Why making purchases at the trade deadline is the best long-term strategy for the Red Sox
If the Red Sox prioritize the future, the front office should invest in the roster this month, treating it as a down payment on the better days promised for the past five years.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow can persuade ownership to adopt an aggressive trade deadline strategy by highlighting that the foundation has been set and securing a playoff spot will enhance the culture they’re building.
There’s no need to wait for prospects like Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel. Reward the current team’s performance and lay the groundwork for the future by giving them playoff experience. Even a wild card round sweep would benefit them long-term.
Unlike the last two years when Chaim Bloom abandoned the team at the end of July, this squad is on the upswing. Last year’s team ran out of starting pitching by July and faded in August. The 2022 team was clearly in transition, with key players like Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez on their way out, and Bloom’s biggest mistake was not holding a fire sale.
This year’s team is different. The Red Sox had three homegrown All-Stars: Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, and Tanner Houck, showing that the current generation is already making an impact.
Reinforcing this, the Red Sox shut out the Yankees on Sunday night, with Devers hitting two home runs, rookie Ceddanne Rafaela hitting one, and Kutter Crawford pitching seven shutout innings. This team, largely drafted and developed by the Red Sox, leads the race for the final wild card spot and is closing the gap on the Yankees.
The Red Sox, winners of 16 of their last 22 games, contrast sharply with the struggling Yankees. They are young, athletic, and exciting, playing with enthusiasm and energy, as demonstrated by Crawford’s celebration, Devers’ home run admiration, and the excitement of Justin Slaten and Rafaela.
The Red Sox are building something reminiscent of the 2015 Celtics, who made a surprising postseason run and established playoff expectations. By the time stars like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum arrived, the team was already playoff-tested, leading to an eventual championship.
The Red Sox deserve a similar boost, even if their chances of winning another World Series are slim. It’s a short-term investment that signals to the clubhouse and fans that this team is worth attention and a long-term move that could mark the start of something much better.
