Three Veteran Starters Red Sox Should Target To Fill Innings Gap At Trade Deadline

[notin]

27 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

He’s literally ranked #68 by pipeline right now.  
When was Uberstine ever ranked?

I admit I find that surprising,  Or I'm surprised that none of Baseball America, MLB.com or Baseball Prospectus have ever ranked him anywhere..

Fangraphs gives him a future value of 50, which is very high, but none of this does Detroit any good if he cannot ever take the mound... 

[Hugh2]

10 minutes ago, notin said:

I admit I find that surprising,  Or I'm surprised that none of Baseball America, MLB.com or Baseball Prospectus have ever ranked him anywhere..

Fangraphs gives him a future value of 50, which is very high, but none of this does Detroit any good if he cannot ever take the mound... 

Keith law also had him ranked as a top 50 prospect back in 2024 or 2025 idk

[Hugh2]

15 minutes ago, notin said:

Unless you needed someone to pitch today...

If that’s the case why would you trade your Skubal?

[notin]

8 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Keith law also had him ranked as a top 50 prospect back in 2024 or 2025 idk

Back then, everyone had Mayer in their top 15, and i some cases top 10 prospects for all of MLB.  I do not think any values him that way today....

[Hugh2]

9 minutes ago, notin said:

Back then, everyone had Mayer in their top 15, and i some cases top 10 prospects for all of MLB.  I do not think any values him that way today....

Ok, but no one ever valued Uberstine that highly, I’m confused are we comparing him to Uberstine now or Mayer? Idk how people value Mayer but obviously the Tigers valued Ryan to trade the best pitcher in baseball for him

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Idk how people value Mayer but obviously the Tigers valued Ryan to trade the best pitcher in baseball for him

I could be wrong, but I think Hope was the central return piece for Skubal- not Ryan.

[Hugh2]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I could be wrong, but I think Hope was the central return piece for Skubal- not Ryan.

Correct, and having a top 100 prospect as your secondary piece ain’t too shabby 

[notin]

32 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Ok, but no one ever valued Uberstine that highly, I’m confused are we comparing him to Uberstine now or Mayer? Idk how people value Mayer but obviously the Tigers valued Ryan to trade the best pitcher in baseball for him

No, Uberstine was an exaggeration.  I’m really not seeing the “ hey this is what we got for our two time Cy Young winner” value in River Ryan.  Especially post- injury…

[Hugh2]

Just now, notin said:

No, Uberstine was an exaggeration.  I’m really not seeing the “ hey this is what we got for our two time Cy Young winner” value in River Ryan.  Especially post- injury…

Not every guy who is Injured is a broken man with no value, almost everyone gets injured at some point in their career.  
He’s young, throws 100 mph with elite spin, if the team saw him rehab and really likes him they don’t care if he’s been united this year 

he’s a secondary piece and still ranked top 100 for a reason, his stuff is on a whole different level than Uberstine. 
 

we are talking about the secondary piece for a two month rental of a guy, albeit, a really good guy but still just two months.

[JoeBrady]

8 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

if the team saw him rehab and really likes him

That's the whole thing.  We can weigh in, but GMs are using the best scouts in the world.  We don't know what they are looking at and what they value.  And a falling #75 might be a #150, and a rising #150 might be more like a #75.

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Correct, and having a top 100 prospect as your secondary piece ain’t too shabby 

Exactly. This trade was about what most expected it would take- maybe slightly less than some thought.

It's hard to equate to what the Sox would have had to give up, but for a rental, I wouldn't have tried to match or beat the Dodger offer.

The upside for LAD, is that they will likely extend him, whereas we probably would not have.

[Hugh2]

12 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

That's the whole thing.  We can weigh in, but GMs are using the best scouts in the world.  We don't know what they are looking at and what they value.  And a falling #75 might be a #150, and a rising #150 might be more like a #75.

I’m not claiming to know much about him either way, is he trending up or down? Idk….but the tigers liked him enough 

[moonslav59]

Just now, Hugh2 said:

I’m not claiming to know much about him either way, is he trending up or down? Idk….but the tigers liked him enough 

I think the Tigers did the right thing. This is the best they could get.

The Dodgers furthered their building a juggernaut on paper, but it's good thing the game is played on the field.

[moonslav59]

Rays get Peralta.

Apparently, the Sox offered prospects for de la Cruz, but Cincy wanted MLB players.

[SoxPhan]

22 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Exactly. This trade was about what most expected it would take- maybe slightly less than some thought.

It's hard to equate to what the Sox would have had to give up, but for a rental, I wouldn't have tried to match or beat the Dodger offer.

The upside for LAD, is that they will likely extend him, whereas we probably would not have.

It's less than I thought, I'll admit. Hope and Ryan were a good start, but I figured there would have been more than LAD's #17 after that. 

I think it would have taken Eyanson, Gonzalez and Witherspoon for us to beat that, which would be too steep for me. Surprised the Rays or Brewers wouldn't step up and beat that, tho. They both know they've never won anything right? At some point you gotta stop playing for the future and just go for it. 

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, SoxPhan said:

It's less than I thought, I'll admit. Hope and Ryan were a good start, but I figured there would have been more than LAD's #17 after that. 

I think it would have taken Eyanson, Gonzalez and Witherspoon for us to beat that, which would be too steep for me. Surprised the Rays or Brewers wouldn't step up and beat that, tho. They both know they've never won anything right? At some point you gotta stop playing for the future and just go for it. 

The bottom line to me, and it looks like most GMs is that Skubal is a rental. He'll demand a king's ransom this winter, so it's good bye or pay up. There is not even comp pick, if he bolts.

For the Sox, it was likely 2 months of Skubal for 5 years of control for 2-4 prospects/players. each.

[SoxPhan]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

The bottom line to me, and it looks like most GMs is that Skubal is a rental. He'll demand a king's ransom this winter, so it's good bye or pay up. There is not even comp pick, if he bolts.

For the Sox, it was likely 2 months of Skubal for 5 years of control for 2-4 prospects/players. each.

Yeah, Sox were never even in the discussion anyway. Was just replying what I thought our comp was for fun,

But the Brewer's f***ed this up imo. Imagine Miz and Skubal in the playoffs. Now instead of that THEY will likely have to face him to get to the big show. They could have dealt a young arm like Henderson, the #12 and #76, and still would have the best prospect in baseball, the #64 and #87. So not like they would have had to gut the system. If they lose to the Dodgers again this year in playoffs, heads should roll.
'

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I could be wrong, but I think Hope was the central return piece for Skubal- not Ryan.

without a doubt. the others are basically throw-ins. still...i think the Tigers got robbed. they should have demanded more from the Dodgers deep farm. or told the Dodgers to get f***ed. 

[JoeBrady]

14 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I’m not claiming to know much about him either way, is he trending up or down? Idk….but the tigers liked him enough 

That's all that counts.  Everyone seems to like Eyanson, but it's possible that the Tigers far prefer the LA guys.  Sometimes we get too deep into the weeds.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

without a doubt. the others are basically throw-ins. still...i think the Tigers got robbed. they should have demanded more from the Dodgers deep farm. or told the Dodgers to get f***ed. 

They had to trade Skubal or get just a comp pick.

I think the Dodgers made the best offer.

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

They had to trade Skubal or get just a comp pick.

I think the Dodgers made the best offer.

Good point. The Dodgers also have the best chance of keeping him.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Old Red said:

Good point. The Dodgers also have the best chance of keeping him.

You can almost book it. Skubal extension or re-signing.

[moonslav59]

Cubs get Gausman.

[Nick]

I had no idea.....per overthemonster

"We’ve reached the point where Tanner Houck now feels like he belongs to a completely different era of Red Sox baseball. And yet, might he be a contributor to the 2026 team? After undergoing Tommy John surgery last season, Houck’s rehab is now said be progressing so well that the Sox “think he could be a factor down the stretch.” Houck is currently in Fort Myers, where he’s throwing multiple bullpen sessions a week. “It’s feasible that if he’s able to get back — plus with his history of what he’s done before, and if he’s right — that guy can help you,“ said Chad Tracy. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)"

[Hugh2]

33 minutes ago, Nick said:

I had no idea.....per overthemonster

"We’ve reached the point where Tanner Houck now feels like he belongs to a completely different era of Red Sox baseball. And yet, might he be a contributor to the 2026 team? After undergoing Tommy John surgery last season, Houck’s rehab is now said be progressing so well that the Sox “think he could be a factor down the stretch.” Houck is currently in Fort Myers, where he’s throwing multiple bullpen sessions a week. “It’s feasible that if he’s able to get back — plus with his history of what he’s done before, and if he’s right — that guy can help you,“ said Chad Tracy. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)"

I remember a time when Houck looked really good out of the bullpen and thought he might be our future 8/9 inning guy. 

[mvp 78]

19 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I remember a time when Houck looked really good out of the bullpen and thought he might be our future 8/9 inning guy. 

He only has one year left of control. I'm fine with leaving him in the pen. He looked good there previously.

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I remember a time when Houck looked really good out of the bullpen and thought he might be our future 8/9 inning guy. 

he was also damn good as a starter. He was our ace in 2024. I know that seams like a long time ago, but it's not.

His 2022 season, mostly as a RP'er had almost identical numbers as his 2024 starter season:

RP: 3.15 ERA/ 3.30 FIP

SP: 3.12 ERA/ 3.32 FIP

[Hugh2]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

he was also damn good as a starter. He was our ace in 2024. I know that seams like a long time ago, but it's not.

His 2022 season, mostly as a RP'er had almost identical numbers as his 2024 starter season:

RP: 3.15 ERA/ 3.30 FIP

SP: 3.12 ERA/ 3.32 FIP

He also really slowed down in that 2024 season, he only looked like a really really good starter for 1/2 a season. 

I say keep him in the pen. 

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

he was also damn good as a starter. He was our ace in 2024. I know that seams like a long time ago, but it's not.

His 2022 season, mostly as a RP'er had almost identical numbers as his 2024 starter season:

RP: 3.15 ERA/ 3.30 FIP

SP: 3.12 ERA/ 3.32 FIP

4/1 - 6/24/24 103 IP, 2.18 ERA, 2.22 FIP, 2 HR, 101 K, 18 BB 

Previous career high in innings was 106.

6/25 - 9/23/24 75 IP, 4.42 ERA, 4.83 FIP, 9 HR, 53 K, 30 BB

 

[Randy Red Sox]

On 7/31/2026 at 8:34 PM, moonslav59 said:

I fully agree.

We cannot trade for a pitcher having a bad year and hope they turn it around post trade.

i'd like to upgrade at C most.  i think we have enough in house options at SS. another SP and or reliever would be nice but not crucial. Despite our 2nd half i still don't think this our time.  I certainly do not trade any more our top prospects especially Arias or Eyvanson.