MLB Rumors: Braves biggest trade chip, Red Sox’s cloudy future, Cardinals trade optimism
By Kristen Wong
MLB Rumors: Red Sox remain wishy-washy on trade deadline approach
Will the Boston Red Sox buy or sell at the trade deadline? That’s one question the organization is purposefully staying silent on.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom told the Boston Globe that these next several weeks will determine the club’s approach at the August 1 deadline… which is what a handful of MLB teams are also saying right now.
The Red Sox currently sit 13 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays but are still very much in the AL Wild Card position chase.
Boston’s tentative approach feels very wishy-washy, yet it’s the same approach of several middle-of-the-pack teams that straddle the line between playoff contender and playoff pretender this season.
Bloom said of the Red Sox’s near future:
"“If we’re able to play well, that should make us more aggressive. That frankly dictates how you go into the deadline and what you’re looking to accomplish.”"
If the Red Sox were to be buyers at the deadline and try to stay competitive, the most glaring position of need is the pitching rotation. Boston has suffered from several key starters landing on the injured list recently, and their collective 4.89 ERA from their starters waves a major red flag.
A few days ago, Bloom dumped cold water on rampant speculation surrounding potential trades for pitchers. However, anything is possible at the moment.