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The Boston Red Sox enter the second half of the Major League Baseball season with a lot of momentum. Their 10-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the league. The pressure is on Craig Breslow to upgrade the roster ahead of a playoff run. One of the Red Sox's biggest needs is starting pitching, and Baltimore Orioles starter Charlie Morton could be a perfect fit.
With Hunter Dobbins on Boston's injured list for the rest of the season, the Red Sox rotation lacks depth. Garrett Crochet is an American League Cy Young Award candidate. Lucas Giolito overcame a slow start and has emerged as a capable co-star. At this point in the season, Boston's manager, Alex Cora, needs at least one more arm to fill out his playoff rotation.
Pitchers like Brayan Bello have stepped up for Cora this season. However, Richard Fitts is the Red Sox's fifth starter until Tanner Houck can make his return from injury. While he has been able to navigate the injuries over the last two weeks, their success is almost impossible to maintain throughout the second half of the season.
When it comes to players they will pursue, Morton's name has emerged as one of the Red Sox's targets. The 41-year-old is one of the bright spots of the Orioles' rotation amid a disappointing season in Baltimore.
While pitchers like Jacob deGrom and Zac Gallen could be the prizes in a bidding war at the deadline, Morton's price tag is much lower. The right deal could make him the steal of the deadline and push the Red Sox closer towards World Series contention.
Here is a trade the Red Sox could offer the Orioles before the July 31 deadline.
Red Sox receive: SP Charlie Morton
Orioles receive: SP Jordan Hicks
Why should the Red Sox trade for Morton?
If the trade rumors surrounding the Orioles' roster have any truth, a lot of things could change in the next two weeks. After a tragic start to their season, Baltimore fired their manager. That move all but doomed the Orioles' season. Even months after the move was made, the team has been unable to recover. Despite their struggles, Morton has done well in their rotation.
Morton might be 41 years old, but his production on the mound has been consistent. He is far from the pitcher he was when he won World Series titles with the Houston Astros. However, he has proven that he can still be a part of a big-league rotation for at least one more season. Luckily for the Red Sox, that is all they need for a pitcher at the back end of Cora's roster.
Morton is on a one-year deal, making him a perfect rental option for Boston. While the team appears to be in the middle of a youth movement, the veterans across the roster have helped to keep the Red Sox competitive. Morton would be a welcome addition to the Boston pitching staff, taking pressure off of Houck and Walker Buehler to step up in a playoff setting.
A one-year, $15 million deal is enough to turn a lot of teams away. However, Morton's contract expires at the end of the season, putting whichever team he is on in a good position. At his best, his contract is a bargain for a player who can help his team make a deep playoff run. At his worst, his contract expires at the end of the season and opens up cap space that can be used elsewhere.
Why should the Orioles trade for Hicks?
Hicks was one of the prospects the Red Sox received when they moved on from Rafael Devers. However, the starting pitcher has not made a start for Cora since arriving in Boston. He has made four relief appearances, none of them lasting for more than one inning. However, his potential is a big reason why the Red Sox wanted him to be included in the Devers deal.
If he is not a big part of Boston's game plan, he should be viewed as an expendable piece. His best fit in MLB might not be with the Red Sox, and the Orioles have nothing but opportunity for him. Without Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez for the foreseeable future, Baltimore has an open spot in the starting rotation that could be perfect for Hicks.
While Hicks' 6.36 ERA is a career-high, he has shown that he is capable of holding down a starting role. At just 28 years old, he is in the middle of his prime and could easily have a rebound season. At this point, a change of scenery could be all it takes for him to realize the potential that has kept him in the league for seven seasons.
The Red Sox are under pressure to make a move to better their odds at a title. They have thrived after sending Devers away, and it is up to Breslow to keep their winning streak going. Morton is not the top pitching option on the market, he is a realistic option that Boston could pursue. If things work out, he could be the key to a surprise playoff run for the Red Sox in the AL.
