Despite what you might have heard Monday as the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline neared, the Boston Red Sox apparently weren’t involved in active discussions with the Chicago White Sox.
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski addressed the Red Sox’s deadline-day decisions, which included trading for left-handed reliever Fernando Abad, with the media before Monday’s game against the Seattle Mariners, and his most noteworthy answer was this:
Dombrowski said the Red Sox haven't talked to the White Sox since Friday and he was surprised by some of the rumors he saw today.
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) August 2, 2016
Why is that important? Well, rumors that the Red Sox and White Sox were discussing a deal for left-handed ace and alternative jersey hater Chris Sale were all over Twitter during the day, but now we know the teams last talked Friday.
If the Red Sox had traded for Sale, they likely would have parted with at least one of their top prospects, likely Yoan Moncada or Andrew Benintendi. But when asked how reluctant he would be to trade either player, Dombrowski had this to say:
Dave Dombrowski was asked how reluctant he was to trade Benintendi or Moncada: "Extremely. They're really good."
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) August 2, 2016
Yes. Yes they are.
In regards to the deals the Red Sox did make, they acquired infielder Aaron Hill, infielder/outfielder Michael Martinez, reliever Brad Ziegler and left-handed starter Drew Pomeranz around the All-Star break. Then they bolstered their bullpen even more Monday by adding Abad.
Dombrowski said he was happy with the trades the Red Sox made this month. "I'm not sure what more we could do."
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) August 2, 2016
But Boston still was active with trade talks leading up to the deadline, and one of those teams might surprise you.
Dombrowski said team talked to 20 clubs last few days. "There was not a player traded that surprised us."
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) August 2, 2016
Dombrowski said Red Sox did have serious conversations with Yankees the last few days.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) August 2, 2016
Check out more from Dombrowski, who appeared on NESN’s “Red Sox First Pitch,” in the video above.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
