The trade deadline is always an interesting time. This year, Boston made one of the biggest deals they have ever made, acquiring a star player for the stretch run and setting up the catcher position for the next season, at the very least. Hopefully Boston will do what needs to be done to lock up Adley Rutschman for the next several years. He came at a big price as the Red Sox sent last year's top draft pick Kyson Witherspoon, emerging star prospect Anthony Eyanson, Enddy Azocar, Harold Rivas and former catcher Carlos Narvaez to Baltimore for Rutschman and Jake Rogers, who was just a placeholder while Rutschman recovered from injury. It was a huge price. Eyanson is the big get for Baltimore, but each of the prospects is highly-touted to some degree. Rutschman though is a former first overall pick, a three-time All Star (including this season) and a Silver Slugger winner. He has dealt with injuries the last couple seasons, but if he can return to form, this will be well worth the price because he has the talent to be elite on both sides of the ball. He was still recovering from injury during his stint with the Red Sox, but he hit .222/.278/.410 with seven doubles, five homers and 13 RBIs in 32 games with his new team and solidified the catching position defensively. He is easily one of the biggest name players the Red Sox have ever acquired at the trading deadline (though not the biggest as will be shown), which I feel like expanding this post into a look back over the years I have been watching the team.
As far as I can tell, 1986 is when the trading deadline really became a major thing. I tried looking at the few seasons before that, but couldn't find any major Red Sox deals. Apparently 1986 was the first season the deadline was set for July 31, which seems like a pretty major development for it. There were still waiver deals done after that date, but I want to focus on the July 31 date deadline moves. I am going to go through each year and highlight the major deal each season (with some discussion of other deals). I might mention a noteworthy waiver deadline deal for each season.
1986 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends CF Steve Lyons to the Chicago White Sox for RHP Tom Seaver.
GRADE: B-
In a deal about a month before the deadline, the Red Sox traded 1981 first round pick Lyons to the White Sox for future Hall of Famer Seaver. Seaver was in the final year of his illustrious career and was solid down the stretch for the Red Sox, going 5-7 with a 3.80 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 27 walks in 104.1 innings. Unfortunately, he was hurt prior to the end of the season and did not appear in the postseason at all. Lyons became a fan favorite in Chicago, but was best utilized as a utility player and never became a regular. He would eventually return to the Red Sox a couple of times.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox send SS Rey Quinones, RHP Mike Brown, RP Mike Trujillo and OF John Christensen to Mariners for CF Dave Henderson and SS Spike Owen.
This deal occurred after the deadline and had more of an impact on the postseason as Henderson hit some clutch home runs. Unfortunately, his regular season numbers were not as impressive. Owen was the primary shortstop for a couple more years. None of the players sent to Seattle amounted to much.
1987 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends CF Dave Henderson to the Giants for OF Randy Kutcher
GRADE: D
Technically, this deal did not occur until September 1, but there did not seem to be any July 31 deals done by the Red Sox in this season. Henderson disappointed in the regular season for the Red Sox and didn't do much for the Giants, but he became a star upon arriving in Oakland in 1988. Kutcher was a Player to be Named Later and was a backup outfielder and pinch runner during his career with the Red Sox. He played a total of 159 games over three seasons with the Red Sox and never hit better than .230. Technically, Kutcher did more for Boston than Henderson did for the Giants, but Henderson had many more very good years later.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade DH Don Baylor to the Twins for IF Enrique Rios.
Baylor didn't do a lot during the regular season for Minnesota, but had a massive performance in the postseason for the eventual World Champs. Rios never made the Majors.
1988 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends CF Brady Anderson and RHP Curt Schilling to the Orioles for RHP Mike Boddicker.
GRADE: A
Here is an example of a great deadline deal for both clubs. The Red Sox got a bona fide number two starting pitcher that helped solidify their rotation for the rest of the season and the next two. Boddicker went 7-3 with a 2.63 ERA in 1988, 15-11 with a 4.00 ERA in 1989 and 17-8 with a 3.36 ERA in 1990. He won a Gold Glove in 1990. He was roughed up in the 1988 ALCS, but much better in the 1990 ALCS. The Orioles got a center fielder who became a solid regular and was an All Star three times and a good pitching prospect who became a Hall of Fame talent later in his career. A lot of people list this as a bad trade since the Red Sox gave up two players who became stars, but this is a win-win trade for both clubs.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
1989 (NO DEALS)
1990 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends RP Greg Hansell, OF Ed Perozo and C Paul Williams to the Mets for 1B/DH Mike Marshall.
GRADE: B
Marshall was a prototypical professional hitter and hit very well upon coming to the Red Sox. He appeared in 30 games in 1990 and hit .286/.316/.464 with six doubles, four homers and 12 RBIs. He also picked up a hit in the ALCS. This was not a needle-moving deal, but it was a solid pickup for the Red Sox. Of the players moved, only Hansell made it to the Majors, playing for four teams in five years from 1995 through 1999, none of which were the Mets. His contribution to the Mets was that he was the secondary piece to go with Bob Ojeda in a trade to the Dodgers for Hubie Brooks.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade 3B Jeff Bagwell to the Astros for RP Larry Andersen.
This is the deal most people thought would come up. I am discussing it here because it was not actually a deadline deal, it was a waiver deal. Bagwell of course became a Hall of Famer, which overshadows the fact that Andersen was actually great in his short stint with Boston, pitching to a 1.23 ERA in 22 innings.
1991 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends OF Mickey Pina to the Braves for RP Dan Petry.
GRADE: C
Again, this was a waiver deal, but was the only midseason trade the Red Sox made in 1991. Petry pitched in 13 games after being acquired from the Braves, with no record and one saves along with 12 walks and 12 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched. He had a 4.43 ERA. He just did not do much. Pina never appeared in the Majors.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
1992 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends RP Jeff Reardon to the Braves for RHP Nate Minchey and OF Sean Ross.
GRADE: C
Another waiver deadline deal since there was no July 31 deals. The Red Sox traded newly minted career saves leader Reardon to the Braves for a couple prospects. Ross never appeared in the Majors, but Minchey had a handful of games over three seasons with the Red Sox. He was 3-7 with a 6.53 ERA in 13 games with Boston. In 62 innings, he struck out 37 and walked 27. At one point, he was part of a trade that brought Luis Alicea to Boston, then returned to the Red Sox without pitching for the Cardinals. Reardon was very good down the stretch for the Braves, saving three games and pitching to a 1.15 ERA in 14 games and then pitching in the postseason. He did last long as the career saves leader though.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox send LHP Tom Bolton to the Reds for CF Billy Hatcher.
This one came about three weeks before the deadline, so it does not quite count as a deadline trade. Hatcher was a solid regular for his time in Boston, Bolton did not do much.
1993 (NO DEALS)
1994 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends RP Jeff Russell to the Indians for LHP Chris Nabholz and RP Steve Farr.
GRADE: C
Not much to say with this one. It occurred a few weeks before the trading deadline, the Red Sox were out of it already and shipped struggling closer Russell (who had a good year in 1993) to Cleveland in exchange for a couple of spare parts. Nabholz had been a top prospect for the Expos, but never really reached his potential. In eight starts with Boston, he went 3-4 with a 6.64 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 29 walks in 42 innings. He pitched one more year in relief with the Cubs. Farr was not much better, going 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA in eleven games, eight strikeouts and three walks in 13 innings. Farr was done as a Major Leaguer after the season. Russell was not much better in Cleveland but rebounded back with the Rangers in 1995.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
1995 (BUYERS)
TRADE: Boston sends RHP Frankie Rodriguez and OF J.J. Johnson to the Twins for RP Rick Aguilera.
GRADE: B+
The Red Sox got off to a hot start in 1995, their only weakness was a leaky bullpen. Ken Ryan was not ready to be a full-time closer and they no longer had Jeff Russell. The Twins were going nowhere and sent long-time closer Aguilera to the Red Sox for top pitching prospect Rodriguez and a player to be named later. Aguilera was very good, pitching in 30 games with a 2-2 record and a 2.67 ERA. He saved 20 games, struck out 23 and walked seven in 30.1 innings pitched, but he did blow a save in the ALDS. Rodriguez never really became more than a back of the rotation starter and Johnson never made the Majors.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade RF Mark Whiten to the Phillies for 3B Dave Hollins. Red Sox trade OF Wes Chamberlain to the Royals for OF Chris James. Red Sox trade RHP Mike Jacobs and OF Marc Lewis for RP Mike Stanton and RHP Matt Murray.
Stanton was another reliable bullpen arm and had a 3.00 ERA in 22 appearances. The players sent to Atlanta did not make the Majors. The Whiten/Hollins trade was two teams swapping disappointing players. Whiten returned to form while Hollins got hurt. Chamberlain and James was a swap of backup outfielders.
1996 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends LHP Jamie Moyer to the Mariners for OF Darren Bragg.
GRADE: D+
After a brutal start to the season, the Red Sox found themselves in a position where they were able to sell off parts for young players. The biggest deal they made was to send Moyer, who was a valuable commodity with a 7-1 record and a 4.50 ERA, 50 strikeouts and 27 walks, to the Mariners for controllable outfielder Bragg. Unfortunately, Moyer became one of the mainstays for the Mariners rotation for years to come, winning 20 games in 2001 and going until 2012. Bragg meanwhile derived most of his value from his defense and was mostly a below-average bat. In parts of three seasons with the Red Sox, he hit .264/.346/.395 with 20 home runs, 136 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox sent RF Kevin Mitchell to the Reds for 2B Roberto Mejia and RP Brad Tweedlie. Red Sox sent IF Jeff Manto to the Mariners for IF Arquimedez Pozo. Red Sox sent RP Mike Stanton and CF Dwayne Hosey to the Rangers for RP Mark Brandenburg and RP Kerry Lacy.
The other deals Boston made had varying levels of success. They received nothing of value in the Mitchell trade. Pozo had a couple big games right away when he was acquired, but faded into obscurity after that. Brandenburg and Lacy contributed a fair amount as relievers, particularly Brandenburg, who appeared in 60 games over the next two seasons and had a 4.80 ERA, 63 strikeouts and 24 walks in 69.1 innings. His 1996 season was much better than his 1997 and they evened out to an average pitcher between the two seasons. Lacy went through a brief period when it looked like he could be groomed to close some games and he picked up three saves.
1997 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RP Heathcliff Slocumb to the Mariners for C Jason Varitek and RHP Derek Lowe.
GRADE: A++++++++++++++
What can I really say about this one? This is one of the biggest heists in trade deadline history. Slocumb had been an All Star closer previously and had a big year in 1996 with the Red Sox, but he had a reputation of being a bit of a roller coaster. He blew a number of saves in 1997 and had a 5.79 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 34 walks in 46.2 innings. The Mariners were desperate for a closer and sent two players that helped form the core of a Red Sox team that would eventually win the World Series in 2004. Lowe was a two-time All Star, once as a 40-save closer and once as a 20-win starter, who was a reliable member of the pitching staff for the next eight seasons. Varitek was a three-time All Star, a Gold Glove winner and a Silver Slugger winner who became the captain of the team and stayed in Boston for his entire 15-year career. Slocumb meanwhile went 0-4 with a 4.13 ERA and ten saves then ballooned to a 5.32 ERA in 1998, saving just three games.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox sent DH Mike Stanley to the Yankees for RP Jim Mecir and RHP Tony Armas, Jr. in a waiver deal.
Another trade that worked out really well sent platoon DH Stanley back to the Yankees for a couple of pitchers who never pitched for the Red Sox. So then, why did that work out well? Because Armas was the second piece sent to the Expos to acquire some guy named Pedro Martinez in the offseason.
1998 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RHP Pete Munro and RHP Jay Yennaco to the Blue Jays for DH Mike Stanley.
GRADE: B+
And the next year, Boston got Stanley right back for a package that was less than they received for him the previous year. Yennaco never made it to the Majors while Munro had an ugly 6.00 ERA in two seasons with Toronto then moved on to the Astros. Stanley hit .288/.388/.500 with seven homers, 12 doubles and 32 RBIs in 47 games back with the Red Sox and stayed with the team as the primary DH into the 2000 season.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox sent OF John Barnes, LHP Joe Thomas and RHP Matt Kinney to the Twins for RP Greg Swindell and OF Orlando Merced.
None of the minor leaguers sent to the Twins did a lot with Kinney having the best career among them, lasting five years. Merced was released almost immediately, but Swindell was a nice bullpen piece for the rest of the season, going 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 29 games.
1999 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent LHP Robert Ramsay to the Mariners for DH Butch Huskey.
GRADE: C-
Boston needed a bit more thump in their lineup and acquired the appropriately-named designated hitter for a minor prospect. Huskey had been hitting .290 with 15 homers for Seattle when he was acquired by the Red Sox. Unfortunately, he hit just .266/.305/.484 with seven homers, six doubles and 28 RBIs in 45 games with Boston. He did hit a double in the ALCS against the Yankees. Ramsay had a decent season as a bullpen arm for the M's in 2000, but never pitched in the Majors again.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox sent RP Mark Guthrie and 3B Cole Liniak to the Cubs for RP Rod Beck in a waiver deal. Red Sox trade LHP Mike Maroth to the Tigers for RP Bryce Florie. Red Sox trade RP Mike Matthews and C David Benham to the Cardinals for RHP Kent Mercker.
Most of these were pretty minor deals, though Beck, Florie and Mercker all had their moments in Boston. Beck had a 1.93 ERA in twelve games with the Red Sox in 1999 with three saves and was a very important arm in the bullpen through the 2001 season with Boston. Florie pitched parts of three seasons in Boston and had a 5.32 ERA, which is inflated by a brutal 2001 season. Mercker was 2-0 with a 3.51 ERA in five games and pitched three times in the postseason. On the other side, Guthrie was a decent bullpen arm and Matthews pitched for a few years with a number of teams. Maroth was a big part of the Tigers rotation for a few years, going 50-62 with a 4.81 ERA.
2000 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent 2B Jeff Frye, RHP Brian Rose, RP John Wasdin and RP Jeff Taglienti to the Rockies for RHP Rolando Arrojo, 2B Mike Lansing and RP Rich Croushore.
GRADE: C
Arrojo had been Tampa Bay's first All Star, but was struggling through a rough season in the mountains, as many pitchers do. The Rockies were trying to shed some salary, so they packaged him with the expensive Lansing and reliever Croushore for several parts. Arrojo turned things around a bit in Boston, going 5-2 with a 5.05 ERA (101 ERA+) in 13 starts with 44 strikeouts and 22 walks in 71.1 innings. He was better in 2001, pitching primarily out of the bullpen, going 5-4 with a 3.48 ERA (129 ERA+) in 41 games, saving five games and striking out 78 and walking 35 in 103 innings pitched. Lansing was terrible in 2000, hitting just .194, but had an okay season in 2001, becoming the primary shortstop due to injuries to Nomar Garciaparra, John Valentin and Chris Stynes while hitting .250/.294/.384 with eight homers and 34 RBIs. Croushore pitched in just five games for Boston. Rose was once Boston's top pitching prospect, but he never fulfilled his potential. Taglienti never made the Majors and Wasdin was always combustible in Boston, putting him in Denver was a catastrophe. Frye found it to his liking though as he hit .356/.412/.425 in 37 games.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade LHP John Curtice and RHP Chris Reitsma to the Reds for DH Dante Bichette in a waiver deal. Red Sox trade SS Cesar Saba and RHP Dennis Tankersley to the Padres for 3B Ed Sprague.
Boston needed a third-baseman badly and sent two prospects to San Diego for Sprague, who did not do much, hitting just two homers with a .216/.293/.306 line in 33 games. Saba was considered a steep price, but never made the Majors. Tankersley bounced around for awhile. The waiver deal for Bichette was better as he hit .287/.328/.473 with 19 homers and 63 RBIs in the next two seasons. Reitsma and Curtice were both first-round picks by the Red Sox in earlier seasons. Curtice never made the Majors while Reitsma had a seven-year career with the Reds, Braves and Mariners.
2001 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RHP Tomo Ohka and LHP Rich Rundles to the Expos for RP Ugueth Urbina
GRADE: B+
All Star closer and 2000 A.L. saves leader Derek Lowe was having a horrible year in 2001. If Boston was going to compete, they needed a reliable closer and got the best one on the market. Urbina had been an All Star previously himself and was also struggling through a rough season. That changed when he came to Boston and went 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA, nine saves and 32 strikeouts versus just three walks in only 20 innings. He was almost as good in 2002, saving 40 games with a 3.00 ERA, 71 strikeouts and 20 walks in 60 innings pitched. He was an All Star. Ohka was a reliable starting pitcher for a few years, though not really exciting. Rundles pitched a handful of games years later in Cleveland.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
2002 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RHP Seung Jun Song and RHP Sun-Woo Kim to the Expos for LF Cliff Floyd.
GRADE: B+
For the second year in a row, the Red Sox worked out a major deal with the Expos. Floyd was 29 and had already been traded early in the season from the Marlins to the Expos. He was in the prime of his career and hit .316/.374/.561 with seven homers, 21 doubles and 18 RBIs in 47 games with the Red Sox. The only thing that keeps this from being a better grade is that Floyd left as a free agent after the season to the Mets. Song was Boston's top pitching prospect at the time, but never made it to the Majors. Kim had a decent career primarily as a bullpen arm.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox traded RHP Brad Baker and RP Dan Giese to the Padres for RP Alan Embree and RP Andy Shibilo.
The other major trade the Red Sox made in 2002 was to acquire lefty bullpen arm Alan Embree from the Padres more than a month before the deadline. Neither of the other pitchers involved in the trade did much, but Embree was a vital piece of the bullpen for the next couple years.
2003 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston traded 2B Freddy Sanchez and RP Mike Gonzalez to the Pirates for RHP Jeff Suppan, RP Brandon Lyon and RP Anastacio Martinez.
GRADE: F
This one takes some explaining. Earlier in the season, the Red Sox traded Lyon and Martinez to the Pirates for Gonzalez and Scott Sauerbeck. It was determined though that Lyon was injured and the Pirates were not happy. So, the clubs worked out another deal that ostensibly reversed the previous deal and moved a couple more parts. So, ostensibly, the deal was Sanchez for Sauerbeck and Suppan. Unfortunately, it was a terrible deal either way for the Red Sox as neither Sauerbeck nor Suppan turned in good performances. Suppan returned to the Red Sox after being a second round pick and being lost in the expansion draft to the Diamondbacks. In his second go-around with Boston, Suppan appeared in eleven games, going 3-4 with a 5.57 ERA, 32 strikeouts and 20 walks in 63 innings. It was bad enough that he was left off the postseason roster. Sanchez turned into a good player, being an All Star three times and winning a batting title. Lyon had been a decent bullpen arm earlier in the season, but missed the entire 2004 season and then started jumping around. To add further insult to injury, Gonzalez also was an All Star with Pittsburgh.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade 3B Shea Hillenbrand to Diamondbacks for RP Byung-Hyun Kim. Red Sox trade LHP Phil Dumatrait and LHP Tyler Pelland to Reds for RP Scott Williamson.
About a month before the deadline, the Red Sox sent superfluous former All Star Hillenbrand to the Diamondbacks for closer Kim. Kim helped stabilize the pen, but struggled at times. He went 8-5 with a 3.18 ERA, 16 saves, 69 strikeouts and 18 walks in 79.1 innings. Williamson was another big bullpen move and he became the default closer in the postseason. He had a rough 6.20 ERA in 2003, but saved three games and struck out six in three innings in the ALCS. He had a 1.26 ERA in 2004, but struggled with injuries. Hillenbrand had a decent career with a number of teams and Dumatrait, a former first-round pick pitched in the Majors a few years.
2004 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sends SS Nomar Garciaparra and OF Matt Murton to the Cubs, the Cubs sent RHP Justin Jones to the Twins and SS Alex Gonzalez, SS Brendan Harris and RP Francis Beltran to the Expos, the Twins sent 1B Doug Mientikiewicz to the Red Sox, and the Expos sent SS Orlando Cabrera to the Red Sox.
GRADE: B+
The Red Sox front office showed a level of fearlessness in improving the club, moving franchise face Garciaparra in a deal to shore up the team's biggest weakness, its defense. Garciaparra was sidelined with injuries for most of the season and was clearly not happy any longer and Boston needed someone at shortstop. So, this four-team complicated deal came to pass and a bunch of shortstops played musical chairs. Garciaparra was never really the same player after leaving Boston and Murton proved to be not much more than a bench bat. Former Gold Glover Mientkiewicz was primarily acquired for his glove at first and was often used as a defensive replacement. He hit .215/.286/.318 with one homer and ten RBIs. Cabrera had also won a Gold Glove in the past and he hit .294/.320/.465 with 19 doubles, six homers, 31 RBIs and four stolen bases, then continued to hit in the postseason. Boston probably should have brought him back in 2005 instead of moving on to Edgar Renteria.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade OF Henri Stanley to the Dodgers for OF Dave Roberts.
Roberts was brought to Boston for one reason and he accomplished just that in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees with the Red Sox season on the line. That capped off the most improbable postseason comeback of all time.
2005 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston traded RP Juan Cedeno and IF Chip Ambres to the Royals for 2B Tony Graffanino.
GRADE: C+
This would have been better if it was part of a series of moves, but it was the major move the Red Sox made. Neither player given up by Boston did much. Graffanino performed well, hitting .319/.355/.457 with four homers and 20 RBIs, taking over for the departed and struggling Mark Bellhorn. Graffanino did make a crucial error in the ALDS that led to Boston losing the game against the White Sox though.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade RF Jay Payton to the Athletics for RP Chad Bradford. Red Sox trade RHP Kyle Bono and SS Kenny Perez to the Diamondbacks for OF Jose Cruz Jr. Red Sox trade IF Ramon Vazquez to the Indians for IF Alex Cora.
The second trade was pretty uneventful as neither prospect did much in the Majors and Cruz was released after just a handful of at-bats. Payton was not happy with his lack of playing time and was shipped to Oakland for submarining reliever Bradford who had a 3.86 ERA in 31 appearances for the Red Sox. The third trade was just an exchange of utility infielders, but had big implications later on.
2006 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent OF Adam Stern to the Orioles for C Javy Lopez.
GRADE: D
The Red Sox were mostly out of contention and made this deal shortly after the trading deadline as a result of Jason Varitek's injury. Stern did not do anything with the Orioles and Lopez did very little with Boston. In the last 18 games of his career, he hit .190/.215/.270 with five doubles, no home runs and four RBIs.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
2007 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent OF David Murphy, OF Engel Beltre and LHP Kason Gabbard to the Rangers for RP Eric Gagne.
GRADE: D
Well, the idea was solid. The Red Sox sought to acquire a veteran presence for the back end of the bullpen which was manned by second-year closer Jonathan Papelbon and rookie Hideki Okajima. Unfortunately the result was not as intended. The former Cy Young winner struggled in Boston, going 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 20 games and failing to notch a single save. He did strike out 22 batters while talking nine in 18.2 innings. Murphy was a decent fourth outfielder for a few years, Beltre was supposed to be the big get, but he only appeared briefly in the Majors and Gabbard returned to Boston shortly.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
2008 (BUYERS/SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent LF Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers and OF Brandon Moss and RP Craig Hansen to the Pirates, the Dodgers sent 3B Andy LaRoche and RHP Bryan Morris to the Pirates, and the Pirates sent LF Jason Bay to the Red Sox.
GRADE: A
Again the Red Sox moved a superstar at the deadline in a move that ended up making the team better. Ramirez was an amazing hitter, but often kind of a headache. He was in the midst of another big season, but some off-field incidents led the front office to tire of his act. He was shipped to LA and had a monster stint there, hitting .396/.489/.743 with 17 homer and 53 RBIs in 53 games. Moss was a serviceable bench bat and Hansen was unable to attain the success at the Major League level that made him a first round draft pick. Bay was Boston's big get. While not as good as Ramirez, Bay hit .293/.370/.527 with nine homers, 12 doubles and 37 RBIs in 49 games. He had another year of control and had one of his biggest seasons in 2009, winning the Silver Slugger and being named an All Star.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade OF Luis Sumoza to the Braves for OF Mark Kotsay. Red Sox trade OF Mickey Hall to the Indians for RHP Paul Byrd.
Kotsay was nearing the end of his career, but was very good defensively and was often used as a replacement late in games. Sumoza did not make the Majors, neither did Hall. Byrd was 4-2 with a 4.78 ERA in eight starts and was a lot of fun to watch due to his old-school windup.
2009 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RHP Justin Masterson, RP Nick Hagadone and RP Bryan Price to the Indians for C Victor Martinez.
GRADE: A+
For the second year in a row the Red Sox acquired a star position player with an extra year of control. The Red Sox wanted some catching help with the decline of Jason Varitek. Martinez was the right man for the job as he hit .336/.405/.507 with 12 doubles, eight homers and 41 RBIs in 56 games after the trade. He was great again in 2010, making the All Star team and hitting .302/.351/.493 with 20 home runs. The price was Masterson, who had some good years as a middle-rotation starter for Cleveland and later returned to the Red Sox. He was an All Star in 2013. Hagadone pitched for a few years out of the bullpen and Price had a brief cup of coffee in the Majors.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade SS Julio Lugo to the Cardinals for OF Chris Duncan. Red Sox trade IF Argenis Diaz and RP Hunter Strickland to the Pirates for 1B Adam LaRoche. Red Sox trade 1B Adam LaRoche to the Braves for 1B Casey Kotchman.
None of these deals did much for the Red Sox. Duncan never appeared in a Major League game with Boston, the Lugo trade was more about getting him out. The team probably should have held on to LaRoche instead of moving him a week after acquiring him for a worse hitter (but better fielder). LaRoche played in six games and homered once in his week-long stint in Boston. Kotchman matched that in 39 games. Diaz and Strickland each had brief Major League careers.
2010 (BUYERS?)
THE TRADE: Boston sent 1B Chris McGuiness, RP Roman Mendez and C Michael Thomas to the Rangers for C Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
GRADE: B
This was more of a trade for the future. The Red Sox were not in the race at the trading deadline, Victor Martinez was going to be a free agent and Jason Varitek was nearing the end of his career, so the team needed a catcher for the future. Saltalamacchia was once a top prospect and still had a ton of talent, so they sent a package of prospects for him. None of them played more than 50 games in the Majors and Mendez even came back to Boston at one point. Saltalamacchia played just ten games in 2010, but became the starting catcher in 2011 and stayed there through 2013. During that time, he led the team with 25 home runs in 2012 and hit 40 doubles in 2013.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
2011 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent OF Chih Hsien Chiang to the Mariners and C Tim Federowicz, RP Juan Rodriguez and RHP Stephen Fife to the Dodgers, the Dodgers sent OF Trayvon Robinson to the Mariners, and the Mariners sent RP Josh Fields and LHP Erik Bedard to the Red Sox.
GRADE: C-
This trade allowed the Red Sox to unload a lot of potential Rule 5-eligible players. Fife and Federowicz had some Major League success, with Federowicz being a long-time backup catcher for the Dodgers. Fields was lost to the Rule 5 Draft and was eventually traded straight up for a prospect named Yordan Alvarez that I am sure Boston wished they had thought of ahead of time. Bedard was unfortunately pretty mediocre for the Red Sox. In eight games, he pitched 38 innings with 38 strikeouts and 18 walks with a 1-2 record and a 4.03 ERA.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox sent RP Jason Rice to the Athletics for OF Conor Jackson.
This was just a depth move. Jackson played in just 12 games with the Red Sox and Rice never made it to the Majors.
2012 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent OF Scott Podsednik and RP Matt Albers to the Diamondbacks for RP Craig Breslow.
GRADE: B+
This particular trade was more of a buy, but the team was definitely a seller as the waiver trade discussed below will show. The Red Sox sent former White Sox World Series hero Podsednik and reliever Albers to the desert for Breslow, who was returning to the team for the second time. Podsednik returned to Boston later in the year after being waived by the D-backs. He hit .302/.322/.352 with eight stolen bases for Boston. Albers had a 2.29 ERA in 40 games for the Red Sox. Neither did much for Arizona. Breslow came to Boston sporting a 2.70 ERA and actually matched it with Boston. He threw 20 innings, struck out 19 and walked nine. He stayed in Boston through the 2015 season and was a major part of the bullpen in the World Championship season of 2013.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Boston sent 1B Adrian Gonzalez, LF Carl Crawford, RHP Josh Beckett and IF Nick Punto to the Dodgers for RHP Rubby De La Rosa, RHP Allen Webster, 1B James Loney, IF Ivan DeJesus Jr. and OF Jerry Sands.
Here is one of the most famous waiver wire deals in history. This was not intended to retool the Red Sox, it was primarily about the salary relief as the team was bogged down in a lot of money and the Dodgers took a lot of it off their books. Most of the players Boston acquired were gone fairly quickly. Loney was a free agent after the season and was the only one who played in 2012, hitting just .230/.264/.310 with two homers and eight RBIs. DeJesus and Sands were traded in the offseason in a package that brought Joel Hanrahan and Brock Holt to Boston, DeJesus eventually had a short stint in Boston. Webster and De La Rosa were considered the big gets, but neither did much in Boston and they were packaged together to acquire Wade Miley before the 2015 season.
2013 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent SS Jose Iglesias to the Tigers and SS Cleuluis Rondon, RHP Frankie Montas and RP J.B. Wendelken to the White Sox, the Tigers sent Avisail Garcia to the White Sox and rp Brayan Villareal to the Red Sox, and the White Sox sent Jake Peavy to the Red Sox.
GRADE: C+
The Red Sox acquired former Cy Young winner Peavy to shore up the starting rotation. Peavy had not been quite as good since winning the award, but was still a solid pitcher. Down the stretch, he went 4-1 with a 4.04 ERA, throwing 64.2 innings with 45 strikeouts and 19 walks. He had pretty inconsistent results in the postseason. Peavy was with Boston the next year as well, but struggled. Boston gave up three players who had varying degrees of success. Iglesias was a rookie officially in 2013 and had been hitting .330/.376/.409 and played incredible defense. His numbers declined a bit by the end of the season, but he still finished second in the Rookie of the Year vote. He went on to a long career with a lot of stops, including once back in Boston, and was an All Star in 2015. Wendelken had a seven-year career as a reliever and had some success with the A's later on. Montas looked like a potential star at one point, finishing sixth in the Cy Young vote in 2021, also with Oakland. Rondon never made the Majors.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox sent OF Brandon Jacobs to the White Sox for RP Matt Thornton.
A few weeks before the deadline, the Red Sox acquired lefty reliever Thornton to add to the bullpen. Thornton had been a highly effective reliever for the White Sox and had a 3.86 ERA at the time. He had some injury issues upon joining Boston, but pitched 15.1 innings over 20 games with a 3.52 ERA. Jacobs never made the Majors.
2014 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent LHP Jon Lester and LF Jonny Gomes to the Athletics for LF Yoenis Cespedes.
GRADE: D
This has to be one of the most aggravating trades of all time for the Red Sox. It could have been a decent one, but for whatever reason, Cespedes had no interest in playing well in Boston. And the deal cost the team Lester, who was a rare commodity, a homegrown star pitcher. Lester was an All Star in 2014 and the ace of the staff for the 2013 World Series run, a proven winner. The idea was that Boston would deal Lester and try to resign him after the season, but they couldn't do it. At the least, Cespedes was packaged to Detroit in a deal for 2016 Cy Young winner Rick Porcello. Cespedes came into Boston with 17 home runs, but his numbers dropped to .269/.296/.423 with 10 doubles, just five home runs and 33 RBIs in 51 games. There is no reason his right-handed power should not have played well in Boston.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox send LHP Felix Doubront to the Cubs for IF Marco Hernandez. Red Sox send LHP Jake Peavy to the Giants for RP Heath Hembree and RP Edwin Escobar. Red Sox send RHP John Lackey to the Cardinals for RHP Joe Kelly and 1B Allen Craig. Red Sox send RP Andrew Miller to the Orioles for LHP Eduardo Rodriguez.
The Red Sox traded an entire starting rotation's worth of pitchers in 2014 and came away with a wide range of results. I won't get into each of the players sent away, as this is more focused on what the Red Sox got. So, in order of the trades listed, I will start with Hernandez. Hernandez didn't make the Majors until 2019, but was a reasonably decent utility player at times. He ended up playing in 122 games with Boston and hit .265/.300/.342. Escobar only played in a handful of games with Boston, but Hembree was a major part of the bullpen for seven years. He had a 3.70 ERA in 251 appearances, notching two saves and struck out 270 batters with 97 walks in 257.2 innings. He had a 0.00 postseason ERA in four appearances. Kelly was also a big part of the rotation through the 2018 season, becoming the primary setup man in 2017. He had a 4.33 ERA and a 26-11 record with two saves. He was also instrumental in the 2018 postseason. Craig had injuries that limited him to just 65 games over two seasons and he managed just two home runs. Rodriguez became a rotation mainstay over time and was the team's best pitcher in 2019. He had a 64-39 record for Boston with a 4.16 ERA. The team sent out a lot of pitchers at the deadline, but came away with three future pitching mainstays and an outfielder that was traded right away for a future Cy Young winner. That's how to sell at the deadline.
2015 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RF Shane Victorino to the Angels for IF Josh Rutledge.
GRADE: C
There is not much to say about this deal. Victorino was a postseason hero in 2013 for the Red Sox, but injuries had taken their toll and Boston had a plethora of young outfield talent ready to take over. He was hitting just .245/.324/.298 in 33 games. He did not do much on the West Coast either. Rutledge played in 39 games for Boston and hit .284/.333/.338 with a homer and 10 RBIs. He played in Boston over parts of the next two seasons as well, but there was not much need for him with Brock Holt around.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
2016 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RHP Anderson Espinoza to the Padres for LHP Drew Pomeranz.
GRADE: B+
This trade was the source of a lot of aggravation among Red Sox fans when it occurred. It is an example of a misunderstanding on what the market is for certain assets. Espinoza was Boston's top pitching prospect, if not the top prospect of the team in general. The Red Sox had four great prospects at the time and it seemed crazy to unload one of them for a pitcher of Pomeranz's type. But, he was left-handed and had two more years of control. As it turned out, Espinoza never developed into a frontline pitcher and had just a handful of appearances at the Major League level. Pomeranz was not good in 2016, going 3-5 with a 4.59 ERA in 68.2 innings with 71 strikeouts and 41 walks, but he was very good in 2017 and that made the trade worth it. He went 17-6 with a 3.32 ERA with 174 strikeouts and 69 walks in 173.2 innings. He was hurt and ineffective in 2018 and left after the season, but he is still pitching today, meanwhile Espinoza made seven appearances in 2022 and nothing since.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox traded OF Luis Alejandro Basabe and RHP Jose Almonte to the Diamondbacks for RP Brad Ziegler. Red Sox traded RHP Aaron Wilkerson and SS Wendell Rijo to the Brewers for 3B Aaron Hill. Red Sox sent RP Pat Light to the Twins for RP Fernando Abad.
Of the four prospects sent out in the first two trades, only Wilkerson played in the Majors. For 14 games over three seasons. Safe to say, the Red Sox did not give up too much value here. Hill did not do much, hitting just .218/287/.290 with two homers and nine RBIs, a far cry from his heyday when he won two Silver Sluggers. Ziegler was great though. The sidearmer threw 21.2 innings in 29 games with a 1.52 ERA, 31 strikeouts and nine walks. He saved four games. Light was a former first-round pick by the Red Sox but had an 11.34 ERA between Boston and Minnesota in 2016 and never pitched in the Majors again. Abad was terrible in 2016 for Boston (6.39 ERA), but was much better in 2017 when he 3.30 ERA out of the pen.
2017 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RHP Shaun Anderson and RP Gregory Santos to the Giants for IF Eduardo Nunez.
GRADE: B
Boston needed infield help due to nagging injuries to Dustin Pedroia so Nunez was acquired as a depth option. He ended up playing in 38 games in 2017 and hitting a scorching .321/.353/.539 with 12 doubles, eight homers, 27 RBIs and six stolen bases. He was mostly a bench piece in 2018 and 2019. His biggest contribution in Boston was a pinch-hit homer in Game 1 of the 2018 World Series that put Boston ahead. Santos is still just 26 years old, he was a bullpen regular for the White Sox in 2023, but pitched in just three games in 2026. Still, he is hanging around to this day. Anderson also shows up periodically in the Majors, most recently this last season with the Angels.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox sent OF Ricardo Rincones to the Athletics for OF Rajai Davis. Red Sox sent RHP Gerson Bautista, RHP Jamie Callahan and RHP Stephen Nogosek to the Mets for RP Addison Reed.
Davis was coming off of one of the craziest World Series moments in 2016 when he homered in the final game of the World Series that momentarily tied the game for Cleveland against the Cubs. He was acquired primarily to be a pinch runner by the Red Sox and he stole three bases for them down the stretch. Rincones never made the Majors. Each of the three pitching prospects in the Reed deal made it to the Majors, but didn't have much success. Nogosek was the best of the three as he appeared in 33 games over four seasons, with a 2.45 ERA in 12 games in 2022 being the highlight. Reed was very good in Boston, pitching to a 3.33 ERA in 29 games, striking out 28 and walking nine in 27 innings, but he was not thrilled about not being a closer anymore and left as a free agent after the year.
2018 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent LHP Jalen Beeks to the Rays for RHP Nathan Eovaldi.
GRADE: A
This turned into a massively important deal for the Red Sox. Beeks kind of came out of nowhere to be a legitimate pitching prospect and appeared in two games for the Red Sox before being banished to Tampa. He had some reasonable success there but was not able to take advantage of the voodoo magic the Rays perform on pitching acquisitions. He is still playing, recently appearing with the Rangers with a good year out of their pen. Eovaldi though went 3-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 12 games, throwing 54 innings with 48 strikeouts and 12 walks. He was then a hugely important part of the postseason staff, developing a reputation as a big-game pitcher. The highlight was his relief appearance that saved the staff in Game 3 of the World Series. Eovaldi then became the team's best pitcher over the next four seasons, making the All Star team in 2021 and finishing fourth in the Cy Young vote. He also pitched several more big games.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade SS Santiago Espinal to the Blue Jays for 1B Steve Pearce. Red Sox trade RP Ty Buttrey and RP Williams Jerez to the Angels for 2B Ian Kinsler.
I will start with the Kinsler deal. Buttrey and Jerez made it to the Majors, but did not stay long. Kinsler shored up the defense at second and even won the Gold Glove in 2018, but his days as a dynamic offensive player were over (.242/.294/.311, one homer 16 RBIs in 37 games). He also made a critical error in Game 3 of the World Series that prolonged the game and was the only game the team lost as a result. Espinal had some limited success and was even an All Star for the Blue Jays. Pearce though was a massive pickup. He was a Yankee killer and homered three times in one game and hit .279/.394/.507 with seven homers and 26 RBIs. He was the World Series MVP after homering three times and driving in eight runs.
2019 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent OF Elio Prado and 3B Noelberth Romero to the Orioles for RHP Andrew Cashner.
GRADE: F
The only move the Red Sox made was to acquire Cashner as depth for the starting rotation. The only good thing to say about this move is that neither player sent to Baltimore has done anything at the Major League level, though both are still just 24 years of age, so there may still be time. Cashner had been a reliable starter in the past, particularly with the Padres and he was 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA with the Orioles when he was acquired, so it is easy to see what the logic was. But he was so bad in his starts with the Red Sox that he was removed from the rotation and banished to the bullpen. He pitched in 25 games with Boston, making six starts and had an ugly 6.20 ERA. In 53.2 innings, he struck out 42 and walked 29, an unacceptable ratio. He did get the only save of his career though.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): NA
2020 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RP Heath Hembree and RP Brandon Workman to the Phillies for RHP Nick Pivetta and RHP Connor Seabold.
GRADE: B+
During the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Red Sox were without Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez and had already traded Mookie Betts. They were a terrible team and it became clear right away that they should become sellers. A number of deals were made with the biggest being the one with the Phillies, sending struggling closer Workman and bullpen mainstay Hembree for Pivetta and Seabold. Both pitchers for the Phillies tanked that year. Seabold was supposed to be the big get, but his inability to throw hard left him vulnerable to loud contact. Over two years with Boston, he had a 10.55 ERA, but he still shows up in the Majors from time to time. The team really got something in Pivetta, who had been disastrous in Washington and Philadelphia previously. Pivetta pitched in two games in 2020, going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA, striking out 13 and walking five in ten innings. He then became one of the most dependable starters for the Red Sox over the next four seasons, going 37-41 with a 4.29 ERA, 718 strikeouts versus 229 walks in 633 innings. He has been even better in the two years with San Diego.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox trade OF Kevin Pillar to the Rockies for RP Jacob Wallace. Red Sox trade 1B Mitch Moreland to the Padres for OF Jeisson Rosario and 3B Hudson Potts. Red Sox trade RP Josh Osich to the Cubs for RP Zach Bryant.
I am not going to spend much time talking about these deals, all three players for the Red Sox were over-performing their standards, so there is a reason they were dealt. Moreland in particular had an OPS+ of 205 at the time he was traded and was the best hitter on the team. Pillar had been very reliable in the outfield. Osich came out of nowhere. Unfortunately, NONE of the players the Red Sox received in these deals ever made the Majors. Rosario looked like the best player as a dynamic five-tool talent, but never came close to realizing it.
2021 (BUYERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent RHP Aldo Ramirez to the Nationals for 1B/DH Kyle Schwarber.
GRADE: A
Man I wish Boston had held onto Schwarber. All he does is hit homers. He was injured at the time of the deal but made it into 41 games with the Red Sox and hit .291/.435/.522 with seven homers and 18 RBIs. He was an adventure at first base, but eventually got the hang of it. In the postseason, he added three more home runs, including a grand slam. Unfortunately, J.D. Martinez did not opt out of his deal and there was no way to carry two designated hitters, so Boston was not able to bring Schwarber back. Since then, he has hit 232 home runs over five seasons with the Phillies. I keep hoping he makes it back some day. Ramirez had some helium as a pitching prospect at the time and had a 2.03 ERA in the minors, but regressed completely and is pitching in a foreign league now.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox traded RP Alex Scherff to the Twins for RP Hansel Robles. Red Sox traded 1B Michael Chavis to the Pirates for RP Austin Davis.
When he's on, Robles is a great relief pitcher, but he's just not on quite often enough and can be a complete adventure when he's off. In 25 innings for the Red Sox after the trade, Robles struck out 33 batters and walked 13. He had a 3.60 ERA and four saves. He was all over the place in the postseason as well. The next year he was quite a bit worse and was eventually released. Scherff never made the Majors. Davis pitched parts of two seasons in Boston and was also quite inconsistent. He had a 5.32 ERA in 69 games, but struck out 78 in 71 innings. Chavis was a former first-round pick for the Red Sox who hit 18 home runs in his rookie season, but that was the Happy Fun Ball 2019 season, so his numbers were quite a bit inflated. He hit 24 home runs combined the rest of his career. His issue was too many strikeouts and almost no walks. He did hit 14 home runs the following year in Pittsburgh, but disappointed otherwise and has been out of baseball since 2023.
2022 (SELLERS)
THE TRADE: Boston sent C Christian Vazquez to the Astros for RF Wilyer Abreu and 2B Enmanuel Valdez.
GRADE: A
Vazquez was one of my favorite players and I was not happy about trading him, but it was one of the best sell moves the team has made. Vazquez was a stalwart behind the plate for the Red Sox since his debut and had even become a reliable hitter. With Boston over eight seasons, he hit .262/.311/.389 with 54 home runs and 266 RBIs, even stealing 28 bases. But he was eligible for free agency at the end of the season. So, he was traded to Houston. Valdez immediately looked like the better prospect and made the Majors sooner, but he hit just .235/.286/.400 with 12 homers over parts of two seasons and was eventually released. Abreu on the other hand, has become a fan favorite, if not quite a star. He is one of the best defensive players in the game and has won the last two Gold Glove Awards for right field and looks well on his way to his third. He is still a bit too inconsistent at the plate, but has hit more than 20 homers each of the last two seasons. He is probably not a middle of the order bat, but he is a good hitter and a great defender.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox traded 3B Nicholas Northcut to the Reds for OF Tommy Pham. Red Sox traded RP Jake Diekman to the White Sox for C Reese McGuire and RP Taylor Broadway. Red Sox traded LHP Jay Groome to the Padres for 1B Eric Hosmer, 2B Max Ferguson and OF Corey Rosier.
These are all pretty minor moves ultimately. Starting with the first one, Northcut may be out of professional baseball. Pham has played for ten teams in his career so far. In Boston, he hit .234/.298/.374 with six homers and 24 RBIs. Diekman was a lefty reliever that played for nine teams in his career, he was 5-1 with a 4.23 ERA in Boston but was somewhat unreliable. Broadway is no longer in the Red Sox system. McGuire was acquired to make up for the loss of Vazquez. In parts of three seasons, he hit .264/.315/.370 with seven homers and 47 RBIs. Groome was a first-round pick that never made the Majors. There was a lot of hype that he could be a #1 overall pick and he fell into Boston's lap, but he never developed. Ferguson and Rosier are both still in Boston's system, but not close to the Majors. Hosmer was a shell of his former self who vetoed his way out of a trade to the Nationals in the Juan Soto deal but was then shipped to Boston. In 14 games he hit just .244/.320/.311 with no homers and four RBIs.
2023 (BUYERS?)
THE TRADE: Red Sox traded RHP Bradley Blalock to the Brewers for 2B Luis Urias.
GRADE: C
This was pretty much the only move that Boston made and it did not feel like a move a contender would rely on. Boston was still in the race, but the lack of reinforcements did not help the clubhouse feel better about the front office's trust in them. As it was, the Red Sox fell out of the race. Urias had a hot start to this stint in Boston, hitting two grand slams in his first two games, including one against the Yankees. In 32 games, he hit .225/.361/.337. He had four homers and 13 RBIs. Blalock has bounced around a bit with a career high of 12 games pitched in Colorado in 2025.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox traded RP Marques Johnson to the Giants for RP Mauricio Llovera.
Another minor move, Johnson is not a high-ceiling prospect and Llovera appeared in 25 games with the Red Sox, but with a 5.46 ERA. He was basically just a warm body in the pen.
2024
THE TRADE: Boston traded RHP Gilberto Batista, 3B Cutter Coffey and 2B Eddinson Paulino to the Blue Jays for C Danny Jansen.
GRADE: C-
Once again, Boston just did not really seem committed to winning in 2024. Three moves were made at the deadline and they were all pretty small. Boston needed some right-handed power as they had issues hitting left-handed pitching and Jansen was pretty good at that, but he was definitely not a needle-mover. The highlight of Jansen's stint in Boston is well-publicized. A game was called due to the weather in the middle of it between the Red Sox and Blue Jays and resumed after the trade, so Jansen got to be the first player to play with both teams in the same game. Otherwise, in 30 games with the Red Sox, he hit .188/.323/.300 with three homers and six RBIs. Not quite what the team needed. All of the prospects sent to Toronto were in danger of Rule 5 eligibility and all are still in the minors, but none of them look likely to make a big impact.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): Red Sox traded RHP Yeferson Vargas, 1B Niko Kavadas, RP Ryan Zeferjahn and OF Matthew Lugo to the Angels for RP Luis Garcia. Red Sox traded RHP Ovis Portes to the Reds for RP Lucas Sims. Red Sox traded 2B Nick Yorke to the Pirates for RHP Quinn Priester.
Vargas and Portes were both far from the Majors and still are not real close. Kavadas, Zeferjahn and Lugo were all Rule 5 eligible after the season, so Boston kind of emptied that shelf. All three have played in the Majors. Kavadas hit four homers after being traded, but hasn't done much since. Zeferjahn has become a pretty reliable arm out of the bullpen. Lugo has made some appearances in the Majors, but not really impressed. Yorke was the team's first round pick in 2020, but has not put it together at the Major League level yet. Garcia had a horrible transition to Boston, pitching in 15 games with an 8.22 ERA. He did strike out 13 versus just one walk in 15.1 innings. Similarly, Sims had a 6.43 ERA in 14 innings, nine strikeouts and two walks. Priester started a game at the end of the season and was 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five innings with two strikeouts and a walk. He was traded to Milwaukee after the season and had a great season in 2025. Maybe Boston should have held on to him.
2025 (BUYERS?)
THE TRADE: Boston sent OF James Tibbs III and OF Zach Ehrhard to the Dodgers for RHP Dustin May
GRADE: F
What a horrible trade. Boston was allegedly working hard to pry Joe Ryan from the Twins up until the deadline but was unable to swing a deal. And it's a good thing because the reported package was something like Payton Tolle and Franklin Arias. So, they shifted to May, who probably was going to be available on the waiver wire had they waited a bit. In six games, May had a 1-4 record with a 5.40 ERA. In 28.1 innings, he struck out 26 and walked 13. Ehrhard and Tibbs are both decent prospects with Tibbs making a name for himself with prodigious power numbers. Tibbs was also part of the return from dealing Rafael Devers earlier in the year. That deal was more than a month before the deadline, so I will not rehash it here. Boston has moved almost all of the return from the Devers deal and does not have much to show for it.
OTHER NOTABLE DEAL(S): The Red Sox traded 3B Blaze Jordan to the Cardinals for RP Steven Matz.
Jordan was notable for having big power, but was going to be Rule 5 draft eligible. He made his Major League debut this year and hit three homers. Matz was a pretty good pickup for the Red Sox. In 21 games, he threw 21.2 innings and had a 2.08 ERA with a save. He notched 12 strikeouts against just two walks. He pitched two scoreless innings in the postseason against the Yankees in two games.
No comments:
Post a Comment