While everyone has been connecting the Red Sox to Cole Hamels, Boston may in fact be looking in a different direction.
Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that Hamels and other established aces are unlikely trade targets for the Sox, as their top priority heading into the trade deadline is to get younger arms that are under team control beyond the 2015 season. This would also eliminate any possibility of trading for Reds’ all star Johnny Cueto who is a free agent following this season.
Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray could be one target for the Red Sox who wouldn’t be eligible for free agency until 2020. Assistant GM David Forst shot down those rumors in a recent radio appearance (h/t: CSN Bay Area’s Joe Stiglich):
“Sonny Gray’s not going anywhere.”
Then again you can never know for sure with the A’s. There is a recent report that claimed the Sox were interested in trading for all star third baseman Josh Donaldson before signing Pablo Sandoval. Boston was originally told no, but was then traded mercurially to Toronto for a bunch of spare parts including Brett Lawrie and prospects Kendall Graveman, Sean Nolin and Franklin Barreto. When it comes to A’s general manager Billy Beane everyone is available when the price is right.
The Red Sox do have a farm system full of tradable assets. Manuel Margot, Henry Owens, Garin Cecchini, Brian Johnson, Rafael Devers, Yoan Moncada, and Andrew Benintendi are all expected to have a bright future in the big leagues. Boston also has quiet a bit of depth that could provide low risk fillers. Rusney Castillo, Allen Craig, Joe Kelly, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Deven Marrero are some players who could benefit from a change of scenery.
The Mets are another team that comes to mind as arguably have the best young pitchers in all off baseball. A deal could be constructed around Zack Wheeler who is out for the season with Tommy John surgery but could provide pitching depth in the future. With Matt Harvey, Jacob DeGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz in house the team could opt to trade Wheeler.
Boston is currently 36-44, good enough for last in the AL East, and seven behind Baltimore for the division lead. The Red Sox are certainly not out of it but must make up ground in order to stay competitive in a competitive AL East.
