The Boston Red Sox have won 12 straight games and are currently in hold of a wild card spot in the American League.
The Red Sox's run has come at a good time, because now they can actually act as buyers at the trade deadline. However, there is some skepticism that this run is not indicative of the team they actually are, and that they should not be buyers based on a 15-game stretch.
"Two weeks ago, it appeared the Boston Red Sox would be a main character at the deadline as a seller because they had starting pitcher Sonny Gray, closer Aroldis Chapman and maybe even outfielder Jarren Duran as potential trade chips," MLB insider Jim Bowden wrote for The Athletic on Friday. "However, they won nine straight heading into the break. They are just a half-game out of the wild card and are now clearly buyers looking for lineup upgrades."
Bowden sees the Red Sox as clear buyers, and he is right to do so. Their rotation has been great, and Garrett Crochet could rejoin the team at some point. Offensively, they could use some better play from the middle infield, but Caleb Durbin has finally broken out of his extended slump and is playing like the player the Red Sox expected him to.
Roman Anthony's return is still up in the air, but he figures to return at some point as well. The team is getting healthier, and it would make sense for them to add to the roster now that the postseason is not a long shot.