The Boston Red Sox season has not met expectations. However, despite their struggles and trading away of Rafael Devers, they can still make a push for the postseason.
The Red Sox are two games below .500 after play on Wednesday, but are just three games out of a wild card spot in the American League. With Alex Bregman working towards a return, they could make a late push for October. However, they may need to add some players before the trade deadline.
The Red Sox starters have produced a 4.29 ERA this year, which is the eighth-worst in baseball. If not for Garrett Crochet, they would be even worse. The Red Sox need to find starting pitchers if they want to have a real shot at making the postseason. The Boston Herald's Mac Cerullo suggested the Red Sox could try to acquire Sandy Alcántara.
Alcántara has a 6.98 ERA this season. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022, but has struggled ever since. He was not great in 2023 and missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He looked to be turning a corner, but gave up seven earned runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last start. Before that start, he had a 2.74 ERA in June with three quality starts.
"Normally that’s not someone a contender would have any interest in, but given his track record it’s not crazy to imagine a club could talk themselves into his talent," wrote Cerullo. "After all, Walker Buehler had a terrible season last year coming off a similar injury and hasn’t been good this year in Boston, but he was still able to tap into his abilities at the perfect time in October and help the Dodgers win their second World Series title this decade. Perhaps Alcantara could do the same?"
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His trade value is perhaps lower than ever. He signed a five-year, $56 million deal in 2022 and is under club control through 2027. The Marlins could simply hold on to him in hopes of him turning things around next year, so they can get more in a trade.
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