I don't know if I would trade for a reliever. The cost will be lower than trading for a quality starter, but the cost will be quite high, and, with the exception of trading for A.Miller (who will cost the moon and stars), the new relief pitcher will not be a sure thing and could falter down the stretch. I would take my chances with what the Red Sox already have. I'm willing to expand Barnes' role, hoping he can develop beyond what he is now and perform as a set up reliever if necessary. I would bring up Pat Light toward the end of the season and throw him into the mix, hoping he can dominate and perform as a shutdown reliever. Hembree is another guy who could be ready to take on a larger role if necessary. So, in sum, even if Uehara and Tazawa begin to falter, the Red Sox have internal options.
I would continue to seek a trade for a SP, but I'm growing skeptical that they will find one who will upgrade the top of the rotation--they need a number 2 starter, not a middle-of-the-rotation starter or less. While Teheran certainly looks like a number 2 on the surface, his peripherals and declining velocity suggest a middle-of-the-rotation starter in Boston.
If the Red Sox can't find an SP, I would focus on offensive upgrades, such as a LH bat for left field and a possible replacement for Hanley if he continues to suck at the plate (90 OPS+ in 2015; 92 OPS+ in 2016).
I would continue to seek a trade for a SP, but I'm growing skeptical that they will find one who will upgrade the top of the rotation--they need a number 2 starter, not a middle-of-the-rotation starter or less. While Teheran certainly looks like a number 2 on the surface, his peripherals and declining velocity suggest a middle-of-the-rotation starter in Boston.
If the Red Sox can't find an SP, I would focus on offensive upgrades, such as a LH bat for left field and a possible replacement for Hanley if he continues to suck at the plate (90 OPS+ in 2015; 92 OPS+ in 2016).
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