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Red Sox Post Nine-Game Streak, Near Playoffs, Trade Unlikely

7/14/2026

35 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Red Sox Surge

The Boston Red Sox, led by GM Craig Breslow, posted a nine-game winning streak to reach 46-48, a half-game from a playoff spot.
After being 33-46 and last in the AL East on June 26, Boston went 13-2, sweeping the Yankees, Angels, White Sox and Mets.
Breslow said that, despite All-Star honors for Sonny Gray, Aroldis Chapman and Willson Contreras, a trade before the August 3 deadline is unlikely.

Summary

Peña Trade Target

Jeremy Peña appears on the Boston Red Sox’s deadline top-100 trade list.
Peña’s recent hamstring and shoulder injuries have kept him on the injured list, prompting durability concerns for a club reshuffling its middle infield.
The Red Sox’s trade of Rafael Devers to the Giants enables a reverse deal for Matt Chapman while interest in Matt Shaw and Nico Hoerner fades after Hoerner’s Chicago extension.

Summary

Marlins Vending

MLB trade market is dubbed a “relief pitcher vending machine” for Miami Marlins, with Anthony Bender, Lake Bachar and Pete Fairbanks for cost.
Brady Singer’s Savant metrics place each pitch below the 7th percentile, leading analysts to doubt upside.
Michael Wacha is seen as a rotation addition for teams needing a durable starter with a changeup.
Front offices reject pricey deals, leaving September finishes nine games short while talent develops.

History

Historical Context

Red Sox’s nine-game surge echoes their 2004 revival, when GM Theo Epstein’s moves, including acquiring reliever Keith Foulke, sparked a winning streak that helped Boston clinch the AL East and win the World Series, ending an 86-year title drought. That historic comeback, the first ever from a 0-3 ALCS deficit, set a precedent for deadline-time trades that could again reshape the AL East.

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Red Sox Surge

The Boston Red Sox, led by GM Craig Breslow, posted a nine-game winning streak to reach 46-48, a half-game from a playoff spot.
After being 33-46 and last in the AL East on June 26, Boston went 13-2, sweeping the Yankees, Angels, White Sox and Mets.
Breslow said that, despite All-Star honors for Sonny Gray, Aroldis Chapman and Willson Contreras, a trade before the August 3 deadline is unlikely.

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