Why Red Sox weren't able to secure a top reliever at MLB trade deadline

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and the Boston Red Sox added five players in trades in the days leading up to it.

Boston's biggest need, especially after the All-Star break proved to be bullpen help, and the Red Sox acquired two relievers in Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia.

However, other names who could've made a bigger impact for the Red Sox ended up moving to other teams instead.

Why wasn't Boston able to swing a trade for a bigger name? It's all about the ask.

"When we asked for a top reliever the names they mentioned right away were Marcelo (Mayer) and Roman (Anthony)," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on WEEI (via. Rob Bradford ).

Anthony and Mayer are Boston's top two prospects in their system, and they seem to be potential game-changers for the organization in the next year.

Anthony has hit .254 with an .833 OPS, 13 home runs, 37 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 76 games with Double-A Portland this year.

Mayer has hit .307 with an .850 OPS, eight home runs, 38 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 77 games at the same level.

It's pretty clear that the Red Sox want to keep those guys in the system, but at the very least, trading either for a relief arm would make absolutely no sense.