The Boston Red Sox have been one of the hottest teams in baseball in 2021. They enter Friday night's games holding a 63-41 record with a 1.5-game lead in the AL East. Although they have been one MLB's best, the Red Sox needed to address many positions at the MLB trade deadline.
In this article, there will be grades given to each individual trade that the Red Sox made and then an overall grade at the end.
Red Sox MLB trade deadline acquisitions: Kyle Schwarber
Trade: Boston Red Sox receive OF Kyle Schwarber, Washington Nationals receive RHP Aldo Ramirez
Grade: B+
Before Kyle Schwarber was sidelined with a hamstring injury, the lefty slugger was one of the hottest bats in the MLB. So far this season he has had a slash line of .253/.340/.570 for an OPS of .910. Schwarber was also a first time All-Star for the national league. The biggest question is where do the Red Sox play him?
Please enjoy Kyle Schwarber's first hit in a Red Sox uniform. pic.twitter.com/eZ9M1tkBun
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 15, 2021
The biggest need the Red Sox have right now is at first base and according to Michael Hurley of CBS Boston the Sox will give him a shot at the position. If Schwarber can be a replacement level defender at first base, then this trade is an A+, but that doesn't seem to be likely. This trade nonetheless gets a B+ purely because Schwarber is a fantastic hitter and adds a much needed left handed bat to the lineup.
Hansel Robles
Trade: Boston Red Sox receive RHP Hansel Robles, Minnesota Twins Receive RHP Alex Scherff
Grade: C-
Kyle Schwarber will make his Red Sox debut tonight. pic.twitter.com/M4nojnhLsr
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) August 13, 2021
Hansel Robles is an alright pick up for the Red Sox as they do need pitching help but this wasn't big enough to move the needle for a title run by any means. The Sox didn't have to give up much as Alex Scherff is a low ranked prospect in the Sox pipeline that is not likely to ever see time in the majors. Robles has a 4.91 ERA on the season with 43 strikeouts over 44 innings pitched. Overall just a very average reliever, although he has had great seasons. In 2019 Robles pitched to a 2.48 ERA with 75 strikeouts over 72.2 innings pitched.
If the Red Sox can get that out of Robles then the grade on this goes way up, but that doesn't seem likely.
Austin Davis
Trade: Boston Red Sox receive LHP Austin Davis, Pittsburgh Pirates receive INF Michael Chavis
Grade: C
Red Sox Keys to 2021 Domination:
1. Bring back the bullpen car
2. ??
3. World Champs pic.twitter.com/yITI85eX0c— Red (@SurvivingGrady) March 24, 2021
This trade is really not all that interesting, as Davis has a 5.59 ERA this year and Chavis has struggled at the plate the entire 2021 season. This is a case of two teams hoping that a change of scenery could help the players play to their full potential. Chavis' spot in the lineup was taken by Schwarber and he did not want to get sent back down, so he now moves on to Pittsburgh and will try to build off of his time in Boston. Neither of these players will make huge differences to their new respective teams
Overall Grade: D
This was a very disappointing trade deadline for the Red Sox as their biggest need was not at all addressed: starting pitchers. There were quite a few starters on the market and the Red Sox were in on all of them but couldn't come away with anyone. With division rivals getting better with their pickups, most notably the Yankees getting Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo, the Sox didn't make enough moves. The only thing keeping this grade from being an F is the Kyle Schwarber trade. If Schwarber can play first base the overall grade goes up to a C.