The Boston Red Sox are aiming to re-enter the competitive pennant race in the American League, and a crucial element will be their approach at this year’s trade deadline. With significant gaps at first base and a need for additional starting pitchers in the latter part of their rotation, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow may be looking to make a move as the deadline approaches.
This situation makes some of the lower-ranked teams in MLB intriguing discussion points in the coming months, and with June upon us, we’ve officially entered the speculation phase. One particular team could catch the Red Sox’s eye ahead of the deadline and offer a much-needed boost to their bullpen.
Dennis Santana Should Be a Red Sox Trade Target After Latest Pirates Report
USA’s Bob Nightengale shared insights into the Pittsburgh Pirates’ strategy as they entered Sunday sitting last in the National League Central with a 22-37 record. Nightengale reported that the Pirates are “fully rebuking” trade offers for their star pitcher Paul Skenes and outfielder Oneil Cruz, but they are open to discussing trades for other players on their roster.
With the season already feeling lost, it makes sense for the Pirates to entertain offers for third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and outfielder Bryan Reynolds. However, the Red Sox are set at third base with Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers, and their outfield needs may be addressed with the potential call-up of top prospect Roman Anthony. Though Boston would be keen to add a first baseman, Spencer Horowitz may not be an upgrade, but they do have several options for the bullpen.
One attractive target could be right-hander Dennis Santana. The 29-year-old has been a bright spot for the Pirates this season, sporting a 1-1 record and a 1.48 ERA. He has also shown improvement this season with a 29.9% whiff rate and a 5.4% walk rate, his lowest since his rookie year, according to Baseball Savant.
However, Santana comes with some “buyer beware” notes as he is a journeyman who has pitched for five different teams. His two years in Pittsburgh have been the best of his career, with a 2.10 ERA over 68.2 innings. While the Red Sox currently rank 11th with a 3.64 bullpen ERA and have Aroldis Chapman (1.96 ERA) in the backend, teams can always benefit from adding another reliable arm to alleviate pressure on their starting pitchers.
Although finding a hitter, especially for first base, is the Red Sox’s top priority, they should remain open to making improvements where possible, making Santana a trade target worth pursuing.
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