The Red Sox are not expected to trade for offense before the deadline.
Peter Gammons told WEEI on Friday that he doesn’t think the Red Sox will acquire an outfield bat but instead will focus on bolstering their bullpen, though he didn’t express much confidence in the relievers available.
With Matt Capps headed to the Twins on Thursday, Gammons doesn’t believe there is a reliever available who could post an ERA under 5.00 for the rest of the season.
"You can get lucky for two months," Gammons said on The Big Show. "[Chad] Qualls was great for the Astros in the playoffs in 2005. He currently has the worst earned run average of any relief pitcher in baseball, but he still throws 95. He could go someplace — Tampa, Boston, someplace — and put together two good months pitching the sixth and seventh innings, and you could be very happy with him."
Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi reported earlier this week that the Rays were interested in the 31-year-old Qualls, who had a reputation as a solid reliever prior to this season’s implosion in Arizona.
Qualls is 1-4 with an 8.51 ERA this season and has lost his closer’s role, after saving 24 games for the Diamondbacks in 2009. SI’s Jon Heyman said on Friday that the D-Backs have received some interest in the struggling reliever, but that nothing is close.
Gammons also told WEEI that AL East teams fear the Yankees will make the biggest splash.
He said that Tampa Bay people expect Washington Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn to end up with the Yankees if he is indeed moved. With former Astros first baseman Lance Berkman now heading to New York, though, acquiring Dunn seems less likely.
