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

1 player to avoid trading for: LHP John Means

Boston’s priority at the trade deadline is obviously starting pitching. But who is one player the Red Sox should avoid altogether? That would be John Means of the Baltimore Orioles.

Let’s preface by saying that this is not meant to interpreted as a knock on Means’ performance this season. The Orioles starter has been very good when taking the mound, where he actually owns a AL-best 0.831 WHIP and recorded a no-hitter. Through 12 starts, Means tallied a 2.28 ERA and 69 strikeouts through 71.0 innings of work.

The main reason why the Red Sox should avoid this trade is because it is the Orioles, their division rival. A team never wants to move their best player to their foe, but what works in their favor is that they can drive up their asking price and hope that the other side is desperate enough to agree to those terms.

Boston needs a starting pitcher in the worst way, especially if they want to make a return trip to the World Series. But the Red Sox should avoid making a deal with a division rival, especially the Orioles, who will no doubt be eying the prospects in their farm system.