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MLB rumors: 5 players Red Sox needs to trade for

By William Schneiderhan

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 30: Blake Treinen #39 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on March 30, 2019 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Angles 4-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 30: Blake Treinen #39 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on March 30, 2019 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Angles 4-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 11: Blake Treinen #39 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards April 11, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 11: Blake Treinen #39 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards April 11, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

3. Blake Treinen, CP Oakland Athletics

Dombrowski and Red Sox team brass decided against shelling out a large contract to retain the services of Craig Kimbrel. In three seasons in Boston, he collected 108 saves and was a key piece to the team’s success last year. Of course, his shaky postseason and age dissuaded a lot of teams from cutting him the check he demanded.

Instead, the team has kind of used a ‘closer by committee’. Ryan Brasier has been getting the bulk of the save opportunities, but Heath Hembree and Matt Barnes have also been used in that role.

Last season, the team skated by with Kimbrel, but it was obvious their bullpen was an area of weakness. Now without Kimbrel, the pen has sufficed, but they need a lockdown arm.

Blake Treinen may cost a decent amount, but he is worth it. The 2018 All-Star gathered 38 saves and pitched to an ERA of 0.78 in 80.1 innings pitched for the playoff Oakland Athletics last season.

This year, Treinen has still been a great closer, and he wouldn’t be a rental for the Sox. He has one more year of club control, which would make this move cost effective. Again, it would require Dombrowski to dip into the farm system a bit, but Treinen would make that iffy bullpen more stable.

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