Red Sox: 1 trade worth going all-in for, 1 trade to avoid at all costs

BOSTON, MA - MAY 29: Bench Coach Will Venable of the Boston Red Sox looks on in the dugout as he serves as interim manager in the absence of manager Alex Cora before a game against the Miami Marlins on May 29, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

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May 2, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws to the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

If the Boston Red Sox want to make their push to the postseason, then they must make this trade and avoid this acquisition altogether.

The Boston Red Sox have more than exceeded expectations this season with Alex Cora returning as the team’s manager. As of this writing, the Red Sox have a comfortable lead for second-place in the AL East and are not far behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the division lead

With the Red Sox primed to make a return to the postseason for the first time since 2018, when they last won the World Series, the team is in a position to make a move at next month’s trade deadline to help with their push to fall baseball. They can do so by trading for a player, but they must ensure it is the right one that won’t mortgage their future.

Here is one player the Red Sox must trade for, and one they should avoid altogether.

1 player to trade for: RHP Max Scherzer

The Red Sox rank as one of the better hitting teams in the majors, as they rank third in cumulative batting average (.253). If there is one glaring weakness for the Red Sox, it is starting pitching. Eduardo Rodriguez owns an ERA of 6.21 as of June 17, while Nathan Eovaldi is the only pitcher in the rotation to have a sub-4.00 ERA (3.76).

Sure, Chris Sale’s return is on the horizon, but Boston can bolster their starting rotation by acquiring Washington Nationals ace and impending free agent Max Scherzer.

The Nationals, who won the World Series two years ago, do not look like a team poised to make the postseason. Sure, they are battling the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies for second-place in the NL East, but the division is led handedly by the New York Mets. Regardless, the fact that Scherzer is set to hit the open market at season’s end at the age of 37, the Nationals would be wise to dangle him on the trading block to see what type of return they would get.

The Red Sox may not have to trade the farm for Scherzer, as he was placed on the injured list with groin inflammation this week, which is not expected to keep him sidelined long-term. Despite the ailment, Scherzer has been solid this season, as he owns a 2.21 ERA and 0.81 WHIP through 13 starts. There is still plenty of time for Scherzer to prove his worth once he returns from injury.

Acquiring Scherzer should be a move the Red Sox should seriously consider at the trade deadline, especially if he is at full health.

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