Craig Breslow can’t allow the Red Sox to compete for a playoff spot with their current bullpen.
The Boston Red Sox have struggled since the All-Star break, which was not entirely unexpected. Despite holding late-game leads in their first two matchups against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Alex Cora’s team saw their bullpen falter, resulting in losses and a tie for the third AL Wild Card spot.
Saturday’s game was particularly painful due to Greg Weissert’s performance. In the 10th inning, he blew a 6-4 lead by allowing a double to Andy Pages and an RBI single to Kiké Hernandez, who had earlier homered off Kenley Jansen to tie the game. In the 11th inning, after the Red Sox failed to score, Weissert loaded the bases and then gave up a walk-off single to Will Smith.
Weissert has been a major issue for the Red Sox bullpen recently, contributing to the urgent need for reinforcements. His 4.40 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, while concerning, do not fully reflect his struggles. In June, he posted a 5.73 ERA over 10 appearances, which has worsened to 7.88 over seven outings in July.
With Chris Martin on the IL for the second time this year and Justin Slaten also injured, the Red Sox bullpen is struggling to cope. They urgently need to trade for a replacement, and a call to the Angels could be a solution.
A Red Sox-Angels trade for Carlos Estevez to get Greg Weissert away from Boston’s bullpen
The Red Sox would be trading two Top 20 prospects for a reliever on an expiring contract, highlighting the high market value for Estévez and Boston’s urgency to finalize the deal swiftly.
This trade would be highly beneficial for Boston. Estévez, in 31 appearances this season, has posted a 2.61 ERA, a low 0.77 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts against just four walks over 31 innings. He would provide flexibility in managing veteran Kenley Jansen’s innings and could serve as a setup man or high-leverage reliever alongside Martin.
For the Angels, this deal would be favorable. David Sandlin, a 23-year-old still in High-A after being an 11th-round pick in the 2022 draft, possesses impressive stuff, including a fastball reaching 98 mph and a nicely moving splitter. Although raw and needing better control, his potential is appealing for a team looking to strengthen its farm system.
Blaze Jordan, a 21-year-old corner infielder with a powerful bat, has recovered from a slow start in Double-A Portland to hit .275/.322/.436 with six home runs and 15 doubles. He has also improved his strikeout rate, striking out only 22 times in 55 games this season, down from 75 times in 122 games and 94 times in 120 games in previous seasons.
Sandlin and Jordan would provide the Angels with two young, nearly MLB-ready prospects, benefiting both their immediate and future outlook. Meanwhile, the Red Sox would acquire the vital right-handed bullpen arm they currently need.
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