MLB Insider Doesn’t See Red Sox Rival Buying Aggressively At Trade Deadline originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox begin June last in the American League East with considerable ground to make up. While they’ll spend the next two months determining whether they’re deadline buyers or sellers, the team at the top may not be motivated to make any blockbuster deals.
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USA Today’s Bob Nightengale said on Monday’s “Foul Territory” that he doesn’t expect the Tampa Bay Rays to be “real aggressive” before the trade deadline. Nightengale noted that the Rays have made moves with long-term success in mind.
Tampa Bay leads the New York Yankees by 1.5 games atop the division at 36-20, the AL’s best record. Young cornerstones Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda have fueled the offense, and a returning Shane McClanahan has anchored the starting rotation alongside Drew Rasmussen and unheralded free-agent signing Nick Martinez.
The Rays followed five consecutive postseason appearances by missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Although they’ve seemingly expedited their path back to relevancy, a plus-19 run differential suggests they’ve overperformed in April and May.
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That could explain why Nightengale doesn’t expect the Rays to go all in with any major trades this summer. An organization that rarely spends big may not want to part with top prospects Theo Gillen, Brody Hopkins or Nathan Flewelling for a short-term boost.
However, the Rays also may require some in-season reinforcements to stay strong for a playoff push. Only three hitters (Caminero, Aranda, Yandy Diaz) with at least 100 plate appearances have an OPS above .710, so the lineup may need some help to secure the club’s first AL East title since 2021.
The Red Sox will get another look at the Rays during a three-game series at Tropicana Field to start next week.
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