The Red Sox Must Be Buyers At The Trade Deadline, But Not At The Cost Of Blowing Up The Future

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Up to this point in the season, the Boston Red Sox have exceeded expectations across the board. They've been a first place ball club for the vast majority of the season and they continue to hold off the charging Tampa Bay Rays. They should absolutely be buyers ahead of Friday's trade deadline. Yet the Red Sox find themselves in new waters for the first time this century. Chaim Bloom is no Dave Dombrowski, I think that's been made clear by now. But that doesn't give the new regime a pass at making a real run at this very attainable World Series title. Chaim enters this deadline with an unenviable task: improve the current roster without parting with the future building blocks in the system.

Since trading Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, the farm system has become a major point of emphasis among fans and the front office alike. I am not here to revisit the Betts deal for the umpteenth time, it happened, this is the reality in which we now live. But that is the reference point in which we must start at, because that was the foundation for the picture Chaim and his team have been painting since taking over the gig. Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Conner Wong kicked off the rebuild. Then, it was selling off parts in the form of Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold; Mitch Moreland was swung for Jeisson Rosario and Hudson Potts. The offseason of "ifs" and "maybes" turned into dealing away struggling fan favorite Andrew Benintendi for Franchy Cordero and a slew of prospects. The Yankees viewed the rebuilding Red Sox as such a non-threat they handed Boston Adam Ottavino and a prospect for salary relief. The last two MLB Drafts have been the most locked in Red Sox fans have ever been to the amateur ranks, where Chaim opted to select three of the top high school players available with three of his first four picks including top overall prospect Marcelo Mayer. In just two years, the Red Sox farm system has become more formidable than has been publicized. It's not the best in the League, but there's some healthy meat on those bones at every level. 

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While all this focus has been on the future, Alex Cora returned, and with him returned winning with regularity. Rafael Devers has been the best third baseman in baseball this season, and in a non-Ohtani year of dominance Devers would find himself squarely in the MVP race with Vlad Guerrero, Jr. Xander Bogaerts continues to perform as one of the best offensive shortstops in the game, and J.D. Martinez' resurgence has bolstered the lineup to be one of the strongest in the league. Offseason signings which were met largely with apathy (Kiké Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe) have become every day staples and front facing leaders of the 2021 Boston Red Sox. As Spring Training rounded out, and the team came into form, they very much felt like a playoff team. As we sit mere days away from the trade deadline, they have all the makings of a World Series contender. As currently constructed, I don't think they're the favorites in the American League. The Houston Astros are annoyingly great, the Rays are a massive pain in the ass, and the Chicago White Sox are getting healthier - which is terrifying because they've been great without all of their horses. Could the Red Sox beat any of those teams in a series? Absolutely. The 2013 Red Sox had no business beating that Detroit Tigers team. It can happen. But there's no reason to hope and pray everything works out for the best when you can be proactive about it right now. Players like receiving a boost of confidence from the guys upstairs this time of year. Some faith that there's belief outside of the locker room that something special can happen. Re-enforcements in the form of a trade. That's where Chaim comes in, to put his finishing touches on this season without blowing up what's coming down the road. 

A trade like this is exactly what you don't do. Max Scherzer is a helluva pitcher, one of the best of his generation with some gas left in the tank. No reason to believe he wont help whichever club he joins the rest of the way. It's already being leaked out that he prefers the west coast, but I can't imagine that would be a huge hinderance if the Sox and Nationals can come to a deal. However, I see no world where Chaim Bloom is itching to deal the first two draft picks he ever made for the Boston Red Sox one year after selecting them. Maybe if the Nationals are tossing in Juan Soto as well, then I could see him changing his tune. But, as I alluded to earlier, the Red Sox farm system is deeper than it appears in this moment in time. That depth is where Chaim will be trying to deal from, not the top. 

From Soxprospects:

The three areas that the Red Sox seem most likely to target for improvement are first base, a utility bench spot, and pitching. At first base, they could use a left-handed hitter to compliment the right-handed hitting options they have there.  For the bench, neither Marwin Gonzalez or Danny Santana has established themselves in the super utility bench role, as both have struggled at the plate. Lastly, every team needs pitching depth, and the Red Sox are no different.

The Red Sox also could look outside of those three areas, as Bloom has shown he is always looking for ways to upgrade the roster both in the short-term and long-term. If they made a move for the long-term, all bets are off as to who would be on the table. If they choose to focus on smaller deals and rentals, however, there are three types of prospects they will likely look to deal from: Prospects on the 40-man roster; Prospects eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this coming offseason; Prospects in Rookie ball.

While Blaze Jordan does fit into the barrel of "prospects in rookie ball" I would still be pretty surprised if the 18-year old that was drawing Bryce Harper comps as a junior in high school was dealt for a rental. Especially seeing as he's been tearing the cover off the ball down in Florida. Triston Casas will come into the 2022 season as a top 10 prospect in all of baseball, he's not going anywhere and with that comes another discussion about first base that we'll touch on in a moment. Jarren Duran is already a fan favorite, but does fit the bill as a prospect on the 40-man roster. Duran, Wong, Rosario, Potts, Tanner Houck, Connor Seabold, Jay Groome, Bryan Mata, Ronaldo Hernandez, Jonathan Arauz, and Marcus Wilson are that group of "prospects" on the 40-man that could be dealt. I suppose you could toss Bobby Dalbec and Michael Chavis on that list as well, though prospect doesn't feel like the right word for either. 

When you look at that list of names you don't see any combination being enough to bring back an Anthony Rizzo or Freddie Freeman, two of the left-handed first base bats that are currently on the market. The more focus put on first base the more apprehension I find myself having. Casas is currently playing for Team USA at the Olympics. He's 21-years old and is the top prospect in the Red Sox organization. Everything about him points to him being really good for a really long time, and likely as early as next year for the Red Sox. This is where the unenviable part of Chaim's job comes into play: you have this all world talent knocking on the door but not fully ready to help right now while two teams are itching to rid themselves of players that can help. You can't block that position long term but you don't want to part with chips just for a few months of service. You keep the guy you traded for and now you are forced to let J.D. walk, it's a real dilly of a pickle I'll tell you what. 

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For the first time in my adult life I can honestly say that I'm ok with missing out on the biggest deals available. I'll never be pro-complacency, however if Starling Marte and Jesús Aguilar are the biggest names we can pull for the right price I wont be all that upset. There's a plan in place, I trust that plan. Get another bat that can give Kiké a steady position either at second or center the rest of the way, find a bullpen arm, and let's get Xander healthy for the September push. Scherzer would be sick, but do the Red Sox really need another starting pitcher? No, I don't believe they do.