Red Sox Trade Rumors: Latest Updates On Pitchers, Sluggers Linked To Boston

As Major League Baseball hits the pause button for the All-Star break, Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow knows there’s no slowing down when it comes to the July 31 trade deadline.

Thanks to their 10-game winning streak, the Red Sox clearly fall into the category of deadline buyers. But what is it they should be buying? There are a lot of rumors and suggestions, so let’s take a quick look at the latest news.

“The problem is the market is not all that deep in quality starting pitching,” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Monday for Fox Sports. “Two of the biggest names – Zac Gallen, Sandy Alcantara – they have not pitched consistently this season. And then you’re looking at guys like Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Good, but maybe not a difference-maker.”

While that doesn’t sound promising, Rosenthal isn’t concerned when it comes to the Red Sox.

“The way Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito have pitched in recent weeks, maybe they don’t need to aim quite that high,” Rosenthal said.

So where should the Red Sox be looking?

“A starting pitcher is clearly one thing that they need. First base is something else that they’ll look at,” Rosenthal added. “Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro have done a good job filling in. But ideally they’ll get someone who is more of a mainstay.”

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman agrees with Rosenthal’s assessment of the Red Sox.

“The Red Sox, a buyer now, still seek a 1B and a starter,” Heyman reported Monday.

With respect to first base, one name continually linked to the Red Sox is Baltimore Orioles All-Star slugger Ryan O’Hearn.

“The Orioles appear likely sellers, but O’Hearn said, ‘We have 16 days to go until the deadline, and my focus is on the Orioles and a miracle comeback,'” Heyman added.

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Red Sox are in third place in the American League East, three games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays. That puts Boston in the driver’s seat for an AL wild card.