MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades Red Sox should make

4. Trade for Addison Reed and Asdrubal Cabrera

According to Rob Bradford of Boston’s WEEI, the Red Sox have been scouting Mets closer Addison Reed, and could be in the mix to land the 28-year-old right-hander before the trade deadline.

Reed spent his first three full major league seasons as a closer, and saved 101 games for the White Sox and Diamondbacks from 2012-14. However, because he also posted a 4.22 ERA over that span, Reed was eventually removed from the role and traded to New York.

Reed filled in the seventh inning slot for the Mets during their World Series run in 2015, posting a 1.17 EA in 17 games after a midseason trade with Arizona. He then worked as the top setup man for closer Jeurys Familia in 2016, making 80 appearances and posted a 1.97 ERA across 77.2 innings.

When Familia was sidelined early this year, Reed stepped into the closer role and has pitched almost exclusively in the ninth inning. In 43.2 innings across 42 games, Reed has a 2.47 ERA and 2.90 FIP. He has 45 strikeouts and only five walks – good for a 1.053 WHIP.

Should the Red Sox strike a deal for Reed, the club should also look to add infielder Asdrubal Cabrera (or potentially Wilmer Flores) to the mix. Cabrera has hit .247/.333/.401 with nine home runs and 29 RBI in 68 games this season.

A 31-year-old switch hitter, Cabrera is primarily a shortstop, but has played second base in recent weeks. He hasn’t played third base since his rookie season with Cleveland in 2007, but he’s a capable defender. Otherwise, the Red Sox could shift Xander Bogaerts to third, where he played often early in his career, and put Cabrera at short.