The 2024 Red Sox have earned complete buy-in from the front office and ownership at the trade deadline.
Nearly everyone went down early, and everything seemed to spiral immediately afterward.
But the Sox stayed afloat despite it all.
Those young, inexperienced players who needed to improve have — fast — and are still improving.
There have been a couple of interesting surprises, too.
Some of the moves Boston made in the offseason have also worked out.
Everyone has contributed in some way, shape, or form every night during this run.
On June 10, Boston was 11 games back of second place in the American League East. As of July 8, they are four and a half games back of second place (15-7).
On June 14, they were three games back of the third A.L. Wild Card spot. Now, the Sox are in sole possession of the third Wild Card spot by one and a half games (13-5 since).
Only the Houston Astros have been better over that span.
Yes, the Red Sox have gone on a mid-season run for the second consecutive season. But this one feels and looks different.
This team is younger and more athletic, fighting to the very last out every night.
There were a lot of winnable losses early; the Sox are winning those games now. And they’re winning games in multiple ways.
These kids are too young and too inexperienced to know any better (a saying way overused).
The Red Sox are in a different spot than in 2022 or 2023. Ownership must acknowledge that.
2024 Trade Deadline Different for Red Sox Than ’22-23
Embed from Getty ImagesEntering the failed 2022 trade deadline, the Red Sox were at .500, three games back of a Wild Card spot.
Their pitching all around stunk, especially the bullpen. The lineup was scoring but had its problems.
Chaim Bloom should’ve outright sold instead of toeing the line. That only got them over the Competitive Balance Tax (thanks, Tommy Pham), which impacted 2023.
Bloom traded Christian Vasquez to the Astros for Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez. He also got Reese McGuire from the White Sox for half a season of Jake Diekman.
The Sox also acquired Eric Hosmer and two prospects for next to nothing.
What was still a clubhouse largely filled with veterans revolted and collapsed down the stretch.
Entering the 2023 trade deadline, Boston was six games over .500, two and a half games back of a playoff spot despite injuries everywhere.
Bloom had a budget he couldn’t go over, so his hands were tied. He only added depth pieces in Luis Urias and Mauricio Llovera. However, he did trade Enrique Hernandez.
That team needed pitching. Everyone knew it. The team begged for it. Bloom could’ve gotten some at the expense of other areas. It’s ultimately a good thing he didn’t pull the trigger.
Boston collapsed down the stretch again.
On Opening Day 2024, it looked like we were in for more of the same. The Sox did virtually nothing to improve meaningfully.
New Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow traded Alex Verdugo for Greg Weissert, Richard Fitts, and a flyer.
He traded Chris Sale for six years of Vaughn Grissom, their presumed everyday second baseman.
Craig traded Bloom acquisition Nick Robertson to the Cardinals for oft-injured Tyler O’Neill.
Lucas Giolito was the only addition to the rotation.
2024 was (is) all about the development of the young core. Nobody thought the Red Sox would even be .500 at this point.
Their rotation has been relatively healthy (sans Giolito) and light years better than in 2023. The bullpen is good. And the lineup has been consistently good for a month despite missing key pieces.
It’s been a struggle defensively again this season, but things have been okay in recent months, despite occasional hiccups.
Who knew Weissert would become a trusted bullpen arm?
O’Neill likely would’ve gotten hurt and missed most of 2024 by now. That’s not happened.
Justin Slaten has had a 2021 Garrett Whitlock-like season.
And who had David Hamilton contributing anything at the MLB level?
Boston’s made up seven and a half games in the East and four and a half games in the A.L. Wild Card race since mid-June.
Another difference this year is the minor league system.
Prospects keep rising, and the system is getting stronger, even with graduations. There’s been lots of improvement in the last two seasons, and it’s probably as strong as it’s been during this rebuild.
Then, there’s manager Alex Cora, who is taking a different approach to the deadline this year.
Intentionally staying below the first Luxury Tax Threshold, the Red Sox can meaningfully add at the 2024 trade deadline.
They have the money and the prospects (can’t keep them all). It looks like they might have the right guy in charge.
Get on board, John W. Henry.
Red Sox Must Get Starter at 2024 Trade Deadline
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Red Sox don’t need much at the 2024 trade deadline. One area the Sox must address, though, is the rotation.
Boston’s bullpen is tiring. Eventually, Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford will hit or surpass their career highs in innings pitched.
Houck (111 innings) has already surpassed his career-high 106 innings from 2023.
Crawford (105.2 innings) is fast approaching his career-high 129.1 innings from last year.
If he figures himself out, Bello (78 innings) will hit or perhaps surpass his 157 innings from 2023. But for now, Bello’s not going deep into games as expected (six innings or more in five of 15 starts).
Neither is Nick Pivetta (five or more innings in eight of 13 starts). And he’s pitching like the Pivetta of old.
Moreover, the Red Sox fifth starter spot has only pitched five innings maximum most of the time.
Cooper Criswell pitched five or more innings in five of his 12 starts.
Josh Winckowski pitched five solid innings against the Padres in his first start back from Worcester. He didn’t have the same stuff against the Yankees, only pitching 3.2 innings.
No bullpen can shoulder that workload.
Exhibit A: Boston’s relief corps has a 4.95 ERA/4.22 FIP since June 25.
Weissert has allowed eight earned runs in his last 3.1 innings. He’s appeared in 38 games, the most of all Red Sox relievers. Weissert’s 37.1 innings is second most in the Sox bullpen.
Brennan Bernardino has pitched a total of four innings since June 15. He’s allowed ten hits and three runs and struck out one with a 6.75 ERA. Bernardino’s 30 appearances are the third-most in Boston’s bullpen. His 31.1 innings are tied for second-most with Kenley Jansen.
And Justin Slaten owns a 4.50 ERA/4.07 ERA in his last ten innings.
That’s not going to help keep the Red Sox streak alive.
Boston Needs a Middle Infielder Who Can Defend and Hit Some
Embed from Getty ImagesWith a shored-up pitching staff and middle infield, this team won’t have any glaring weaknesses.
Wouldn’t that be something?
It will take little to make the Sox middle infield defense better.
Current Red Sox middle infielders: Ceddanne Rafaela, Hamilton, Enmanuel Valdez, and Romy Gonzalez (1 Defensive Runs Saved/1 Outs Above Average at short, 1 Fielding Run-Value playing everywhere).
Rafaela should be in center field but is their best shortstop right now, regardless of the numbers (-5 DRS/-9 OAA).
Hamilton has become competent at short (three errors over 42 games after four errors over his first 16 games). But he’s light years better at second (0 OAA/1 DRS).
With Grissom hurt and Cora trying to keep Rafaela in center field as much as possible, Valdez (-6 DRS/-7 OAA) has gotten the most reps at second base in 2024.
That’s only continued recently.
Hamilton has only started four games since June 30. Rafaela has started nine of his last 11 games at short, looking much better there.
That’s meant a lot of Valdez at second base. I think I speak for all of us when I say, “We’re over it.”
The worst of the Valdez Experience came on July 5.
Valdez failed to turn two double plays, costing his team a run and a struggling Tanner Houck extra pitches.
Thankfully, they fought to the bitter end and won, 5-3, in 10 innings against the Yankees.
The Red Sox would be wise to keep Rafaela at short, Jarren Duran in center, and have Hamilton play second. That alignment is more than competent.
That said, Hamilton has struggled against left-handed pitching (.459 OPS), and so has the team as a whole (.719 OPS vs. lefties; .747 OPS vs. right-handed pitching).
At the very least, all Boston needs in a middle infielder is a righty hitter who hits lefties and is an average second baseman.
He probably should be able to play shortstop (or more) because the current Red Sox regime loves versatile, athletic players.
Someone like that should be relatively inexpensive in terms of prospects or salary.
The foundation of the next great Red Sox team is here. Enough of the rebuild; solidify this roster at the 2024 trade deadline.
Get it done—no more excuses.
Featured Image Credit: Megan Briggs/Getty Images
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