Article: Looking at the 3 Prospects the Red Sox Traded at the MLB Trade Deadline

[Nick John]

The trade deadline has officially passed, as the Boston Red Sox made two moves to bolster their pitching staff. Bringing in left-handed reliever Steven Matz and right-handed starter Dustin May, the team made moves that they felt will help the roster continue its pursuit of the playoffs.

But, as everyone knows, in order to get a player, you need to give something up as well. With the team reluctant to trade any player on the current 26-man roster, Craig Breslow and the rest of the front office turned towards the team’s minor league system for players to trade. Of course, sometimes, fans feel that certain players shouldn’t have been included in a deal or that maybe a player who was traded could have got the team back someone better. For that concern, we’re going to look at the prospects that were traded away.

In total, the Red Sox traded out three prospects before the 6 p.m. trade deadline on Thursday. All three of the players were ranked within MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 prospects within the system, with the highest ranked player being outfielder James Tibbs III who was fifth on that list.

OF James Tibbs III

Originally acquired as the “centerpiece” of the Rafael Devers’ trade on June 15, Tibbs was viewed as an already-expendable prospect. His lack of defensive versatility made it a lock that, should he make it to Fenway, he would be stuck playing left field and the occasional first base, positions that would be blocked for him by players already ahead of him on the depth chart, especially if you believe in Kristian Campbell's transition to the cold corner. To make matters worse, his best tool that was supposed to make him valuable to teams in a potential trade (his hit tool) seemed to take a step back upon being promoted to Double-A Portland once he came over from the San Francisco Giants.

In the short amount of time he was in the organization, the outfielder played in 29 games where he hit .205/.321/.268 with two doubles, a triple, one home run and seven RBIs. He also struck out 37 times (compared to drawing just 19 walks).

During his time in Boston, Tibbs made it as high as fifth on MLB Pipeline’s rankings for the team's farm system. Yet, despite the high ranking, it seemed that Boston may not have been impressed with the display Tibbs put on since arriving in mid-June. Deciding to move him to the Dodgers as one of two prospects in the deal for May, the team may have moved him while his value was at its lowest out of worry it could drop even more.

OF Zach Ehrhard

Drafted twice by Boston—the first time in the 13th round of the 2021 draft, the second time being in the fourth round of the 2024 draft out of Oklahoma State—Ehrhard worked his way into the top-30 of Boston’s prospect rankings after a struggle in his first professional games in 2024. By the time of the trade, Ehrhard made his way up to being Boston’s 27th-ranked prospect on Pipeline's list.

This season, he showed an improvement in his offensive game, splitting time between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. In 88 games before being traded, Ehrhard hit .270/.371/.434 with 23 doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 45 RBIs. He also stole 23 bases, while walking 46 times and striking out 75 times.

But, just like with Tibbs, his path to Boston was blocked by a loaded outfield along with top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia ahead of him on the depth chart. Because of that, he was easy enough to move in a trade, though many were surprised to see him included as the second piece of the Dustin May deal considering many thought that Tibbs should have had enough value on his own for a rental pitcher like May.

INF Blaze Jordan

The third and final prospect moved at this year’s deadline was one who had been in the system the longest. Drafted in the third round of the 2020 draft, Jordan had become a staple in the organization, making his way up to being the 17th-ranked prospect in the Sox system by MLB Pipeline. Already, he’s been ranked as the Cardinals’ 19th-best prospect.

It comes as no surprise that Jordan was moved at the deadline, the biggest reason being that he was Rule 5 Draft eligible this offseason. The Red Sox did not seem to think too highly of him either, considering their lack of desire to give him a try up in Boston despite their first base issues and his quality hitting across the entire season. There was a very high probability that some team would take him in the Rule 5 Draft and take a shot on him over the offseason (assuming the Red Sox left him unprotected off the 40-man roster). Instead, the team moved him for Steven Matz to help their bullpen.

With the absurd market conditions for relievers at the deadline, being able to get Matz for just one superfluous player may end up being a steal based on how he pitches for Boston. The Sox were likely to lose Jordan for nothing in the offseason, so instead, they were able to make a deal work where they got someone back for him.

In 88 games split between Portland and Worcester, Jordan hit .308/.377/.495 with 22 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs and 62 RBIs. He also walked 33 times and struck out just 38 times.

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[TedYazPapiMookie]

Breslow spent next to nothing on the deadline deals.  Each resource was blocked and since Cora only plays his favorites and none of the 3 were favorites, the blocked status was never going to change.  It is precisely why Cora needs to be fired.  His close-minded approach to the prospects is disturbing. 

In a country where performance is supposed to be the criterion for success, Cora distorts it by being heavily biased in all his decisions.  Whether it's Kike Hernandez who he baby sat or Hamilton who he met while cheating for the Astros, his perspective on players is not performance based and that's a huge problem.  Observing his treatment of Duran, Rafaela and Campbell and his favoritism of Abreu, Hamilton, Robles and Kiki Hernandez is sickening.  It's hard to respect an unqualified manager who plays favorites and is above the law when it comes to cheating.  He is the biggest blemish on this organization in its history!!!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

How dare Alex Cora play ballplayers from international origins and cultures, and shame the names of Boston racists like owner Tom Yawkey and his GM Joe Cronin -- who refused to let their scouts sign all-time greats like Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays to contracts, and doom the Red Sox to AL basement regions for two decades... before the last MLB team to integrate finally recruited enough blacks and Latinos to help win a pennant in 1967.

Good thing Manager Dick Williams from St. Louis, Missouri, was biased enough to regularly include the likes of George Scott, Reggie Smith, Joe Foy, Elston Howard, Jose Tartabull, John Wyatt and Jose Santiago to help make the Impossible Dream come true.

[moonslav59]

IMO, we had several other prospects like these three, and even some slightly better ones that could have been packaged for better pitchers or a RHB 1Bman, but without knowing what was out there, I can't get specific and prove Brez should have done better.

[sk7326]

6 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Breslow spent next to nothing on the deadline deals.  Each resource was blocked and since Cora only plays his favorites and none of the 3 were favorites, the blocked status was never going to change.  It is precisely why Cora needs to be fired.  His close-minded approach to the prospects is disturbing. 

In a country where performance is supposed to be the criterion for success, Cora distorts it by being heavily biased in all his decisions.  Whether it's Kike Hernandez who he baby sat or Hamilton who he met while cheating for the Astros, his perspective on players is not performance based and that's a huge problem.  Observing his treatment of Duran, Rafaela and Campbell and his favoritism of Abreu, Hamilton, Robles and Kiki Hernandez is sickening.  It's hard to respect an unqualified manager who plays favorites and is above the law when it comes to cheating.  He is the biggest blemish on this organization in its history!!!

There was a time I did not realize this was satirical and thus did not laugh enough.  But I needed the smile!  

[notin]

7 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Breslow spent next to nothing on the deadline deals.  Each resource was blocked and since Cora only plays his favorites and none of the 3 were favorites, the blocked status was never going to change.  It is precisely why Cora needs to be fired.  His close-minded approach to the prospects is disturbing. 

In a country where performance is supposed to be the criterion for success, Cora distorts it by being heavily biased in all his decisions.  Whether it's Kike Hernandez who he baby sat or Hamilton who he met while cheating for the Astros, his perspective on players is not performance based and that's a huge problem.  Observing his treatment of Duran, Rafaela and Campbell and his favoritism of Abreu, Hamilton, Robles and Kiki Hernandez is sickening.  It's hard to respect an unqualified manager who plays favorites and is above the law when it comes to cheating.  He is the biggest blemish on this organization in its history!!!

Blaze Jordan is blocked? By whom? Abraham Toro?

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, sk7326 said:

There was a time I did not realize this was satirical and thus did not laugh enough.  But I needed the smile!  

It's a hell of a way to spend your time, but he/she is very good at it.

[moonslav59]

16 minutes ago, Hitch said:

It's a hell of a way to spend your time, but he/she is very good at it.

Funny thing is, it wasn't "satirical."

[Hitch]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Funny thing is, it wasn't "satirical."

If you can't see what they're doing by now, you'll continue to waste all your time thinking you're actually in a discussion with them.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Hitch said:

If you can't see what they're doing by now, you'll continue to waste all your time thinking you're actually in a discussion with them.

I've all but given up responding to TadJizzPuppyMoppy.

The others are fine.

[Hitch]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I've all but given up responding to TadJizzPuppyMoppy.

The others are fine.

Yes, when I say 'they' I'm speaking solely about this poster.

[moonslav59]

17 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Yes, when I say 'they' I'm speaking solely about this poster.

Even when trying to "discuss," it's never a true discussion. It's a waste of time.

I was responding to SK who thought his post was satirical, or maybe he was being satirical saying it was satirical.

Man- my head is spinning.

[sk7326]

20 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Even when trying to "discuss," it's never a true discussion. It's a waste of time.

I was responding to SK who thought his post was satirical, or maybe he was being satirical saying it was satirical.

Man- my head is spinning.

I don't think he is being satirical - but given the quality of the commentary, particularly with Cora - how would it be different if it WAS a bit?