Craig Breslow Addresses Red Sox’s Trade Deadline Plans As Rumors Swirl

The Boston Red Sox are going to be one of the more intriguing teams ahead of the trade deadline. While the rumors have swirled around the team for months now, Boston’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently spoke on their trade deadline plans.

“We’re approaching the deadline, looking at ways to bolster the team given the play over the last month and a half or so,” Breslow recently said on MLB Network Radio. “And you know, I think that I’ve been saying that the needs seem to be a bit fluid because if we talked two and a half months ago, we would’ve said we just lost our first baseman for the season, and we’ve got to figure that out. But we’ve gotten really strong play out of Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro. But we’ll be open-minded about the opportunities to bring in a bat that can play first base.

“A month and a half ago, we would’ve said we need somebody who can pitch toward the front of our rotation. Then you look at what Lucas (Giolito) and Brayan (Bello) have done; they’re pitching every bit the part of a guy who can pitch at the front of our rotation, but I don’t think you’ll find anybody who comes on here and says they have enough starting pitching, so that’s going to be an area of focus for us as well.”

Breslow addressed the Red Sox’s two biggest needs: first base and starting pitching. Adding at these two positions will be huge for Boston’s postseason and World Series chances this year.

While Toro and Gonzalez have been solid at first base for Boston, the Red Sox need a thumper who can make a huge impact for the offense. The trade deadline will likely see guys like Josh Naylor and Ryan O’Hearn moved, with the Red Sox looking like a fit for either guy.

The Red Sox’s rotation could still use depth, too, even with the emergence of Giolito and Bello over the last few weeks. The Red Sox need to add at least one more reliable pitcher.

Breslow didn’t hold back, though. He seemed to make it clear that Boston has a few holes to fill and that he plans to be proactive, not reactive, in the coming weeks.

More MLB: Yankees Blockbuster? $66 Million Trade Rumors Reach New Peak