Even before Friday night's eighth-inning meltdown took place at Safeco Field, it was widely assumed in the industry that the Red Sox' goal at the non-waiver trade deadline at the end of the July would be to bolster their bullpen.
Friday night aside, the need is far from critical; even after Heath Hembree and Matt Barnes combined to turn a one-run lead into a one-run deficit, the Sox had the third-best bullpen in the league with a more-than-satisfactory 3.04 ERA. Craig Kimbrel remains among one of the game's two or three best closers and both Barnes and Joe Kelly have emerged as reliable high-leverage relievers.
That the Sox have lost only four games in which they led after seven innings reflects how stable and dependable the bullpen has been.
Still, looking to add another reliable arm for the stretch run and the post-season is what contending teams do. It's almost assumed that every team with an eye on the playoffs will look seek some sort of bullpen upgrade. It's practically compulsory.
But in recent weeks, two other potential areas of need have begun to emerge for the Sox.
1. A center fielder, preferably right-handed.
The Red Sox have been more than patient with Jackie Bradley Jr., sticking with him as their more-or-less everyday center fielder, despite subpar offensive production.
Through Friday, Bradley had been in the starting lineup for 58 of the Red Sox 71 games, and, of course, supplied his usual defensive brilliance. But among 83 qualifiers in the American League through Friday night's action, Bradley's .569 OPS ranked him 81st. And while, yes, his at-bats have been unlucky in recent days -- he had two hard-hit lineouts directly at Baltimore defenders Wednesday afternoon and another two in the first two games in Seattle -- it's impossible to suggest that his offensive woes have been merely the result of random misfortune.
The fact is that, since the All-Star break last year (he slashed .204/.277/.302 in the second half of 2017), Bradley has been a well-below-average offensive performer, leading to real questions about his suitability as an everyday player. No matter how terrific his play in center is, it's no longer possible to suggest his elite play in center more than makes up for his ineptitude at the plate.
Bradley is slashing .125/.192./.188 against lefties this year, highlighting the need for someone to take up those at-bats.
(If the Red Sox had a productive hitter to absorb the DH at-bats for when they sit Bradley, shift Andrew Benintendi to center and play J.D. Martinez in left, this wouldn't be much of a pressing issue. But they don't, so it is. Blake Swihart has failed to seize the opportunities presented to him, and the Sox don't have faith in Sam Travis to be that guy).
Given that the Sox don't have the capital on their depleted minor league system to identify an outfielder who could be Bradley's full-time replacement going forward, they'd be better off with a short-term rental to share playing time for the second half of this year.
Baltimore's Adam Jones would make a lot of sense. Jones is heading toward free agency and will turn 33 the day after the July 31 deadline, but remains a solid player (.285/.306/.448) with 10 homers and 29 RBI. He could provide a little sock in the lower third of the Red Sox order and while his defensive metrics are lousy this season, Jones could be expected to play an adequate center field. And, of course, in games in which Jones starts and the Red Sox lead in the late innings, Bradley would be available as a late-inning defensive replacement.
The cost shouldn't be prohibitive. The Orioles will look to make big prospect hauls with two other elite free agents-to-be: infielder Manny Machado and closer Zach Britton. Jones will be part of a larger group of secondary group of veterans (along with Brad Brach) that Dan Duquette will be shopping, but a low-level prospect should be enough to obtain Jones.
The one potential stumbling block: Jones has 10/5 rights and could refuse any trade. Would he invoke such a veto if he were to be dealt to a city where Jones has alleged that he was the victim of racist taunts?
2.An infielder with versatility.
It's clear that Dustin Pedroia is going to remain out of the lineup for a while. Some two weeks after first being placed back on the DL with inflammation in his surgically-repaired left knee, Pedroia has yet to resume baseball activities, and at this point, it would be a surprise to see him back in action before the All-Star break.
Even if Pedroia were to benefit from the rest and return in the second half, he could hardly be counted on to play regularly at second base for the remainder of the season.
Eduardo Nunez, who was re-signed during spring training as an insurance policy for Pedroia, has been a massive disappointment in the first two-and-a-half months, exposed as an everyday player and shown to be still recovering from his own knee injury. He's provided substandard play at second and has yet to serve as the offensive catalyst that he was over the second half of 2017.
Brock Holt could take some at-bats at second and would be more sure-handed at the position. But Holt's value is at its highest when he's moving around the diamond, and in the second half, both starters on the left side of the infield -- Rafael Devers and, in particular, Xander Bogaerts -- will need time off and Holt's versatility will be key.
The Sox would be better served with someone who can play second regularly, while also providing offensive contributions on a regular basis.
Oakland's Jed Lowrie fits the bill perfectly. Lowrie, too, is a free agent after this season. He's a switch-hitter who could also fill in at short and third, and of course, has a history of playing in Boston. Though Lowrie would fetch more than Jones -- he sports a solid .804 OPS this season and is considered at least league-average at second -- he's 34 and won't break the prospect bank.
Either (or both) of these moves would improve the Sox for the second half and into October and address the current holes which could otherwise impact their chances for a deep post-season run.
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