Red Sox return for Brandon Workman is better on a second look

The Red Sox return for Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree was ridiculed, but don’t be so quick to judge

Boston is a clear seller at the MLB Trade Deadline, and the fire sale is officially underway after dealing Workman and Hembree to Philadelphia in exchange for two starting pitchers in Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold.

On the surface, Boston’s acquisitions are underwhelming for a player of Workman’s caliber, and another steady relief arm in Hembree. However, factoring in that Workman is likely to be a free agent after this season, it makes more sense why Boston was only able to get a haul that includes a promising MLB-ready pitcher who’s struggled the last few years, and the Phillies No. 23 ranked prospect.

Should Red Sox fans be upset with Chaim Bloom?

In a word, no. If anything, this says more about the market than it does Bloom. Not to mention, both players have significant upside.

Pivetta is an analytics expert’s dream. Boston’s perspective claims he just hasn’t been in the right system, and it remains to be seen if that’s true.

“Obviously, (Pivetta) has some Major League time under his belt,” Bloom said, per NESN. “He’s a big, physical power pitcher. He’s got a really good fastball, good breaking ball. He also has a changeup. A guy who’s shown the ability to carry a starter’s workload, and a lot of the underlying traits there have shown the potential for a lot more success than he’s enjoyed in terms of his results.”

Pivetta’s power arm will have every chance to develop and improve in what’s proving to be a wasted season for Boston’s standards. But what about Seabold?

“Starting pitching prospect who really has good feel to pitch, an arsenal that should work against both sides. Quality pitches, including a changeup. And again really knows how to pitch, how to use his stuff and really nice addition to starting pitching depth in the upper levels of our system,” Bloom said.

Per Bloom, it seems like Pivetta was the real “get” in this deal, with Seabold being more of a developmental project in the minors. If the Sox can turn either one of these players into a reliable, middle of the rotation starter, consider it a win from Bloom’s perspective, given the lack of contract control they had in Workman.