4:36 p.m.: Still trickling in. Michael Chavis to the Pirates for lefty reliever Austin Davis. Would expect that this is strictly a depth move for the Sox, who will probably stash Davis at Worcester. Not much return for a former first-round pick, but Chavis had plenty of time to prove himself at the major league level and couldn't. He was going to be optioned back to Worcester soon anyway, with veterans Marwin Gonzalez, Danny Santana and Christian Arroyo returning from the IL..
4:17 p.m.: As often happens, some deals trickle out after the deadline. Red Sox have acquired RHP Hansel Robles from Minnesota in exchange for RHP Alex Scherff, a fifth-round pick in 2017., who was pitching at Double A Portland. Robles has some closing experience, but is not having a great year, with a 4.91 ERA. He does have 10 saves. His best season came with the Angels in 2019 when he had a 2.48 ERA and 23 saves.
4:05 p.m.: Not impacting the American League race, but old friend Jon Lester is going from Washington to St. Louis, so a chance, perhaps, for one final playoff race for the veteran lefty. That's eight players dealt off the major league roster in the last few days by the Nationals.
3:55 p.m.: Blue Jays add another bullpen piece, Joakim Soria from Arizona. Again, depth piece, but veteran guy who's been in pennant races many times.
3:48 p.m.: One last move for the Yankees, it would appear - they get LHP Andrew Heaney from the Angels. Starter depth, I guess, but Heaney is not pitching particularly well. He's 6-7, 5.27 with a 1.309 WHIP in 18 starts. Helps the Yanks if they don't get Severino or Kluber back.
3:02 p.m.: Dealer Dave has struck. Dave Dombrowski took care of two needs with one trade, getting Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy from Texas. Gibson is under control through 2022.
2:57 p.m.: Oakland gets catcher Yan Gomes and UTI Josh Harrison from the Nationals. Improved depth for the A's and help behind the plate. Meanwhile, will the last person remaining in the Washington clubhouse please shut out the lights? I mean: Schwarber, Scherzer, Turner, Hand, Hudson, Harrison, Gomes......
2:54 p.m.: New York Mets get Javy Baez as a rental, along with pitcher Trevor Williams. (Sox were never in on Baez, but still, this is a major move for another contender in the NL)
2:27 p.m.: Never saw Craig Kimbrel as a likely target for the Red Sox. Yes, he would have provided another late-inning option and likely supplanted Matt Barnes as the closer for the rest of the year. (Barnes indicated he would be OK with this in the short-term). But given the potential for him to vest for next year, it would have been a lot for the Red Sox. In any event, Kimbrel has crossed town in Chicago, going to the White Sox. The White Sox spent $54 million to sign Liam Hendriks last winter and how he's going to be the co-closer for them, sharing save opportunities with Kimbrel. White Sox gave up Nick Madrigal (currently injured) and another prospect.
1:16: p.m. Uncertain whether the Red Sox are in search of a more natural first base option. It seems like they want to at least take a look at Kyle Schwarber there, even though he's never played the position before. Among the possible options: Carlos Santana. He's a switch-hitter, gets on base a lot. He's under control for next season and could end up blocking someone down the line. But Sox could always try to move him this winter, even if it meant taking some of his 2022 salary ($10.5 million) back.
1:08 p.m. To me, a far more interesting target from Texas for the Red Sox would be reliever Ian Kennedy. Kennedy has done it all from starting to long relief to closer (2.51 ERA, 16 saves, 1.054 WHIP). He wouldn't necessarily replace Matt Barnes in the closer's role, but would give the Sox another experienced high-leverage option in the back of the bullpen. And because Kennedy is a free agent this winter, he's a short-term rental with a modest asking price.
1:05 p.m. The Red Sox have had discussions with Texas about righthanded starter Kyle Gibson, who, like Berrios is under control through the end of 2022. Two things I would caution on Gibson. One, he's having a career year, a bit of an outlier at age 33. Secondly, he's been much better at home (1.75), a pitcher-friendly ballpark, than he has on the road (3.99). Buyer beware?
1:01 p.m. The Toronto Blue Jays have gone all-in, obtaining Jose Berrios from the Minnesota Twins. It came at a heavy cost -- the Blue Jays gave up two of their top four prospects: shortstop Austin Martin and pitcher Simeon Woods-Richardson. That's a lot for a year and a third of Berrios. The Blue Jays needed rotation reinforcements.
The Red Sox had talks with the Twins, but evidently weren't willing to go as far as the Jays. Thinking that it would have cost the Sox the equivalent of Jeter Downs and Tanner Houck.