Red Sox Struck Out on Deadline Deals, Settle for Modest Additions

In the days leading up to the 2025 MLB trade deadline on August 1st, the Boston Red Sox were actively pursuing a deal to acquire coveted Twins starter Joe Ryan. However, according to league sources, the talks fell apart when the Red Sox were unwilling to offer any of their top outfield prospects or an enticing enough package of their top-tier minor leaguers.

The Red Sox's top outfield prospect, Jhostynxon Garcia, was reportedly part of the discussions, but the Twins ultimately deemed the rest of Boston's offer insufficient to part with Ryan, who owns a 2.82 ERA and is under team control through 2027.

Ultimately, the Red Sox were forced to pivot to more modest additions, acquiring pitchers Steven Matz and Dustin May. This left the team's head of baseball operations, Craig Breslow, having to defend the moves after the deadline, acknowledging the fans' frustration and disappointment with the lack of significant reinforcements for a Red Sox team that currently holds the second wild-card spot in the American League.

Breslow insisted that the team believes in its young, talented roster and its ability to continue performing at a high level and make the playoffs. However, the lack of a top-of-the-rotation starter to pair with ace Garrett Crochet has left some questioning whether the Red Sox did enough to bolster their playoff chances.