and journeyman Jason Alexander.
Suffice it to say, the Sox may use each some bulk innings and a few extra depth. Breslow indicated that “in an ideal world,” he’d have the ability to purchase somebody managed/signed past the present season, although such choices aren’t precisely plentiful. Boston’s reported curiosity in Paxton indicators that they’re at the least open to a short-term rental, whereas their talks with the Cubs about Taillon display a willingness to tackle some wage of observe. Taillon is signed by means of 2026 and incomes $18MM per season alongside the way in which.
With regard to a right-handed bat, the necessity is arguably much less acute however notable nonetheless. Purple Sox hitters have posted a league-average .249/.325/.403 slash in opposition to left-handed pitching this season. That’s hardly a evident flaw, however there’s room for enchancment. That’s very true in relation to their contact talents in opposition to lefties — or somewhat, their lack thereof. Sox hitters have fanned at an MLB-worst 28.8% clip in opposition to lefties, and no different staff is especially shut. The Mariners have the second-worst mark at 26.2%, and the Rockies (25.2%) are the one different staff north of 25%.
Between Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu, the Sox have a handful of key left-handed bats within the lineup. Devers and Duran have been fixtures no matter opponent. Abreu is often complemented by righty-swinging veteran Rob Refsnyder. Proper-handed regulars within the lineup embrace catcher Connor Wong (who’s within the midst of a breakout 12 months on the plate), versatile Ceddanne Rafaela and the aforementioned O’Neill.
Speculatively talking, first or second base could be a wise space to focus on a right-handed bat. Dominic Smith has held his personal with a .232/.326/.371 slash within the absence of slugger Triston Casas (one other lefty), however Casas isn’t particularly near returning. Boston’s Chris Sale-for-Vaughn Grissom swap has been disastrous so far, with Sale returning to kind in Atlanta whereas Grissom has hit .148/.207/.160 in 87 plate appearances throughout an injury-ruined first 12 months in Boston. Sox second basemen have batted an MLB-worst .197/.253/.299 on the season.
Mark Canha, Gio Urshela, Amed Rosario and outdated pal Justin Turner are among the many rental choices who may assist in a kind of roles. Extra controllable names embrace Brent Rooker, Isaac Paredes and the aforementioned Rengifo (a switch-hitter).
The Purple Sox drew loads of criticism for a comparatively quiet offseason that adopted chairman Tom Werner’s regrettable “full throttle” feedback earlier within the winter, however one notable results of that could be a luxury-tax ledger that’s not all that near the brink. RosterResource initiatives about $218MM price of luxurious obligations for the Sox, which means they’re a hefty $19MM shy of the primary tier of luxurious penalization. The Sox reset their tax bracket after they dipped underneath the brink in 2023, however even when possession is reluctant to exceed it once more, their present quantity ought to Breslow and his workers flexibility when exploring trades within the subsequent few days.
