Red Sox pitching trade targets Chaim Bloom must land at all costs

The Red Sox should be aggressive with trading for Johnny Cueto

There are two kinds of people in this world; those who believe what Johnny Cueto is doing for the Chicago White Sox is for real and those who don’t. The Red Sox need to believe. They have to have faith that Cueto’s success in Chicago is no mirage.

The other “laundry team” in baseball has yet to officially declare themselves out of the postseason race. They could even end up trading Cueto away and do nothing else and still compete. It’s unlikely but possible.

When the White Sox took a chance on Cueto, they were doing it out of necessity. Lance Lynn was hurt, Dallas Keuchel was pitching poorly, and the depth move of taking on Vince Velasquez wasn’t working out. Cueto has been amazingly effective, going 2-4 with a 3.30 ERA in 9 starts and a relief appearance. Is it going to win the Red Sox a World Series? Probably not. But it could be more than enough to get them through some of these major injuries.

Cueto won’t cost nearly as much as Castillo or Rodon. He will have suitors, though. In order to get him, the Red Sox need to be both quick and willing to part with something decent. The White Sox want to be competitive next year. It may take more than a low-level minor league lottery ticket to satisfy them.