The Red Sox stumbled into the All-Star break after losing a series to the Yankees and Chris Sale to a broken finger in the process. After a seven-game winning streak in late June, the Sox finished the unofficial first half on a 6-14 slide.
However, there is plenty of baseball left to be played and one of the Red Sox’s All-Stars urged the front office to buy at this year’s trade deadline.
Xander Bogaerts spoke with WEEI's Rob Bradford of Audacy’s The Bradfo Sho during Monday's media availability about Boston’s outlook the rest of the way.
“Obviously, we had a rough ending of the first half, I would say. Some losses were pretty tough, but we’re still in it. We’re still right there,” Bogaerts said (51:13 in player above).
The division seems to be out of reach with the Red Sox 16.5 games back at the All-Star Break, but they’re only two games back of a Wild Card spot.
“Wild Card race, I feel like it’s really right. We’re right in the heat of it,” Bogaerts continued.
When asked about adding at the deadline, Bogaerts made his stance clear.
“Yeah, I would think everyone in the clubhouse would think the same way… Obviously, we saw what the trade deadline did for us last year. It pushed us over the limit. It made us a much better team.
“Hopefully we can have an addition this year, be the same,” he continued. “If that’s the mindset they have, it’d be really great.”
Boston added Kyle Schwarber at last year’s trade deadline. The slugger slashed .291/.435/.522 with seven home runs and 18 RBI in 41 games with the Red Sox.
“It was really fun having him on our team,” Bogaerts said of Schwarber. “He definitely carried us for a while, especially when a lot of us were down, including myself, he picked it up on his big back that he has and just carried us.”
Bogaerts is hoping for another addition before this year’s trade deadline on August 2nd. He doesn’t want to hear any of this talk about selling.
“I think we’re right there for the second wild card spot,” Bogaerts said. “I don’t see why anyone is saying like ‘fire sale’ or anything like that. I wouldn’t think like that.”
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