Red Sox Trade Deadline Haul: How Did Boston Fare?

I think we slightly improved, on paper, but all the other AL contenders improved by more, except maybe TOR.

In past years, we've hoped and waited on returning players from the IL to give us a late boost. Last year, we hoped Devers would get over his injury issue that caused his major slump. It never seemed to happen.

This year, all our major injury pitchers are expected to be done for the year, so that hope is nonexistent. Crawford, Houck, Sandoval & Dobbins are 2026 hopes, now.

Where can we look for in system help or upgrades?

1. Mayer is our best hope at significantly upgrading what we have at 2B, now. His return would also allow Romy to DH or play 1B vs LHPs, thereby improving those slots in the line-up.

2. Campbell at 1B has to be done, ASAP. Toro helped us for a bit, but it's time to move on and give KC another look-see.

3. Buehler needs to pitch like last October for August, September & hopefully another October.

4. Criswell, May or Harrison have to be decent #5 starters or possible long men help in the pen. Criswell has not been able to do that, May seems like a starter only type. Harrison seems more fungible.

5. Burdi, Kelly or Guerrero offer little hope, but I'll mention them anyway. Both are on the IL. I think Burdi & Kelly are rehabbing. Maybe they never get another look, since we added...

6. Matz. Another LH'er joins the pen. It never hurts to have another arm, and our pen has been saving our asses for almost the whole year, so IMO, it's hard to imagine seeing our pen do  better or "upgraded," but improving the odds we do the same is a step in the right direction.

We can't see any major regressions from our younger players, as the dog days or August are upon us.

We can't see any major injuries. We've reached our quota, already.

Bregman, Story, Duran and the other vets must show leadership, grit and production over the next 2 months.

I think we have a shot to make the playoffs, and maybe the "crapshoot" theory knocks me upside the head, this year.