The Boston Red Sox are coming off of a sweep of the Miami Marlins, and they have just a few series left until the MLB trade deadline where they'll have to decide to buy, sell or stay put.
Looking at the roster right now, starting pitching is one of their biggest needs, and everyone has projected different pitchers that the Red Sox should be in on at the deadline.
ESPN's Dave Schoenfield recently picked one player that each MLB team should trade away or trade for, and he believes Boston should target Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi.
Here's what Schoenfield wrote about the potential trade:
"The Red Sox are too good to punt, but too far behind the Orioles and Yankees in the division to go all-in with a major trade that will deplete the farm system. They don't have a glaring hole, although the rotation hasn't been as dominant of late after a hot start -- plus, they'll have to worry about Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford reaching career highs in innings soon. They could also upgrade DH -- although, they're paying Masataka Yoshida a lot of money -- or shortstop, so that they could move Ceddanne Rafaela back to the outfield. Starting pitcher feels like the need here, though. Besides those we've mentioned, if the Blue Jays do indeed decide to deal players away, add Kikuchi to the list since he's heading to free agency."
Kikuchi has posted a 4.12 ERA and a 1.309 WHIP while striking out 98 in his 18 starts this season, his third for Toronto.
The 33-year-old lefty was an All-Star back in 2021 with the Seattle Mariners, but he's been up and down since joining the Blue Jays in 2022.
With his contract expiring at the end of the year, this move would obviously signify Boston making a push specifically for this year, as other pitchers available on the trade market have term left. However, Kikuchi would cost less as a rental, which could be enticing to chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and company.
If the Red Sox don't want to give up a top-four or five prospect in their system, they may be able to get Kikuchi and bolster their chances of a playoff push.
