The injury was not a season-ender, but it was more than enough to shake the balance. Hunter Dobbins, a young arm sculpting out a role, was helping solidify a rotation that had been patchy at best early in the season. Losing him means one less reliable alternative behind Garrett Crochet, and with a postseason push on the horizon, the need for another shoulder has grown even louder. The front office knows what is missing: a high-end starting pitcher who can eat innings and balance out things down the stretch.
But identifying the requirement is only half the tale. Craig Breslow, the chief baseball officer, is not rushing into anything. He has made it clear the Red Sox would not get dragged into an overpay frenzy, particularly in a market many consider inefficient. The club has already moved major prospect capital to land Crochet. Doing it again for a short-term fix? Not likely, especially when that fix comes with a hefty price tag and a ticking contract clock.
That brings us to Seth Lugo, a name that keeps coming up in the rumor mill. The veteran starter from Kansas City has been steady, even impressive at times, and he is reportedly available. But here is the catch: he is on an expiring deal and comes with a $45 million price tag. For Boston, that is more than just a salary, it is a question of value, control, and whether a short-term patch fixing is worth long-term cost. And that is where caution takes over.
“At the same time, the Red Sox are weak enough in spots — non-Ceddanne Rafaela-and-Carlos Narvaez defense, baserunning — to acknowledge that this might not be the year to chase a player on an expiring contract such as Seth Lugo,” Jeff Passon said.
It is not just related to one injury and one pitcher. The Red Sox have shown flashes of dominance; however, they also have stretches where the team looks completely out of sync. Such an inconsistency makes short-period splashes feel riskier than usual. Sure, the team could chase someone like Lugo; however, does the star move the needle enough? The data, the fitnand the risk all say otherwise.
So how are they handling it? With restraint. There is a belief in the team that what the management has could just be good enough—if everyone stays healthy and steps up. However, if things unravel further? Then the force to pivot could override the current cool-headedness. For now, though, it is all related to patience… and watching the market like a hawk.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Seth Lugo throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
While the Red Sox’s pitching situation continues to dominate the spotlight, there is another part of the roster quietly raising eyebrows—and it is not on the field.
Red Sox target for $79M All-Star as power bat becomes deadline temptation
With the offense holding its own since the Rafael Devers trade, some thought the team to keep it simple at the deadline—patch a gap in the rotation and move forward. However, current speculation has added a new wrinkle to the story. As per Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer, the team could be an intriguing landing place for two-time All-Star Eugenio Suárez, a powerful right-handed bat with a $79 million price tag and enough pop to tilt games by himself.
“The Red Sox have done surprisingly well on offense since trading Rafael Devers, but there’s still a clear need for right-handed power in their lineup. To this end, Suárez could slot in at DH in deference to Alex Bregman at third,” Rymer proposed.
And he might have a point. Eugenio Suárez is blending to the tune of a .254 average, .924 OPS, 36 homers, and 86 RBIs, putting together one of his most complete seasons to date. With Fenway’s Green Monster looming in left field, there is every reason to believe his right-handed power would play beautifully in Boston. It is unlikely, Rymer admits that but in a deadline market where controllable sluggers are hard to discover, sometimes bold makes the most sense.
Source: MLB.com
The problem, of course, is logistics. With Bregman already locked in at third base, it would take some lineup shuffling to make space. One idea? Slide either Bregman or Suárez over to first base. It is unconventional but not totally impossible. And with the Red Sox already showing a willingness to get creative after the Devers deal, it would not be totally shocking. They need pitching, yes, but adding a bat like Suárez could provide the kind of jolt that shifts a playoff race.
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