The Red Sox were virtually silent at Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, with Chaim Bloom saying after the 6 p.m. cutoff that the organization wasn’t going to make moves simply to say they did.
But according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, Boston considered making not one, but two big splashes, each of which involved a player named Justin.
Rosenthal reports that the Miami Marlins “felt they were close to acquiring (Justin) Turner,” whom they’d also targeted during the offseason. The discussions between the two sides were “extensive,” but the Red Sox ultimately backed out, keeping the infielder.
Turner is hitting .286 with a .837 OPS, 112 hits, 25 doubles, and 17 home runs in 102 games. He’s not only been one of Boston’s best hitters, but one of the most productive and clutch in the league this season, especially of late. He entered Thursday with the sixth-most RBI in the American League, tied for 11th in hits, and tied for 12th in doubles. His 24 doubles over the last 30 days leads the AL and is are tied for second-most in the majors.
The second bombshell is that the Red Sox were interested in the services of Justin Verlander.
“They were one of the clubs that pursued a deal for the most accomplished starter,” revealed Rosenthal and Levi Weaver of The Athletic.
Verlander is one of the most decorated, accomplished starting pitchers of the last two decades, and at 40-years-old, he hasn’t shown too many signs of slowing down. The reigning (three-time) American League Cy Young entered Thursday with a 3.15 ERA over 16 starts. He’s held opposing lineups to a .219 average and .626 OPS.
These two trade discussions indicate vastly different potential directions for the remainder of the season. The Red Sox lineup is already lacking in the power department, so giving up Turner, even for some of Miami’s prized starting pitching depth, would’ve been significant. Trading him for a club-controlled starter would’ve been a short-term sacrifice towards a long-term goal, a sign that the Red Sox were ready to look to next year.
On the other hand, going all in on Verlander would’ve been a clear sign that the Red Sox are trying to win now and keep winning; the former Triple Crown pitcher is signed to a 2-year deal through 2024 ($86 million guaranteed salary) with a $35 million vesting option for 2025. The New York Mets are paying $35 million of the remaining $58 million he’s owed over this year and the next, and will also shell out $17.5 million if his option vests. The Red Sox are comfortably under the Competitive Balance Threshold this season, and could’ve taken on his salary while still resetting the tax after their excessive spending last season.
However, based on what the Houston Astros gave up to bring Verlander back, their No. 1 and No. 4 prospects, Boston also would’ve had to sacrifice a great deal to make it happen. MLB.com currently ranks shortstop Marcelo Mayer and outfielder Miguel Bleis first and fourth in the Red Sox system, respectively. While Bloom declined to call any specific prospect untouchable following Tuesday’s deadline, he did make it clear that they see some unnamed players as too important to the club’s future to let go. Mayer is almost certainly one of them.
Ultimately, the Red Sox chose to take the quiet road less traveled, and where they’ll end up by Game 162 is really anyone’s guess.
The Red Sox won’t be activating Trevor Story on Friday, but Alex Cora says there’s no cause for alarm. Instead, he’ll play another rehab game with the WooSox on Friday in Syracuse.
Story underwent internal brace surgery for his UCL in January, causing him to miss the entire first half of the season and then some. There haven’t been any setbacks in his rehab assignment, the manager said, and the star infielder could still rejoin the major league team at some point this weekend.
Though Story himself originally named Friday as a target date to make his season debut, if he asked to continue his rehab in Triple-A, trusting him to know if he’s ready to come back to Boston is the responsible way to go.
Speaking of internal brace surgery, Zack Kelly is proud to show off his progress from the same surgery as Story.
On Wednesday, the rookie reliever shared a video of him throwing off a mound at the Red Sox spring training complex to his social media accounts. “Did something cool today,” the caption read, along with the mechanical arm emoji.
Kelly last pitched for the Red Sox on April 12, when he exited the game looking near tears.
After their second west coast trip since the All-Star break, the Red Sox return to Fenway for one of their longest homestands of the year.
Beginning Friday, they’ll play ten home games in ten days against the Toronto Blue Jays (3), Kansas City Royals (4), and Detroit Tigers (3). The latter two series, in particular, are a chance for the Red Sox to pad their record; entering Thursday, the Royals are 35-75, and the Tigers are 48-60.
The Red Sox are also undefeated against the Blue Jays this year, having swept them in four games at Fenway in May, and again in a 3-game set when they went to Toronto at the end of June.
August also heralds the return of a former Red Sox great. On the 25th, the Los Angeles Dodgers come to town for a 3-game weekend set. It will be the first time Mookie Betts plays at Fenway since the infamous trade in February 2020.