Red Sox reportedly ‘noncommittal’ on what to do at trade deadline
Red Sox trade deadline rumors are ramping up. Or are they?
Boston was a major discussion point during “Sunday Night Baseball” on ESPN because, well, the Red Sox were taking on the Yankees in the rubber match of a big three-game set at Yankee Stadium. During the course of the broadcast, ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney shared some nuggets about what he’s hearing on the Red Sox as the July 30 trade deadline approaches.
The Sox are now 49-40, with a 1.5-game lead over the Royals for the third American League Wild Card spot. Since dipping below .500 after a June 11 loss, they’re 16-6 in their last 22 games. So, they should be looking to get some help at the deadline, right?
Maybe. Maybe not.
![Red Sox trade deadline rumors: Craig Breslow is reportedly 'noncommittal' about what to do.](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2024/07/Craig-Breslow_1720446252_.jpg?resize=1024,774)
What are the Red Sox going to do at the trade deadline? Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow is reportedly ‘noncommittal’ about his plans. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
“Right now, they’re noncommittal about whether they’re going to be buyers or sellers,” Olney
Here’s @Buster_ESPN’s full report on the Red Sox being undecided about what they’re going to do at the trade deadline.pic.twitter.com/l6vwsuJ4Io
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) July 7, 2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said during the game Sunday night. “And it does feel like an important trade deadline because you have a fanbase that has been unhappy with the Red Sox ownership. Will that come into account as the Red Sox make a decision whether to buy or sell? We’ll just have to see.”Olney noted the Red Sox’ odds to make the playoffs at Fangraphs, which has now jumped to 48.7% after they beat the Yankees Sunday night to take two out of three in the series. But it doesn’t seem likely that a single win would sway Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow toward buying rather than selling.
The frustrating part, here, is that selling is even an option at this point. As Olney also noted during the game broadcast, last year’s World Series teams, the Rangers and Diamondbacks, both emerged from the Wild Card spots. So, the Red Sox would have a legitimate shot at surging to the Fall Classic even just sneaking into the playoffs. Could they at least stand pat?
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That’s not a team that should sell. However, they may yet do that, if Breslow’s calculations point him in that direction. Closer Kenley Jansen could be a candidate to be traded to a contending team in need of relief help. Which, ironically, the Sox could become by getting rid of Jansen in the first place.
Olney mentioned starting pitching and right-handed hitting as the type of help the Red Sox could look to acquire, if they end up buying. But based on his insight, the way the team has operated in recent years, and of course, John Henry’s aloofness, it’s hard to feel confident that they will.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.