It's safe to say there will be no "Fire Craig! Sell the team!" banners flying over Fenway Park this week.
That is the one lock emanating from this trade deadline.
Will the acquisitions of Curtis Mead, Adley Rutschman, Eli White, Jake Rogers and Erik Miller pave the way to postseason glory for the Red Sox? That we don't know. But the angst and anger that permeated throughout New England baseball fans during the season's first few months - with the organization seemingly reneging on their promise of a World Series contender in 2026 - has officially been put in the dumpster next to that sign hovering over Fenway on the first day of May.
The win streak was notable, as were those 14 wins in as many tries against division leaders over the last 40 days. But the actions by the Red Sox's front office during this deadline were the ultimate punctuation when it came to how business is being done on 4 Jersey St. these days.
For the first time in a long time, actions have finally overtaken words.
The do-whatever-it-takes Red Sox have suddenly re-emerged.
Evidence of this team's mindset started with the willingness to trade Connelly Early for Mead. But that ultimately turned out to be just the amuse-bouche. Rutschman was the main course. Breslow's trade with his former college teammate, Orioles GM Mike Elias, signaled that there would be no more nibbling. No more taste-testers. It was time for the Red Sox to eat in a manner they frankly hadn't in years.
The hype train that comes with the likes of Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon and even Marcelo Mayer has been a fun ride. The idea of what might be always is. But what we were reminded of Monday was the kind of satisfaction that used to be a staple in Red Sox team-building: A 'We can actually win this thing' mentality.
Taking this sort of approach, especially this time of year, is never without risks. Rutschman is coming back from an injured wrist. You just traded a player once believed to be the future face of the franchise for a lefty reliever. And the absence of acquiring protection at shortstop and in the starting rotation might make all of this seem silly three months from now.
But you never know unless you try. And what is inarguable is the fact that the Red Sox are certainly trying.
Breslow and ownership learned their lesson. For the chief baseball officer, it was about understanding the rhythms of the trade deadline and why it is better to be the aggressor than the read-and-react front office. For John Henry and Co., the last couple of months - and, most recently, the sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles - offered a reminder of exactly what was best for business: 1. Living life as a World Series contender; and 2. Getting the better of the Yankees.
The latter might be a short-lived existence. Ultimately, New York's deadline deals could be just as impactful, if not more, than those of the Red Sox. But perception is a powerful thing. And what Rutschman wearing a Red Sox uniform instead of the Yankees' pinstripes did was hand the Boston fan base something it hasn't had in a while: the satisfaction of jealous New Yorkers.
What it has done is leave no room for interpretation. The Red Sox think they can do this thing. It's not about sustainability or prospect potential. It's about the here and the now. And, if nothing else, that was a welcome gift for a fan base that has been desperate to feel that feeling once again.
