Following Tuesday’s crucial win over the Marlins, the Red Sox find themselves just 0.5 games out of the A.L. wild-card race as they approach the July 30 MLB trading deadline. They trail Kansas City and are 2.0 games behind the Twins for the second wild card spot, and 7.0 games behind the Yankees for the first wild card.
While the Red Sox are 8.0 games behind the Orioles for the top spot in the A.L. East—a challenging but not impossible deficit—FanGraphs currently gives them a 35.0% chance of making the playoffs and a 1.4% chance of winning the World Series. These odds will influence their strategy at the upcoming trade deadline.
The team, which has come together well this season, might look to add a rental player to address short-term needs without sacrificing their young talent and prospects. Chris Cotillo of MassLive suggested on the “Fenway Rundown” podcast that the Red Sox could trade for Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Flaherty, on a $14 million one-year deal, is set to become a free agent next year. Bleacher Report predicts he could command a four-year, $72 million contract in free agency, a price the Red Sox are unlikely to pay. However, acquiring him for the remainder of this season could bolster their playoff run. Cotillo suggested that the Red Sox could trade less promising prospects like Nick Yorke for Flaherty, avoiding the need to give up their top prospects.
The Red Sox’s top prospects—infielder Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony, and catcher Kyle Teel—are considered untouchable. Other notable players include first baseman Tristan Casas and outfielder/infielder Ceddanne Rafaela. Second baseman Kristian Campbell, batting .398 at Double-A Portland, may also join this core group.
Yorke, 22, currently hitting .348 at Triple-A Worcester, might be an acceptable trade piece to secure Flaherty. Despite his injury history, Flaherty is 5-5 this season with a 3.24 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts in 89 innings. Although he allowed five runs in his last start and is currently sidelined with a back injury, a healthy return could make him a valuable addition.
Veteran Sox reporter Sean McAdam, Cotillo’s podcast partner, noted that the Red Sox are unlikely to enter the bidding war for top-tier starting pitchers like the White Sox’s Garrett Crochet. The team will instead focus on more attainable targets to strengthen their playoff chances.
