With just about a month to go before the August 1 trade deadline, contenders will look to fill their voids while the league’s bottom feeders will try to make intelligent moves for their futures. For the Boston Red Sox, the front office will look to give the team the edge and capability to retake the lead in the AL East. Boston’s potential moves at the deadline probably will not include shopping for hitter. The Red Sox lead MLB in runs scored, so fans should expect the team to look for another solid pitcher.
The top of the rotation (David Price and Steven Wright) has been exceptional, but past that the team has not had a lot of consistency from their starters. Another poor outing by Clay Buchholz led to comments by John Farrell that all but ensured that he would not make his next start. While the market for top-end starters is thing, there are numerous other options, including a couple of guys that would make a lot of sense for the Red Sox.
Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres
One of Boston’s potential moves would be acquiring Andrew Cashner. With San Diego plummeting ever lower in the standings, they could easily sell another pitcher this year. Cashner, a former first round pick for the Chicago Cubs back in 2008, has a powerful fastball in the mid- to high-90s, and a solid arsenal of secondary pitches. Cashner can be overwhelming at times. Standing at 6’6″ and 220lbs on the mound, Cashner throws like his frame would suggest.
This season, his numbers have not been very impressive. Through eleven games, Cashner has a 4.75 ERA and a 3-5 record. His main issue has to do with his control. In only fifty-three innings pitched, he has walked twenty-two batters, a number he could definitely improve on. While Cashner has a lot of room to improve, he has only allowed fifty-five hits in those fifty-three innings. While Sox fans might feel hopeful about acquiring Cashner, none of this will matter if San Diego decides to keep the young right hander.
Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves
Another pitcher Red Sox fans are hopeful for is Julio Teheran from Atlanta. While it remains unclear whether or not the Braves are willing to sell the 25-year-old from Cartagena, Colombia. Teheran keeps performing at the highest level of his career, even against the best competition. The Braves ace has a very solid 2.46 ERA this season in an impressive number of innings (106).
In his last two starts, both of which were against the defending NL champion New York Mets, Teheran combined for seventeen innings, allowing only six hits. He also struck out 7 in each game. Teheran’s masterful performances as of late will make the deadline a complicated time for the Braves, but if they do decide to sell Teheran, Boston will undoubtedly be in the talks.
Working the System
Dave Dombrowski could very well make waves with a trade for Teheran or Cashner, but if neither team decides to sell, the Red Sox GM will have to look elsewhere. Acquiring either of those guys would put Boston’s rotation in great condition. With Price as the ace, Wright would keep his two spot in the rotation, and any new comer would most likely end up in the three spot. Adding a pitcher would provide Boston with depth similar to the 2013 championship team that was simply loaded with pitchers.
A trade sounds great for Red Sox fans, but it is by no means a guarantee. Let’s not forget, Boston also has young lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, along with Rick Porcello, who solidified his spot in the rotation after a sound outing against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox also have Joe Kelly in the minors right now (though he looks to be headed to the bullpen), and a struggling Clay Buchholz. So while a trade would make sense, the Red Sox could very well work with what they have.
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