McAdam: Making sense of Red Sox' latest trade rumors

It's that time of year again. As the trade deadline nears each summer, trade rumors sprout up like weeds.

Some are speculative, some are accurate and some couldn't be more wrong.

In the last 24 hours, Red Sox scouts and front office evaluators have been spotted across the county.

There was a scout in San Francisco Thursday night to watch the Giants and New York Mets, and while some theorized that the Sox were interested in the starting pitching battle between Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard, that's not accurate.

After acquiring Andrew Cashner last weekend, the Red Sox' rotation is set. With Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez, the Red Sox rotation has been inconsistent, but it's ludicrous to think that the Sox would be searching for more starting pitching, especially with Sale, Price and Nathan Eovaldi under long-term deals and Rodriguez under their control for two more seasons.

It's far more likely that the Sox were interested in bullpen pieces, led by Will Smith, the Giants' lefty closer who is on an expiring deal. The Sox liked Smith enough to inquire about him last year and his affordable salary makes him a logical target again.

Frank Wren, Dave Dombrowski's closest advisor, was in Detroit watching the Tigers and Blue Jays. Some theorized -- again, wrongly -- that the Sox were looking at Jays starter Marcus Stroman. Again, the Sox' need is not in the rotation.

Instead, the Sox were likely taking a look at Detroit reliever Shane Greene, whom Dombrowski traded for once and might be interested in trading for again. If not Greene, maybe the target is Toronto's Ken Giles, who pitched just once n the recent series between the Jays and Sox.

Finally, longtime Chicago baseball writer Phil Rogers, a respected reporter, noted on Twitter Friday that the Sox have made inquiries about White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu.

If this is true, it shouldn't be. Abreu should not be of any interest to the Red Sox.

Some six years ago, the Red Sox very nearly won the bidding for Abreu, but lost out when they wouldn't up their offer at the 11th hour. (Sufficiently chuffed by their inability to land Abreu, the Sox then over-compensated on the next Cuban free agent to come down the pike, giving outfielder Rusney Castillo a seven-year, $72.5-million deal, and we all know how well that's worked out).

Abreu is eligible for free agency after this year, and doesn't fit the White Sox' long-term plans, other than to continue to serve as a mentor of sorts for emerging star and fellow countryman Yoan Moncada.

There have been times when Abreu would have made sense for the Red Sox. In fact, he would have been a nice replacement for David Ortiz following the 2016 season.

But now? The Red Sox have far more obvious needs than a first baseman.

It's true that both players who were expected to split time at first base this season -- Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce -- are currently on the IL, and Pearce, battling a knee injury after first being sidelined by back trouble, is probably out until well into August.

But while Moreland's recovery from a quad strain had taken longer than anticipated, he could be activated when the team starts a series in Tampa Bay Monday. At the very latest, barring any sort of further setback, he'll be with the Sox for the start of their next homestand.

The Sox will then have Moreland and Michael Chavis to platoon at first, with Chavis also available to share second base duties with Brock Holt. If Pearce doesn't return at all this season, the Sox are still set on the right side of the infield.

And while it's true that Abreu would be a nice weapon against left-handed pitching -- against which the Sox have struggled this year -- that's far from the Red Sox' most obvious need.

As it stands, the Sox lead both leagues in batting average, average runs per game and runs scored, while ranking among the league leaders in total bases (second), OPS (third) and slugging percentage (fourth). Does that sound like a team in desperate need of more punch?

Next, consider that the Red Sox have a limited pool of intriguing prospect from which they can deal. Should that precious capital be used on a slugger or a bullpen arm?

That's a rhetorical question, of course. If you've watched the Red Sox for more than a handful of games this season, you know a reliever is far more necessary than a power-hitting first baseman.

And that's before we get to the matter of payroll. Abreu is making $16 million, meaning he's due somewhere between $6.5-$7 million for the rest of the way. Even if the White Sox took back some of the money to facilitate a deal, they'd expected a better return in prospects.

The Sox don't need Abreu. They need what they've needed since April -- additional bullpen help.