'Underdog' Red Sox stand pat at the trade deadline

What has become of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox? There was a time not too long ago that the Red Sox and Yankees would make the biggest moves for the best players at the trade deadline, and all the other teams in the league would scramble for the scraps. Not anymore.

Hour after hour passed by on the final day of the trading deadline with no news coming out of Boston. Meanwhile, the Rangers, Astros, Blue Jays, Angels, Rays and Orioles all made significant moves to improve their teams.

If the Red Sox were borderline playoff contenders prior to this deadline, they’ve seen their chances diminished with their inactivity. One might say the Red Sox are now “underdogs” to make the playoffs. Chaim Bloom does.

“Understanding that we’re underdogs this year, right now, [with] where we are in the playoff odds, we just tried to stay true to that,” Bloom said in his media availability following the deadline.

When asked if his attitude towards the deadline would have been different if the Red Sox owned one of those wildcard spots now, Bloom said, “There’s a dial you turn up if it makes sense to be more short-term-oriented.”

Bloom hinted that he would have been more aggressive in dealing some of his minor league pieces for veteran rentals if the Red Sox were just a few slots higher in the standings. After Boston’s victory Tuesday night against the Mariners, the Red Sox are only 1.5 games out of the final wildcard spot.

So does that mean if they had won two more games, Bloom would have been in on Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander? Doubtful, but someone like Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, or Aaron Civale could have helped a starting rotation that has been decimated for the last month.

It has been an interesting season in regards to Bloom. Fans and the media put Bloom on the “hot seat” prior to this season. If the Red Sox finished last again, pressure would have been on ownership to cut ties with Bloom. As it is, despite being in last place for the majority of the season, the team is seven games over .500 now and playing hard.

So the Red Sox have been good enough to save Bloom’s job. The farm system is stronger than it has been in years. Some of the young players have been pivotal in Boston’s success this year - Jarren Duran, Brayan Bello, and Triston Casas. Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen were terrific signings that has given the team vital veteran leadership on and off the field.

The Red Sox team hasn't been so good, however, that Bloom would have felt pressure to trade any of his prize prospects. Bloom has a plan. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year as prospects Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela, Nick Yorke, et al get a little more seasoning at the minor league level while Duran, Bello, and Casas continue to gather major league experience.

Bloom said that he had been working the phones all day and nothing was appealing to him. Certainly that is because I’m sure all teams were asking for Mayer, Bello, Rafaela, or Casas. Again, if the Red Sox were more entrenched in the playoff hunt, pressure would have increased exponentially for Bloom to pull the trigger on one of them – most likely Rafaela.

As it is, Bloom downplayed the team’s chances of making the playoffs. The plan was not for them to compete this year. This has been a bonus, and, like I said, it has allowed Bloom to keep his job. The plan may be not even to compete for a championship in 2024. Bloom is trying to build something which can be sustainable starting in 2025.

I have no problem with what Bloom did, or didn’t do. In fact, I was in favor of the team being more aggressive in selling. At the very least, Adam Duvall or Alex Verdugo should have been dealt. I would have had no problem dealing James Paxton, either. Gasp.

The Red Sox gambled on signing Paxton when he was injured a couple of years ago. There was uncertainty if he would ever pitch for Boston. The 34-year-old started out the season injured and has put together a solid string of starts just at the right time. The Red Sox should have capitalized on their fortunate timing. While the minors are deep at positional players, it could use some more quality arms, especially starters.

I know fans aren’t happy with Bloom for not making any relevant deals. In fact, it almost feels like Bloom is trolling Sox fans by trading for a .145 hitter (Luis Arias) at the deadline. But the Red Sox do have reinforcements coming in Chris Sale, Trevor Story, Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Reese McGuire. McGuire even hit a home run last night in his first game back as if to emphasize the point.

So, enjoy this season, Sox fans. Bloom thinks this team can make the playoffs as currently constituted, and he is right. At least, he was right. Every team in contention helped themselves at the deadline. The Yankees just got Aaron Judge back. It is difficult to preach patience. Fans and media want to win now, but they will have to be satisfied with watching a team that will compete night in and night out.

But, like a parent, Bloom has to think long term. He needs to be level-headed and do what’s right for the team. Slow and steady wins the race, right? We'll see.