The Red Sox have well-defined needs as the trade deadline approaches: A first baseman and a starting pitcher. Preferably it’s a righthanded hitting first baseman and a starting pitcher who could follow Garrett Crochet in the rotation.

When Boston shockingly traded Rafael Devers last month, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said: "I do think there's a real chance that at the end of the season, we're looking back and we've won more games than we otherwise would've."