Red Sox putting pressure on Orioles, Yankees with trade deadline additions

As it stands on Sunday morning, the Red Sox are 5.5 games back in the AL East, and 1 game back in the AL Wild Card race. Despite being as far back as 14 games out on June 14, the Sox have been chipping away at the division race, slowly creeping back into the conversation with the Orioles and Yankees.

Thanks to a brutal 1-4 stretch for the Orioles, including losing back to back series' against the Marlins and Padres, their lead in the AL East has slipped to just 1 game over the Yankees, with the Sox right there in the rear view mirror.

The Red Sox recognized their position heading into the trade deadline and GM Craig Breslow has addressed a couple glaring needs via the trade market.

Red Sox trying to chase down Orioles and Yankees in AL East

On Friday, Breslow acquired the recently DFA'd former star pitcher James Paxton from the Dodgers in exchange for a non-prospect in Moises Bolivar. Paxton has struggled in 2024 but found some success in Boston last year, posting a 3.77 expected ERA in 19 starts.

Breslow's new look Red Sox have unlocked Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford already this year and will surely look to add Paxton's name to that list.

In addition to Paxton, the Sox went out and acquired catcher Danny Jansen from the division-rival Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. The Sox had a hole there with backup catcher Reese McGuire floundering at the plate and were able to take advantage of a Blue Jays team in sell mode.

Jansen is just 18 months removed from hitting .260/.339/.516 with elite plate discipline in Toronto. If the Red Sox can find out why he's slumping in 2024 and correct the issue, it could prove problematic for both the Orioles and Yankees down the stretch.

As far as the Orioles go, they still have the capacity to make another move or two at the deadline. They could still use another strong option in the rotation, and many fans are clamoring for another reliever to serve as Craig Kimbrel insurance.

The O's also have an iffy bench on the offensive side, and Cedric Mullins unfortunately looks like a weak link heading into the stretch run.

Unfortunately, the Yankees have already addressed one glaring need by adding the controversial Jazz Chisholm Jr from the Marlins. Chisholm will give the Yankees another solid bat in a lineup in need of them. They've also been connected to Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, though no deal has been completed there yet.

Whatever happens, it's certain to be an eventful couple days before Tuesday's deadline.