DENVER - Before the Red Sox' fourth loss in a row - a 9-8, 12-inning defeat to the Rockies Monday night - Tyler O'Neill relayed a sentiment that seems to be growing in his clubhouse.
"Man, I hope we buy," O'Neill said regarding the trade deadline, which now sits exactly one week away.
When asked if that represented the overall vibe throughout the Red Sox' roster, the outfielder quickly responded, "Of course. We want to go and we want to compete for a postseason spot. I want to see what Boston is like in the postseason. I want to see what that looks like. I've seen it on TV, but I want to feel what it looks like and I think we have a really good shot at that. If they want to add some pieces, they will add some pieces. If they don't deem that to be the path than its out of my hands."
It's time to pick a path ... somehow, some way. And that road should be the one O'Neill is lobbying for.
Thanks to yet another game in which the Red Sox' late-inning offensive heroics went for naught because of the bullpen's inability to seal things shut, the Sox have their longest losing streak since May 15-18. It has put them in an increasingly uncomfortable spot, with Boston now two games out of a wild card position.
"A little different," said Zack Kelly when asked about the vibe following this latest loss. "We haven’t been in this position all year, really. We’re not playing bad baseball. We’re in these games. It’s just not going our way. We still have an opportunity to win this series and get back home for a week. All the guys are going to be ready to go tomorrow."
The conversation with this team has certainly changed since they left for the All-Star break. For starters, the Royals have won their first four games after the hiatus, drawing into a dead heat with the Twins for the wild card's second spot. And then there are the failures of the suddenly depleted Red Sox bullpen.
In these last four games, the Red Sox' relievers have combined 7.20 ERA and .992 OPS against. Not good. So, what now?
The easy avenue would be to simply lean on the unpredictable existence of the Red Sox in the standings, having to stare down the toughest schedule in all of baseball final the final two months. One might suggest a lot can continue to go wrong in the six games remaining before the June 30 deadline.
And then there is this reality: It remains very much a seller's market.
The Red Sox, for instance, fully understood the challenges awaiting their bullpen during this road trip without the services of late-inning relievers Chris Martin, Justin Slaten and Kenley Jansen (who is absent from the three games against the Rockies). But the timing to trade for meaningful bullpen help proved less than ideal.
According to sources, there is a strong likelihood the Red Sox get in the mix for James Paxton, who was designated for assignment by the Dodgers Monday. But there will be competition for Paxton's services considering he represents a piece of the puzzle more than a few contending teams are thirsty for - an inning-eating veteran starter who can help a club get to the finish line.
The Red Sox are also looking for a lefty reliever who might be able to get a bit more swing and miss than their current options. All-Star Tanner Scott of the Marlins, who is in a contract year, should be at the top of the list, with the Tigers' Andrew Chafin also a very viable option. Guys like Andrew Nardi (Marlins) and Garrett Cleavinger (Rays) should also offer intrigue. But there is the need to weigh how steep the price will be now compared to a week from now.
With all of that said, this is this front office's most dramatic fork in the road yet and it wouldn't be a bad idea to start barreling down Buyer's Boulevard.
In this current lot in life, the Red Sox would be wise to nudge the narrative instead of waiting this thing out. This team which took so much pride in what they became over the last two months seemingly needs a trade-induced pat on the back.
It's time for Craig Breslow and Co. to get a little uncomfortable and not only define their path, but also cement their reputation.
It's always easy to wait.
This group, however, has earned some urgency.
"Just show up tomorrow, man," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "We played a great game here. We played three games in LA. So you show up tomorrow and play."
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