What Will Red Sox Do at MLB Trade Deadline to Fuel World Series Push?

What Will Red Sox Do at MLB Trade Deadline to Fuel World Series Push? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Boston Red Sox are the hottest team and baseball heading into the All-Star break, and have put themselves in a buyer's position for the MLB trade deadline at the end of the month.

That leaves one question. What exactly do the Red Sox need to add to put themselves in a position to make a run at the postseason and potentially a World Series? A question nobody thought we'd be asking a month ago after Boston traded away Rafael Devers.

However, now the Red Sox have plenty of money to work with for the future and sit just three games back in their division with a 53-45 record.

TEN STRAIGHT @REDSOX WINS

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— MLB (@MLB) July 13, 2025

The Red Sox's main needs heading toward the deadline have been bullpen help and first base, with starting pitching taking a back seat. However, after rookie pitcher Hunter Dobbins went down with a reported torn ACL earlier this week, starting pitching has become a stronger need for Boston.

“What they need is a No. 2 starter and bullpen help … After saving $255 million in the (Rafael) Devers trade, they need not engage in buy-sell scenarios," Ken Rosenthal said (h/t NESN.com). "They should be buyers, period."

As for the approach for each of the needs, Masslive.com's Sean McAdam believes the Red Sox should look for starters and relievers who have multiple years of control remaining to build for the future. But, at first base, Boston could look for a rental as Triston Casas is out for the season but will be ready for 2026 and beyond.

“Triston Casas has a long recovery road ahead of him, but could still be the first baseman of the future as soon as Opening Day 2026. That would make Arizona’s Josh Naylor, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, a logical target if — and that’s a big ‘if’ – the Diamondbacks decide to sell," McAdam wrote (h/t NESN.com) Other possibilities could include Baltimore’s Ryan O’Hearn and Cleveland’s Carlos Santana, each also in their walk year."

As for the pitching side, the Red Sox will join a crowded field of starting pitching buyers, and there are not a lot of options with multiple years left. The two names that come to mind are Diamondbacks' pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, who may not even be available depending on how the Diamondbacks perform coming out of the All-Star break.

“If the Diamondbacks sell, they are unlikely to trade both Gallen and Kelly, according to sources briefed on their plans,” Rosenthal reported. "If they subtract both Gallen and Kelly, they might not have enough young pitching to get through the season."

Then, to the bullpen for late-inning relief, McAdams named a couple of closer options the Red Sox could target to fill their eighth-inning role ahead of Aroldis Chapman.

“As for bullpen help, relievers are expected to flood the market. But finding what the Red Sox need — a trustworthy high-leverage reliever to handle the eighth inning — will not be easy,” McAdam wrote. “It’s possible the Sox could acquire a closer like Ryan Helsley or Pittsburgh’s David Bednar and utilize him in the eighth."

The Red Sox have already made one blockbuster trade this season, and expect there to be many more trades as we approach the July 31 deadline. However, this time the Red Sox should be on the buying end.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.