Red Sox Trade Deadline Review

What's up everyone? The trade deadline has come and gone so I'm back again with another overly optimistic take about the Red Sox, despite the outrage everyone has regarding the events of the last few days.

Personally, I don't think it mattered what the Red Sox did at the deadline. Fans would have been mad regardless. I'm a Chaim Bloom defender - he took a last place team to the ALCS in the span of a year, people seem to forget that. Championships don't grow on trees, and sometimes you have to trust the process. I'll go trade by trade and give my quick thoughts on each of the moves.

Trade #1: Christian Vazquez for Enmanuel Valdez and Wilyer Abreu

This trade stung. Vazquez has been the Red Sox catcher for the better part of a decade now. He was always smiling, always seemed to come through with a clutch hit, and seemed liked a generally well-liked guy in the clubhouse. It is a business though, and he is a free agent after the season. Despite Bloom saying they still have hope for this year, this was clearly a move for the future. With all the injuries facing the team, getting nothing in return for some of your impending free agents feels shortsighted. Even if you think you can go on a run, you have to recognize how unlikely that is and make some hard decisions (Disclaimer: I still think they can go on a run).

I won't pretend to know a lot about the two players we received in return, but I do know Valdez has some exciting minor league numbers and could be major league ready in the near future. Abreu isn't as exciting, but is also close to MLB ready and could contribute in some fashion.

The trade improves organizational depth going into an off-season with a lack of high-end free agent talent. If the Sox are serious about competing next season (and they should be), they'll likely look to improve the roster through more trades over the winter. Gathering prospects like these isn't the worst thing in the world, especially when it can increase their bargaining power going forward.

Trade #2: Jake Diekman for Reese McGuire

Jake Diekman was mostly a swing and a miss in terms of off-season signings. I love this trade for that reason. Bloom made the signing, realized it didn't work, and got the deal off the books. No use in keeping around that salary if somebody else was going to take it.

Is McGuire going to light the world on fire? Probably not. But he is a former first-round pick, is solid defensively, and has only been in legal trouble once before. Seriously, everyone wants to make their jokes about McGuire's "incident" (myself included), but I say let he among us who has never been arrested for masturbating in front of a Dollar Tree cast the first stone. You got out of the Diekman contract, got some additional catching depth, and got some jokes off in the process. I like the deal.

Trade #3: A Player to be Named Later for Tommy Pham

So we got the Dollar Tree jerk off guy and the fantasy football slapping guy. It's a shame the deadline has passed because I would have liked to see if we could assemble a squad entirely full of lunatics. Maybe bring in Trevor Bauer (don't do that) or Amir Garrett and see what kind of chaos ensues. Have Lenny Dykstra coach the team. Could be fun.

Seriously though, this is kind of a nothing trade to me. Pham hits lefties well, and the Sox could definitely use more production from the outfield. He's never going to be an every day guy, but he can be a useful platoon piece. He's under contract for one more year at six million dollars. Low risk move. Don't love it, don't hate it.

Trade #4: Jay Groome for Eric Hosmer, Corey Rosier, and Max Ferguson

I hated this trade at first but talked myself into it fairly quickly as I tend to do. I don't think Eric Hosmer is very good at all. He's been a below average hitter for a couple years now, and he's way overpaid. The good news is the Red Sox aren't the ones paying him. The great news is he's a natural first baseman who probably won't consistently make errors. The terrible news is Franchy Cordero was sent back to AAA.

For now, Hosmer is another low-risk move. He's a good clubhouse guy, he's a friend and mentor of future first baseman Triston Casas, and he's being paid by the Padres. He isn't the same player he was with the Royals, but he fills a need in the short-term and won't tie them up financially going forward.

The Sox did trade former top prospect Jay Groome in the deal. He's a "big name" because of his former prospect pedigree, but Bloom clearly values position players more than pitchers, at least through the farm. I don't know anything about Rosier or Ferguson, as I said earlier though, more organizational depth will be key this winter.

In the short term, I think the team is roughly in the same spot they were before the deadline. Took a hit at catcher with the departure of Vazquez, but significantly improved defensively with Hosmer playing first. I would have liked to see a controllable bullpen arm be added to the mix, but it wasn't in the cards. Long term though, I think we improved the farm and have some controllable pieces that could be helpful, or could even be moved before next season.

Also, this season isn't over. Only two games out of the wild card. Just saying.

Play That Dirty Water

- Jake