Red Sox Make Minor Deals at the Deadline
It’s September 1st, the Red Sox made a handful of trades at the MLB Trade Deadline but nothing earth shattering that most fans expected. The club sent outfielder Kevin Pillar to the Rockies and LHP Josh Osich to the Cubs. The Pillar trade would net the Red Sox a player to be named later or cash along with international amateur signing-bonus pool space. Ultimately not a bad deal for a player they signed right before Spring Training.
Pillar in his short stint with Boston hit .274 with four home runs and 30 RBIs. He mainly played right field, where he flashed the leather and showed off his Superman like skills at Fenway Park. Red Sox fans will miss Pillar for the way he played a fearless outfield, sacrificing his body to make the play. He’ll now head to Coors Field and get an opportunity to play centerfield while Rockies outfielder David Dahl is on the IL.
Like a true professional, Pillar thanked the Red Sox for his time in Boston on his personal social media: “Thank you @redsox organization. First class from top to bottom. It was a dream to call Fenway home. Players and staff that I interacted with daily, I’ll miss you and be cheering for you from afar. Excited to be heading back west and joining the @rockies organization. headed to the mile high city.” He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season and perhaps there could be a reunion in Boston based off moves from Chaim Bloom and the Sox in the offseason.
The Osich trade is interesting for the mere fact Bloom claimed him off waivers and he turned that waiver claim into something. The Cubs needed arms out of the bullpen and our old friend Theo Epstein came calling and actually wanted Osich.
In 13 games in Boston, he was 1-1 in 15.2 innings pitched, he started one game as an opener where he was shelled and he also had a 5.74 ERA. The only real number the Cubs could be looking at based off his stats this season is his K/9, where it’s an impressive 11.49 despite the other gaudy numbers.
He’ll head to the Cubs for a player to be named later, which means the Red Sox will get something for a player they only claimed. The Cubs get another arm for the playoff push and he’s cheap. While probably not the move Cubs fans would hope for, Osich will provide depth at little to no cost.
In the last few weeks the Red Sox have traded Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree and Mitch Moreland and turned those players into three prospects and one starting pitcher who should make an impact towards the backend of the rotation.
Overall, the deadline felt very anticlimactic, but I’m ok with that. The Red Sox did not trade big names like J.D. Martinez, Christian Vazquez, Jackie Bradley Jr., or Matt Barnes. However, that doesn’t mean they’ll still be here by the time Opening Day rolls around in 2021.
It’s safe to say that the Red Sox have laid some ground work down for some offseason trades. Until then, we have only a few weeks left of this dreadful season. Let’s hope they can end it on a good note.
P.S. Gerrit Cole looks horrendous right now for the Yankees. Have a great Tuesday, Sox fans!
-Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique)