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MLB trade rumors: 5 moves Red Sox should make

By Joshua Sadlock

May 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) pitches to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) pitches to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 13, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) pitches during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) pitches during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Help Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel may be pitching better than ever in his career. Boston’s closer has already saved 11 games and has a 1.08 ERA in 16.2 innings to go along with 33 strikeouts. Converted starter Joe Kelly has ramped up his impressive velocity even more as a full-time reliever, but is still battling bouts of wildness.

Beyond Kimbrel and Kelly, the Red Sox bullpen is a roller coaster ride on a nightly basis. Robby Scott has been a nice find in his second year in the big leagues, but Heath Hembree and Matt Barnes have not pitched consistently. The Red Sox could use another dominant arm in the back of their bullpen to hold late-inning leads for Kimbrel.

The middle-relief/setup market is a difficult one to predict this early in the season, but arms will emerge as the trade market heats up. It would be foolish for the Red Sox to pin all their hopes on Tyler Thornburg and Carson Smith returning in dominant fashion.

For now, they should be checking in with the Atlanta Braves on Arodys Vizcaino, the Philadelphia Phillies on Pat Neshek, and the Oakland Athletics on Ryan Madson. All three of those names would bring strong track records to a contending team. The Red Sox made a big addition to their bullpen last year with Brad Ziegler, and they may have to do the same thing again this year.

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