The Boston Red Sox find themselves in a familiar predicament: a team with potential, but lacking the necessary tools to compete for a World Series title. With a 27.4% chance of making the postseason, according to Baseball-Reference.com, and a 31% shot from Fangraphs.com, the Red Sox are in a precarious position. This is a team that has struggled to find consistency and has been unable to address its weaknesses, despite having ample time to do so.
One thing that immediately stands out is the Red Sox's reliance on their designated hitters. They've given Mickey Gasper, Andruw Monasterio, and Masataka Yoshida 30 starts at designated hitter over 51 games, and the results have been underwhelming, to say the least. With only three home runs to show for it, it's clear that the Red Sox need to strengthen their lineup. The urgency to improve was evident when last season ended, and it's only gotten more pressing since.
The Red Sox's leadership vacuum, left by Alex Bregman's signing with the Cubs, has also been a problem. With Trevor Story expected to be on the injured list into July, the team has struggled to find a consistent leader. The lack of urgency in addressing these issues is concerning, and it's clear that the Red Sox need to make some bold moves if they want to become legitimate contenders.
In my opinion, the Red Sox should take advantage of the lack of sellers in the trade market and make players like Aroldis Chapman, Jarren Duran, and Sonny Gray available. Chapman is at the height of his value, and his 2.26 earned run average in 46 career postseason games would have contenders lined up. Every other reliever should be available, too. Gray is in the final year of his contract and has pitched well, and trading Duran would clear up the outfield logjam. Isiah Kiner-Falefa's versatility also could net a prospect.
The Red Sox are not legitimate contenders, and the focus should be on changing that for next season. The sooner they get started, the better. The team needs to make some bold moves and take advantage of the current trade market. Only then can they hope to become a force in the American League and compete for a World Series title.
