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MLB Trade Deadline: 15 trades that need to happen

By Joshua Sadlock

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 09: Pat Neshek #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on July 9, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 7-1. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 09: Pat Neshek #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on July 9, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 7-1. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

7. Pat Neshek to the Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox most pressing need is at third base, and they will indeed pick up someone new to man the hot corner by the time the calendar flips to July 31. That being said, no contender in this day and age can have too many dominant relief options sitting out in their bullpen. Closer Craig Kimbrel has been historically good for the Red Sox this year, but Dave Dombrowski should seek an upgrade for the seventh and eighth innings, especially with Joe Kelly dealing with a hamstring injury.

Dombrowski made an early move well in advance of the trade deadline last year to acquire Brad Ziegler who recorded a 1.52 ERA in 33 games after coming over from Arizona. Another sidearmer, Pat Neshek of the Philadelphia Phillies, could be the bullpen upgrade the Red Sox target this season.

Neshek is having the best season of his 11-year career and was an All-Star for the second time. The 36-year-old right-hander has appeared in 40 games and has a 1.21 ERA for the Phillies. The advanced metrics, which do not always love sidearm guys who pitch to contact, actually back up how dominant Neshek has been. He has a 2.09 FIP this year and a 3.03 FIP over his past four seasons.

The Phillies have nearly exhausted their rebuilding options at this point, and Neshek is their last trade chip that has real value on the market. They bought low on him last winter after a good-not-great season, and will now flip him for a nice return.

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