I was just echoing what I've heard about impressions at the deadline from virtually all the ex-Sox-turned-media -- Middlebrooks, Merloni, Rice, Wake, Youck -- plus others from MLB channel. Reporters say it, too, based on what they've been told by other players, on and off the record.
It's unreasonable to assume all those guys are full of crap, and just trying to contrive rumors -- especially when many work for an actual club like Bloom's Red Sox that never makes a significant trade. And before anyone here jumps to reply, I mean for a key piece at the time, beyond getting a Pivetta, who turned into a decent pitcher, or a power bat acquired while on the IL (who they let walk in two months, after his leg was healed, and then led the NL in HRs).